BioArbor September 2026

AI Patentability: Navigating the Future of Innovation

AI is changing not only what we invent but how we invent it. From AI-generated software to AI-enabled therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical devices, innovators face new questions around patentability, inventorship, ownership, and intellectual property strategy. This session will explore the evolving legal landscape and practical approaches to protecting innovation in the age of artificial intelligence. 

Moderator:

• DeAnn Smith, Partner, Foley Hoag

Panelists:

• Brian Doughty, Associate General Counsel, University of Michigan Office of the Vice President & General Counsel
• Grant Griffith, Partner, Honigman
• Daniela Walters, Principal Shareholder, Dobrusin IP Law

Who You'll Meet

• Startup teams in biotech, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, and therapeutics
• Researchers exploring translation and commercialization
• Entrepreneurs transforming discoveries into products
• Early-stage investors, strategic partners, and ecosystem builders
• Local service providers that can help with a wide range of early startup needs

Why Attend

• Build connections that matter
  Meet the people who open doors in life sciences—investors, mentors, collaborators, and supporters.
• Get actionable insights
  Gain practical guidance you can use immediately: formation strategy, capital planning, regulatory pathways, IP essentials, clinical roadmapping, and more.
• Tap into Michigan’s innovation engine
  Join the community powering Michigan’s next generation of venture-backed life science companies.