Spanish hospital doctors and scientists are active investigators in Biotechnology related health matters, usually leading to new intellectual property assets.
Scientific investigation, particularly that involving the use of human samples, is highly regulated in Spain, as occurs in many other countries, involving both national and regional laws and rules, connected with Administrative rules and IP rights protection.
Doctors and researchers, sometimes even Transfer Offices staff, are not familiar with that complex regulation which includes very different legal fields such as those related with the Intellectual Property and the use of human samples in biomedical research, among others.
Intellectual Property
Research in health public institutions leads to results that need to be protected and transferred. There is a long list of questions that arise in this process among which are the following:
- identify the true inventors/creators and owners
- detect previous contracts assigning rights over the results and the IP derived therefrom
- identify assets to protect
- decide the best way to protect those results
- stablish joint ownership agreements, if any
- negotiating and drafting transfer agreements with industry
Lawyers can be very helpful throughout that process, making easier the work of researchers and transfer staff and ensuring the entire process is done within the legal framework jurisdiction.
Use of human samples in biomedical research
The use of biological samples for biomedical research is subject to very strict legislation in Spain and its failure can undermine the publication of scientific results and the transfer options thereof.
Researchers must be sure to comply with the legislation in force regarding obtaining human samples and subsequent conservation and uses thereof, particularly regarding to the following:
- Patient consent
- Samples conservation in registered collections or Biobanks
- Permitted uses: only for a particular research project, a research field or for any health investigation
Lawyers can be very helpful assessing researches and technology transfer offices staff to obtain and maintain human samples in compliance with rules and legal requirements, from the design of the research project protocol to the final step of transferring research results to industry.
* These practice areas are open for nominations but are not yet included in our publications.
** This practice area is not open to public nominations. A lawyer must first be recognized in related fields before they qualify for consideration.