Spotlight: MichBio’s IP & Legal Affairs Committee

Advancing biotech innovation through collaborative legal expertise

MichBio’s IP & Legal Affairs Committee serves as a vital resource for thought leaders in intellectual property and legal services across Michigan’s biosciences industry. The committee is dedicated to safeguarding innovation, navigating complex regulatory landscapes, and addressing key legal issues impacting the life sciences.

Whether protecting groundbreaking ideas or shaping policies, the group helps advance Michigan’s biotech and medtech sectors through collaborative expertise and knowledge sharing.

Meet the Committee

• Ashley Sloat, Ph.D. — President and Director of Patent Strategy, Aurora Patents
  Ashley helps Aurora Patents build strong patent portfolios across life sciences, medical device, and therapeutic technologies.
• Anupam Jhingran — Sr. Technology Manager, Michigan State University
  Anupam leverages his extensive experience in tech transfer to manage MSU’s technology commercialization efforts and applications in health and AI/ML tools.
• Melvin J. Muskovitz — Senior Counsel, Dykema
  Melvin advises life sciences and biotech clients on IP strategy, licensing, and due diligence, bringing deep legal and regulatory expertise to the committee.
• Kristen Pursley — President, Dobrusin IP Law
  Kristen manages global IP portfolios and helps life science companies strengthen their IP foundations and commercialization strategies.
• Thomas T. Moga — Member, Dykema
  A nationally recognized patent attorney and advocate, Thomas advises companies on IP portfolio management and strategic protection of biotech innovations.
• Michelle Larkin — Director of Medical Device Licensing, University of Michigan
  Michelle bridges academia and industry to advance university innovations through licensing and partnerships.

The committee meets regularly to exchange insights, discuss current legal challenges, and foster collaboration among Michigan’s life sciences organizations. Through this work, MichBio helps ensure that Michigan remains a strong, innovative, and compliant environment for biotech development.

MichBio members can access the IP & Legal Affairs Committee as an exclusive member benefit.
Have a question or want to get involved? Contact: askiplegal@michbio.org