Dr. William Noonan, a physician and patent attorney who specializes in biotechnology patent law at Klarquist Sparkman, LLP in Portland, has helped shape legislation that defines the limits of patents on methods of medical treatment in the United States.

Noonan will talk to City Club about the sometimes uncomfortable history of patents in medicine. The most recent chapter of this history has involved patents on DNA, genetic information and bioinformatic analysis of the Human Genome Project.

Noonan has testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, DC about genetic patents and before the House Judiciary Committee about patenting methods of medical treatment.

For the past 10 years, he has represented the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and many universities and biotechnology companies on patent-related matters.

This program was coordinated by Linda Sage.

Kerry Silvey, MA, CGC, a Public Health Genetics Specialist at Oregon Health & Science University, will ask our first question.