Lisa E. Geary, Ph.D.
Patent Agent
Overview
Lisa Geary, a seasoned registered patent agent in the Intellectual Property Group, brings a wealth of experience to her practice. Her specialization lies in patent prosecution and IP due diligence, encompassing the drafting and prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications, providing invalidity and non-infringement opinions, and conducting due diligence and freedom to operate analyses. Lisa’s extensive experience in a diverse range of intellectual property matters in various technology areas instills confidence in her clients and colleagues.
Lisa holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Structural Biophysics from the University of Pittsburgh. Much of her research focused on specificity in protein-DNA interactions, with emphasis on the links between high-resolution structural information and thermodynamic behavior. Lisa’s broad scientific background spans a range of topics, including molecular biology and biochemistry, small animal physiology and surgery, biophysical analysis and high-resolution protein structure determination, and computational modeling.
Representative Matters
While Lisa’s training and research focused primarily on biochemistry and biophysics, she has accrued extensive experience in a wide range of technology areas through her patent practice, which includes:
- Drafting and prosecuting patents in the areas of pharmaceuticals, life sciences, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, chemistry, medical devices, photoconductors, environmental monitoring systems, robotic systems, computer software, and mechanical devices;
- Conducting prior art searches and preparing patentability opinions on national and international patent applications;
- Preparing non-infringement and freedom to operate opinions on U.S. and international inventions;
- Preparing invalidity opinions for U.S. and international patents.
Professional Affiliations
- Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
- American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member
Community Involvement
- Chair, Judge Advisory Committee (JAC) for the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair and judging committee member, regional applications to the International Science and Engineering Fair
- Judge, International Science and Engineering Fair (Pittsburgh, Dallas, Los Angeles)
News and Insights
Publications
- “AI in Software as Medical Devices (SaMD): Navigating Patent and Regulatory Challenges in the US, Europe,” co-author, The Legal Intelligencer, April 14, 2025.
- “Platelet bioenergetic screen in sickle cell patients reveals mitochondrial Complex V inhibition which contributes to platelet activation,” Blood. 123(18):2864-72, 2014
- “Nitrite activates protein kinase A in normoxia to mediate mitochondrial fusion and tolerance to ischaemia/reperfusion,” Cardiovasc Research, 101:57-68, 2014
- “P43: Nitrite activates protein kinase A in normoxia to promote mitochondrial fusion and confer delayed tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion,” Nitric Oxide 31:S32, 2013
- “Nitrite activates AMP kinase to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis independent of soluble guanylatecyclase,” Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 53:1440-1450, 2012
- “Nitrite Activates Protein Kinase A in Normoxia to Increase Mitochondrial Fusion and Confer Delayed Cytoprotection After Ischemia/Reperfusion,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 53:S165, 2012
- “Nitrite and Ischemic Preconditioning: A Common Mechanism of Protection Dependent on Myoglobin?,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 53:S173, 2012
- “Oxygen regulates tissue nitrite metabolism,” Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 17:951-961, 2012
- “Human neuroglobin functions as a redox-regulated nitrite reductase,” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286:18277-18289, 2011
- “Nitrite Oxidase Activities of Cytochrome P450 and Mitochondria,” Blood 118(21):5310-5310, 2011
- “Oxygen Regulates Tissue Nitrite Metabolism,” Antioxidants and Redox Signaling 17(7):951-61, 2011
- “Nitrite Differentially Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics in Hypoxia and Normoxia,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 51, 2011
- “Measurement of Mitochondrial Function in Human Platelets,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 51, 2011
- “P44. Nitrite stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis in hypoxia,” Nitric Oxide 24, 2011
- “Human neuroglobin functions as a redox regulated nitrite reductase,” The FASEB Journal 25(S1), 2011
- “Human Neuroglobin Functions as a Redox-regulated Nitrite Reductase,” Journal of Biological Chemistry 286(20):18277-89, 2011
- “Measurement of Bioenergetics in Human Platelets,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 49, 2010
- “Nitrite Stimulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Hypoxia,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 49, 2010
- “Heme Coordination and Nitrite Reductase Activity of Human Neuroglobin,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 49, 2010
- “Nitrite protects against morbidity and mortality associated with TNF- or LPS-induced shock in a soluble guanylate cyclase-dependent manner,” Journal of Experimental Medicine, 206:2915-2924, 2009
- “Mechanisms of coupling between DNA recognition specificity and catalysis in EcoRI endonuclease,” Structure, 12:1775-1788, 2004
- “The energetics of the interaction of BamHI endonuclease with its recognition site GGATCC,” Journal of Molecular Biology, 307:619-636, 2001
- “Assay of restriction endonucleases using oligonucleotides,” Methods in Molecular Biology, 148:465-490, 2001
- “Structural and thermodynamic strategies for site-specific DNA binding proteins,” Structure Folding and Design, 8:1015-1023, 2000
- “Thermodynamic parameters of specific and nonspecific protein-DNA binding,” Supramolecular Chemistry, 12:143-160, 2000
- “Energetics of the interaction of BamHI endonuclease with its recognition site,” Invited speaker at New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA, July 1998
- “Specific binding by EcoRV endonuclease to its DNA recognition site GATATC,” Journal of Molecular Biology, 269:82-101, 1997
- “Structural adaptations in the interaction of EcoRI endonuclease with methylated GAATTC sites,” EMBO Journal, 15:2870-2882, 1996
Interests
Lisa enjoys spending time with her husband, their two children, and the family’s two labrador retrievers. She has a passion for promoting science education and volunteers as the chair of judging for the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF), she is a member of the committee that selects student projects to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), and travels annually to judge at ISEF. Some little-known facts about Lisa are that she played rugby in college and ice hockey while in graduate school. She also studied photography at Pittsburgh Filmmakers and loves photographing abandoned buildings using large format cameras and printing via historical photographic processes.