Intellectual Property Protection & Licensing at UMDNJ

The Office of Legal Management/Patents and Licensing UMDNJ
July 9, 2010
The University's intellectual property policy has been revised effective August 31, 2004. Please contact the Office  of Patents and Licensing to discuss any questions you have.

General Introduction
This manual has been prepared as a general guideline to assist the faculty, staff, students and employees of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in the steps taken to protect the intellectual property of the University and those faculty, staff, students and employees who create such intellectual property. This manual is to serve as a general overview of University policy and procedures, and is not intended to be a comprehensive tutorial for all situations involving intellectual property development and protection.  Further questions should be directed to the Office of Patents and Licensing.

Mission Statement
It is the Mission of the Office of Patents and Licensing at UMDNJ to provide a simple and effective means of protecting the valuable Intellectual Property of the University and to develop that property commercially by forming appropriate relationships between the University, its faculty/inventors and the private sector.

Contact Information

Director, Office of Patents & Licensing
Vince Smeraglia, Esq.
(732) 235-9356
smeragva@umdnj.edu

Mr. Smeraglia is the Director of the Office of Patents & Licensing. He oversees all patent and licensing matters for UMDNJ. This includes protecting, marketing and commercializing all intellectual property developed at UMDNJ.  Previously, Mr. Smeraglia served as Associate Director of Intellectual Property in the Office of Corporate Liaison & Technology Transfer at Rutgers University.  A graduate of Rutgers University and Franklin Pierce Law Center, he has also conducted biomedical research for the Cytogen Corporation.

Director, Patent Counsel
Beth Maurer, Esq.
(732) 235-9353
maurerbv@umdnj.edu

Beth Maurer specializes in intellectual property matters, with special emphasis on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, obtaining protection for trademarks used by UMDNJ, and copyright issues. She is  registered as a patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Ms. Maurer has over 25 years of experience in intellectual property matters working in private practice as well as serving as an in-house counsel for Rohm and Haas, Hoechst and BASF. She holds a B.A. degree from Wheaton College (MA) and an M.S. from the University of Connecticut. She worked as a research chemist at Squibb for 12 years, where she was a named inventor on 7 patents, prior to attending Rutgers Law School - Camden .

Director, Finance and Administration/Patents &Licensing
Laura Schepps
(732) 235-5670
schepplm@umdnj.edu

Laura Schepps leads the financial and license administration functions for the department including financial analysis, budgeting and planning, accounting, management reporting, and compliance.  Previously, Laura was the VP, Global Information Technology Division Financial Officer for ACE Limited where she strengthened and oversaw the finance and vendor management functions for the corporate IT division.  Prior to ACE, Laura held financial leadership roles for other companies including Radian Group, Inc., CIGNA Corporation, GE Capital, and Bankers Trust.  Laura holds a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Management from New York University, Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Rutgers University. 

Assistant Director, Patents & Licensing
Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak, Ph.D.
(732) 235-9355
litvinta@umdnj.edu

Dr. Litvin-Vechnyak joined the office in 2009 as the Assistant Director of Patents and Licensing. She is involved with all matters related to commercialization of intellectual property at  UMDNJ. This includes reviewing and marketing UMDNJ inventions, and negotiating license agreements for all intellectual property developed at UMDNJ. Prior to joining the Office of Patents and Licensing, Dr. Litvin-Vechnyak worked as an internal liaison and licensing associate for the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Office of Technology and Business Development.  Dr. Litvin-Vechnyak received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and completed her postdoctoral research in oncology at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Licensing  Consultant
Norell Hadzimichalis, Ph.D.
(732) 235-5319
Norell.Hadzimichalis@umdnj.edu

Dr. Hadzimichalis works directly with Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak and Vincent Smeraglia as a consultant on licensing matters for UMDNJ.  Prior to joining the Office of Patents and Licensing, Dr. Hadzimichalis received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University/UMDNJ in Molecular Biosciences with a concentration in Cardiovascular Physiology. She continued her postdoctoral work at Rutgers University in Neuroscience.

Research Contract Administrator
Lillian M. Cohen
(732) 235-9350
cohenlm@umdnj.edu

Lillian Cohen is the Executive Assistant to the Director of the Office of Patents & Licensing, Vincent  Smeraglia, and provides logistical and management support to the entire Office of Patents and Licensing.  Ms. Cohen is also responsible for providing point-of-contact, status update, and review assistance for OPL transactions including material transfer, confidentiality and license agreements.

Business Manager
Tejal Talati
(732) 235-9354
talatite@umdnj.edu

Tejal Talati is responsible for all financial activities related to Office of Patents & Licensing including payment of office expenses, distribution of license royalties, and management of grant finances. Tejal also assists in patent license agreement administration.  She previously worked at the University's Controllers Office before joining the Office of Patents & Licensing.  Tejal holds a Masters degree in Accounting.

Patents and Licensing Assistant
Susan Dolci
(732) 235-3521
dolcisu@umdnj.edu

Susan Dolci recently joined the Office of Patents and Licensing as a Patent and Licensing Assistant. Her main responsibilities will be supporting Vince Smeraglia and Beth Maurer in the management of intellectual property issues within the University. She comes to UMDNJ with more than 25 years of business and legal experience and has previously worked at Avaya Inc. and Ranbaxy Inc. Susan holds a B.S. in Business Administration and M.S. in Management from The College of Saint Elizabeth.

License Administrator
Susan Rae
(973) 972-3369
raesu@umdnj.edu

Susan Rae provides management support for OPL's licensing initiatives. She is responsible for managing licensing files and handling original agreements and documentation. She participates in record keeping, data entry and monitoring of royalty payments, including invoicing, billing and preparing reports. She also assists with the maintenance of the Molecular Beacons technology website. Susan came to The Office of Patents and Licensing from the PHRI Center at UMDNJ where she provided administrative support and office management to the Office of Technology Transfer and its patenting and licensing of Molecular Beacons technology. She came to UMDNJ with a background in human services and program management. She holds a Masters Degree from New York University.

Patent Legal Secretary
Mona Daniels-Riley
(732) 235-5027
danielml@umdnj.edu

Mona is responsible for docket administration for the OPL department. Her additional responsibilities include management of legal documents and assisting Beth Maurer, Patent counsel and Sue Dolci, Patent Paralegal in managing the University's intellectual property. Mona is currently pursuing her BS in Business Administration Healthcare Management and anticipates graduation in 2011. Mona comes to the OPL with 16 years of experience in the healthcare field.

Additional Contact Information Post Office/Express Mail:

Office of Legal Management/Patents and Licensing
UMDNJ
1 World's Fair Drive
Suite 2100
Somerset, N.J 08873

Campus Mail:

Office of Legal Management/Patents and Licensing
UMDNJ
1 World's Fair Drive
Suite 2100
Somerset

Telephone: 732-235-9350 Fax: 732-235-9358 Newark Office:

Office of Legal Management/Patents and Licensing
UMDNJ
65 Bergen Street, 12th Floor, Room 1232
Newark, NJ 07107
973-972-4705 (telephone)
973-972-7297 (fax)

Why Interact with the Patents and Licensing Office?

• Do you have research results that you believe might have commercial significance?
• Have you written a manuscript or computer program that you would like to protect with a copyright?
• Do you have a logo or distinctive message that deserves trademark protection?
• Are you thinking about seeking research support from a commercial firm?
• Are you planning to develop outside business interactions or possibly form your own business?
• Are you planning on bringing materials to, or transferring materials from, the University?

You need to talk to us!