Tu A. Phan-Kerr, PhD

Tu A. Phan-Kerr, Ph.D., has experience in the prosecution and management of patent portfolios for pharmaceuticals/pharmaceutical therapies, diagnostic products/methods, and biotechnology applications in the U.S. and foreign countries. Tu’s practice focuses on the preparation, filing, and prosecution of U.S. provisional and non-provisional applications and PCT applications for pharmaceuticals/pharmaceutical therapies, diagnostic products/methods, and biotechnology applications (including antibody technology and therapies, antisense technology, genetics and genome-related technologies, and vaccine development for viral and autoimmune disorders). Tu’s experience also extends to conducting and preparing patentability, invalidity, and non-infringement analyses for pharmaceutical, chemical, and antibody technologies, as well as due diligence and landscape analyses for pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical therapies.

Prior to joining the firm, Tu was a technical advisor at the firm of Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C., during which she attended and received her J.D. from George Mason University School of Law (now the Antonin Scalia Law School). Tu was later an associate at the firm of Sughrue Mion, P.L.L.C., for more than 13 years.

In addition to her J.D. degree, Tu holds a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from Old Dominion University, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from East Carolina University School of Medicine. Before entering the field of law, Tu was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where her research focused on the molecular effects of alcohol on expression of adenosine receptors in the brain. With extensive laboratory experience, including research in neuropharmacology and molecular biology, Tu applies her considerable technical experience to the procurement of foreign and domestic patents.

A member of the District of Columbia bar, she is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.