Dr. Dustin Goncharoff applies his experience in molecular biology and biochemistry to assist Choate’s life sciences clients in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, as well as freedom-to-operate and patentability analyses. Prior to joining Choate, Dustin conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at Northwestern University. In this position, he researched novel protein aggregators implicated in cancer and neurological disease. While pursuing his PhD, Dustin examined the Swi1 yeast prion protein, the evolution of prions in yeast, and potential prionogenic human proteins. As an undergraduate student at Central Michigan University, Dustin performed research focused on determining tau cleavage product toxicity and possible routes of amelioration in a fly model. He has technical experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, yeast genetics, protein aggregation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Publications and Presentations “Defining Key Residues of the Swi1 Prion Domain in Prion Formation and Maintenance,” first author, Molecular and Cellular Biology, June 2021. “Elucidating the regulatory mechanism of Swi1 prion in global transcription and stress responses,” co-author, Scientific Reports, December 2020. “A brief overview of the Swi1 prion—[SWI+],” first author, FEMS Yeast Research, September 2018. “Analysis of [SWI+] formation and propagation events,” co-author, Molecular Microbiology, January 2017. “Antisense Reduction of Tau in Adult Mice Protects against Seizures,” co-author, The Journal of Neuroscience. “Implicating Calpain in Tau-Mediated Toxicity In Vivo,” co-author, PLoS ONE. Education & Credentials Northwestern University, PhD (2021) Neuroscience Central Michigan University, BS (2013) summa cum laude Admissions U.S. Patent & Trademark Office