Shihong Nicolaou, Ph.D.

Senior US Patent Agent

shihong@torreypineslaw.com
main: +1 (858) 869-1250

Shihong Nicolaou has a distinguished career in intellectual property and technology transfer management, primarily within the university environment. Renowned for her ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, Shihong is a driving force behind the development and implementation of intellectual property (IP) strategies for innovators.

With a strong academic foundation, Shihong holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Kansas. She is a registered patent agent with the US Patent & Trademark Office. Her professional expertise spans across the spectrum of invention evaluations, IP due diligence, patent preparation and prosecution, technology transactions, and pharmaceutical business development. Moreover, she has valuable experience in drug research and development, and pharmaceutical lifecycle management in the biotech and pharma industry.

Shihong’s professional journey has been marked by significant roles and achievements in managing a diverse range of patents, particularly in the domains of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and chemistry. She collaborates with inventors and business partners, offering crucial insights into patent prosecution strategy, providing assessment of patentability and freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis. Furthermore, she provides valuable guidance on patent and business strategies for a worldwide patent portfolio.

For nearly two decades, Shihong managed a large IP portfolio at the UC San Diego Office of Innovation and Commercialization. In this influential role, she devised strategies for the university's inventions and intellectual property portfolio, driving commercial development. Her responsibilities encompassed invention evaluation, IP due diligence, patent strategy development, IP/technology agreements, and contract/sponsorship compliance. She demonstrated her expertise in analyzing, evaluating inventions, and advising IP strategy and various technology transfer agreements. Managing complex inventions and IP linked to joint ownership and sponsorship obligations, as well as addressing issues related to university’s IP policy, was also part of her role. Shihong actively managed technology transfer initiatives to promote innovation, collaboration, and commercialization, involving all stakeholders. She also contributed to educational and outreach programs aimed at educating university researchers on the intricacies of the technology transfer process and IP matters.

Prior to her university role, Shihong had many years of experience in the biotech and pharma industry. During her tenure at Pfizer, she made significant contributions to the research and development of antiviral and anticancer drugs, supporting clinical trials, and FDA regulatory approvals.