Oct. 28, 2013 – In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2013 ruling on gene patents, the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law is hosting a roundtable Friday, Nov. 1, during which participants will delve into the science involved with the Myriad Genetics decision, its implications for industry and its impact on genetic testing for patients.

“This is a very complex issue, and no one has the answer,” said Kenneth Chahine, a U law professor who will participate in the roundtable. “But we’re grappling every day to try to figure out what the right balance is to make sure society benefits the most it can from these inventions.”

Panelists include scientists, lawyers, genetic counselors and patient advocates from Myriad Genetics, Mayo Clinic, Huntsman Cancer Institute, ARUP Laboratories, the American Civil Liberties Union and the U’s College of Law and School of Medicine. The ACLU represented challengers of Myriad Genetics’ gene patents before the Supreme Court.

The event will be held in the Sutherland Moot Courtroom in the law building, 332 S. 1400 East, Salt Lake City, from 12:15 – 3 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

The college recently hosted Sandra S. Park, one of the ACLU attorneys who successfully challenged Myriad Genetics’ patent on genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer. The Nov. 1 roundtable will continue the conversation with experts representing all sides of the matter.

The roundtable is presented by the College of Law’s Center for Law and Biomedical Sciences, which was created to address the evolving opportunities and challenges for the law that are presented by developments in the biosciences and healthcare.

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