Brittany Ashton (Née Howard) Email & Phone Number

I am a qualified Australian and New Zealand Patent and Trade Marks Attorney, with technical expertise in the chemical sciences, particularly medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry. I have a keen interest in commercialisation strategy and intellectual asset management, and take a holistic approach to managing clients’ intellectual property portfolios. I have experience handling intricate patent portfolios for both local clients and large multinational pharmaceutical and chemical companies including complex queries, prosecution, assignments, licenses, amendments, and term extensions. I also provide infringement and validity, freedom to operate, and strategic patenting advice. Prior to joining the intellectual property profession, I worked with the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. While working at the institute as a Visiting Research Fellow, I conducted research into the design and synthesis of G protein-coupled receptors implicated in diabetes and obesity. My PhD research in medicinal chemistry focused on the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel small molecule inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum phosphodiesterase enzymes for the treatment of malaria. I am passionate about educating the new generations of scientists by instilling an appreciation of the commercialisation of scientific research and innovation. To this extent, I am regularly involved in delivering seminars on intellectual property to scientists at academic institutions.I undertake considerable work in the Australian chemistry industry as a Royal Australian Chemical Institute Victorian Committee Member, and I enjoy regularly contributing to the Chemistry in Australia magazine and a number of IP blogs, journals and magazines.