Michael Mfarej, PhD

(he/him/his)

Technology Specialist | Biotechnology

Education

BS, Biology, Pennsylvania State University
PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lehigh University

Key Technologies

Antisense Oligonucleotides
Genome Engineering/Gene Editing
Modified Nucleic Acids
rAAV Therapies
Nucleic Acid Vaccines
Cancer Therapies
Nucleic Acid Synthesis
Engineered Microorganisms
Diagnostics
Nervous System Disorders

Practice Groups

Biotechnology

Location

New York

Overview

Mike Mfarej assists the firm’s Biotechnology Practice. The technology areas in which Mike has the most intellectual property experience include gene expression modulators (e.g., antisense oligonucleotides such as siRNA, gapmers, exon-skippers, etc.), genome engineering (e.g., CRISPR/Cas, prime editing, base editing, etc.), applications of aptamers and chemically modified oligonucleotides, recombinant viral genome-based therapies (e.g., rAAVs), cell-based cancer therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, microorganism engineering, molecular biology approaches for agriculture and food production, molecular and biomolecular diagnostics, and treatments for neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuromuscular disorders.

Prior to joining Wolf Greenfield, Mike earned his PhD from Lehigh University’s Department of Biological Sciences. His research focused on investigating cellular pathways that link the redox stress response to regulation of cellular reproduction, as well as studying the roles of DNA damage and intercellular communication in rare diseases. During his doctoral work, Mike gained experience in genome engineering/gene editing, protein engineering, gene expression analyses, and cell-based assays in addition to developing expertise in the areas of chemical biology, developmental disorders, enzymology, genome integrity, cell cycle biology, and intercellular communication.

Experience

Patent application drafting
Patent prosecution
Landscape searching
Patentability searches and analysis
Freedom-to-operate (PTO) searches and analysis

Recognition

Lehigh University, Marjorie Nemes Research Fellowship Nov. 2020 Lehigh University, Marjorie Nemes Research Fellowship Nov. 2019
Lehigh University, College of Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Leadership Award Apr. 2019

Publications

Mfarej, Hyland, Sanchez, et al. (2023). Cohesin: an emerging master regulator at the heart of cardiac development. Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC) 34.5: rs2.
Mfarej & Skibbens (2022). Genetically induced redox stress occurs in a yeast model for Roberts syndrome, G3|Genes|Genomics|Genetics, 12(2): jkab426.
Hyland, Mfarej, Hiotis, et al. (2021). Impaired Cx43 gap junction endocytosis causes cardiovascular defects in zebrafish. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 32(20): 13.
Mfarej & Skibbens (2020). DNA Damage Induces Yap5-Dependent Transcription of ECO1/CTF7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS One, e0242968.
Mfarej & Skibbens (2020). An ever-changing landscape in Roberts syndrome biology: Implications for macromolecular damage. PLoS Genetics, 16(12): e1009219.
Adams, Anwar, Mfarej, et al. (2015). Nutritional stress of cultured Vero cells causes altered growth and morphology as seen in neoplastic transformation. American Journal of Undergraduate Research, 12(3): 63-75.

Interests

Mike has over 11 years of teaching experience at the college level. In his spare time, he serves as part-time faculty at Penn State, where he teaches human biology to undergraduate students. Mike is also active in the distance running community. Mike has served as the race director for two road races and participates in races ranging from the 5k to the marathon.