A biological scientist with experience in technology evaluation, patent law, and preclinical research, Dr. McDermott concentrates his practice on U.S. patent prosecution for the life science and biotechnology fields. He also focuses on patent portfolio management and patentability assessment.
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Dr. McDermott worked as a Patent Examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office where he examined biotechnology patent applications, particularly in the field of cancer immunotherapy, for novelty, utility, and compliance with statutes, case law, and regulations.
In his role as a Scientific Advisor at FoxKiser, Dr. McDermott advised the law, venture capital, and strategic consulting firm on biomedical technologies. He investigated trial designs for cancer immunotherapies and evaluated the potential role of gene therapy in oncology and biodefense. He also presented briefings on gene therapy and regenerative medicine to Congressional staff.
He previously served as a Senior Research Associate at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Department of Microbiology and Immunology where he led a federally funded project in the development of therapeutic antibodies to bacterial toxins.
Dr. McDermott's scientific skills encompass immuno-oncology, antibodies, and microbiology.