Dr. Courtney Whilden assists Choate’s life sciences clients by utilizing her background in molecular biology and neuroscience to support the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, as well as freedom-to-operate and patentability analyses. Courtney received her PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard University, where her research focused on uncovering RNA-mediated mechanisms of gene regulation in neuronal systems. Her work utilized a range of advanced technologies, including CRISPR-mediated gene editing, antisense oligonucleotides, and next-generation sequencing. She additionally developed automated computational pipelines to interpret complex sequencing data. Prior to pursuing her PhD, Courtney completed her undergraduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University, where she studied neuronal circuitry using viral tracing, histology, and microscopy. She also conducted clinical research to understand factors that influence post-stroke recovery outcomes. Publications and Presentations “Allelic chromatin structure primes imprinted expression of Kcnk9 during neurogenesis,” co-author, Genes and Development, 2025 “The synaptic inputs and thalamic projections of two classes of corticothalamic neurons in primary somatosensory cortex of the mouse,” first author, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2021 Education & Credentials Harvard University, PhD (2026) Neurobiology The Johns Hopkins University, BS (2020) Neuroscience