Rudeina A. Baasiri, PhD, is Senior Science Advisor in MWM’s intellectual-property group. She has more than 20 years of experience as a patent agent registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She focuses her practice on advising on intellectual property strategy, patent prosecution and litigation support at the intersection of science, law and business.

Rudeina has deep expertise in U.S. and international patent prosecution, intellectual property due diligence, freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis and portfolio management. She has successfully prosecuted patent applications across a wide range of technologies, including biotechnology, molecular genetics, immunology, oncology, microbiology, pharmaceuticals, oil-drilling technologies and agricultural sciences. Her work includes preparing and prosecuting patent applications, responding to USPTO and EPO office actions, and advising foreign counsel on EPO strategy, examination reports and oppositions.

She has managed IP portfolios for a major research institution, aligning patent strategies with business and licensing goals, and has provided strategic guidance on patent validity, infringement, reissues and opposition proceedings. Her FTO and due-diligence analyses have supported mergers, acquisitions, investments and research commercialization efforts often involving detailed search strategies, infringement-risk assessments and design-around solutions.

Rudeina earned her PhD in molecular biology from Texas A&M University and holds an MA in global affairs from Rice University, along with a certificate in science diplomacy from the Barcelona Institute of International Studies. She also earned an MS in plant pathology and a BS in agricultural sciences from the American University of Beirut. Fluent in English and Arabic and conversant in French and Spanish, she brings a global and interdisciplinary perspective to protecting and maximizing the value of innovation.

  • Managing patent portfolios for a leading research institution, including overseeing outside counsel and coordinating filing strategies aligned with business and licensing objectives.
  • Advising foreign counsel on strategy for responses to EPO Examination Reports and Oppositions.
  • Assisting in reexamination, reissue, and foreign opposition.
  • Designing Freedom-To-Operate search strategies, assessing infringement risks, and developing design-around strategies to guide research and commercialization.
  • Assisting in comprehensive due diligence reviews supporting acquisitions and investment transactions, and has advised on patent validity, and infringement.
  • Preparing and prosecuting patent applications in diverse scientific disciplines.
  • Drafting responses to USPTO and EPO Office Actions, including rejections under §101, §102, §103, and §112.

  • Kays, A. M., P. S. Rowley, R. A. Baasiri, and K. A. Borkovich.  2000.  Regulation of conidiation and adenylyl cyclase levels by the Galpha protein GNA 3 in Neurospora crassa.  Molecular and Cellular Biology 20(20):  7693 7705.
  • Steffen, D. L., A. E. Levine, S. Yarus, R. A. Baasiri, and D. A. Wheeler.  2000.  Digital reviews in molecular biology:  approaches to structural digital publication.  Bioinformatics 16:  639 649.
  • Baasiri, R. A., D. L. Steffen, S. R. Glasser, and D. A. Wheeler.  1999.  The breast cancer gene database:  A collaborative information resource.  Oncogene 18:  7958 7965.
  • Zhang, L., R. A. Baasiri, and N. K. Van Alfen.  1998.  Viral repression of fungal mating-type-specific genes.  Molecular and Cellular Biology 18(2):  953 959.
  • Baasiri, R. A., X. Lu, P. Rowley, G. Turner, and K. A. Borkovich.  1997.  Overlapping functions for a G protein alpha subunit in Neurospora crassa.  Genetics 147(1):  137 145.
  • Hood, E. E., K. Lanoue, K. R. Hood, S. E. Fritz, and R. A. Baasiri.  1992.  Molecular similarities among Amaranthus species.  Biotechnology For Arid Land Plants.  Eds.  T. Mabry, H. Nguyen, R. Dixon, and M. S., Bonness.  ICC Institute, University of Texas at Austin, 253 268.
  • Hood, K. R., R. A. Baasiri, S. E. Fritz, and E. E. Hood.  1991.  Biochemical and tissue print analyses of Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins in cell walls of sporophytic maize tissues.  Plant Physiol 96:  1214.
  • Baasiri, R. A., D. L. Steffen, and D. A. Wheeler.  A Web-based breast cancer information resource.  Proceedings of the Thirtieth Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, Texas, December 1997.
  • Steffen, D. L., R. A. Baasiri, and D. A. Wheeler.  Web-based repository of tumor gene information.  Proceedings of the American Society Breast Cancer Conference, Keystone, Colorado, March 1997.
  • Baasiri, R. A., X. Lu, P. S. Rowley, and K. A. Borkovich.  Gma 2:  A G protein alpha subunit from Neurospora crassa.  Eighteenth Fungal Genetics Conference, Asilomar, California, March 1995.
  • Zhang, L., D. Kim, A. Churchill, Y. Sun, P. Kazmierczak, R. A. Baasiri, and N. K. Van Alfen.  Expression of putative mating type A pheromone genes of Cryphonectria parasitica are repressed by a fungal virus.  Seventeenth Fungal Genetics Conference, Asilomar, California, March 1993.
  • Martyn, R., J. Mertely, M. Miller, C. Katsar, and R. A. Baasiri.  Morphology and germination of Monosporascus cannonballus ascopores.  American Phytopathological Society Conference, Portland, Oregon, August 1992.
  • Hood, E.E. and R.A. Baasiri.  Similarity among 24 breeding lines of grain amaranth based on leaf and seed protein heterogeneity.  American Society of Plant Physiologists Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1991.

Press Releases

Munck Wilson Mandala adds Partner and Scientific Advisor to Life Sciences Practice

Munck Wilson Mandala has added additional talent to its life sciences practice, offering a comprehensive legal solution for businesses at the forefront of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices. The MWM life sciences group features a multidisciplinary team of attorneys and patent professionals with advanced degrees in genetics, molecular biology, chemistry, mechanical and electrical engineering,

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Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI), Certificate in Science Diplomacy, 2024

Rice University, MA, 2019

Global Affairs, International Economic and Political Development

Texas A&M University, PhD, 1996

Molecular Biology

American University of Beirut, MS

Plant Pathology

American University of Beirut, BS

Agricultural Sciences

American University of Beirut, BS

Diploma Ingenieur Agricole

  • Intellectia Advisors, LLC- Founder and CEO
  • Houston Committee on Foreign Relations, Member, 2014-present
  • American Leadership Forum, Houston Chapter, 2018-presentDinner and Dialogue Intellectual Salon, Co-Founder, 2014-present
  • Trees for Houston, Board Member, 2009-present
  • World Affairs Council of Houston, Member, 2008-2024
  • Fotofest, Advisory Committee, 2014 Biennial

  • The Association for Women in Science Graduate Student Scholarship Award, Houston Chapter.
  • The McDonald’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University.
  • The Ghattas Scholarship Award, Texas A&M University.
  • The Penrose Award for Leadership, American University of Beirut.
  • The American University of Beirut Alumni Association Award for Academic Excellence, American University of Beirut.

United States Patent & Trademark Office, 2001