Walter Isaacson’s New Book “Code Breaker” about the inventors of CRISPR Technology features Sterne Kessler Director Eldora Ellison

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox extends congratulations to Walter Isaacson on the release of his newest book, titled The Code Breaker. The publication profiles Jennifer A. Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier who were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the development of a method for genome editing.” The firm works with Doudna, Charpentier, and the University of California team on patent matters related to their groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology.

Chapter 31 of The Code Breaker entitled “Patents,” specifically highlights Eldora L. Ellison, Ph.D. a director in Sterne Kessler’s Biotechnology & Chemical and Trial & Appellate Practice Groups. Ellison serves as the lead patent strategist on CRISPR matters with firm client UC, and Isaacson interviewed her as part of his research for the book. Reflecting on an early encounter with Ellison, Isaacson writes, “While she analyzed the case for me over breakfast, Ellison was able to explain the nuances of both the biology and the law, and she readily cited from memory arcane footnotes in various scientific articles and court decisions.”

To purchase a copy of The Code Breaker, or to learn more about Walter Isaacson, click here.

Last year, Ellison and fellow Sterne Kessler Director, Trey Powers interviewed Isaacson in a two-part “Innovation Conversation” that is part of the firm’s IP Hot Topics podcast series. In addition to discussing CRISPR technology, Isaacson explains key traits that great innovators share and examines how specific structures and a frontier mentality made the U.S. fertile ground for innovation. Click here for access to the podcasts.