Heidi S. Nebel Receives the Prestigious Iowa Biotech Leader AwardMarch 14, 2022

MVS is thrilled to announce that Heidi S. Nebel, Managing Partner and Chair of the MVS Chemical and Biotechnology Practice Group, received the Iowa Biotech Leader Award for 2022 for her accomplishments and significant achievements in biotechnology. Heidi received the award during the Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference.

This award is given by the Iowa Biotechnology Association to individuals that have demonstrated the following traits and commitment to advancing Iowa’s biotech industry:

• Leadership – The individual has a leading role in their organization and within the industry.
• Innovation – The individual has consistently demonstrated an ability to bring innovative biotechnology products and/or services to the marketplace.
• Advocacy – The individual works effectively with other business and public policy leaders to promote and advance the biotech industry in Iowa.

“I am honored to be receiving this award from the Iowa Biotechnology Association,” stated Heidi. “I have been a strong advocate for bringing a spotlight on the agricultural biotechnology industry here in Iowa through my work with clients, organizations and the government.  Recent case law and administrative policies regarding patent eligible subject matter and march in rights make this a critical time for biotechnology.”

Heidi is an Intellectual Property attorney with over 30 years of experience obtaining patents and designing IP strategies in the biotechnology and chemical areas, including plant patents and agricultural innovations, vaccine technologies, and myriad others. She is a thought leader in the field of agricultural biotechnology, as evidenced by her international reputation as a preeminent authority on plant biotechnology. Her clients include over 40 universities and research institutions around the world, as well as fortune 500 companies. Heidi was recently appointed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) by the Secretary of Commerce. The PPAC was created by statute in the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on the management of the patent operations. Heidi is actively involved in AUTM where she was elected to the Board of Directors in 2019. AUTM is the non-profit leader in efforts to educate, promote and inspire professionals in support of the development of academic research and technology transfer. Heidi is also serving a second term on the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Advisory Board as she was re-appointed by the United States Secretary of Agriculture. The USDA PVP Advisory Board helps shape the country’s intellectual property for plants through the Plant Variety Protection Act. In addition to being Managing Partner, Heidi serves on the firm’s management committee. She is also the first women to be Managing Partner of the Firm.

Richard Marsolais is the Business Development Director at McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC. To learn more, visit our MVS website , or contact Richard directly via email.