Kweon James Gradient Temp
Kweon James Square Temp

James Kweon, PhD

Patent Agent

Dr. James Kweon assists Choate’s life sciences clients by utilizing his background in organic chemistry and chemical biology to help with the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, as well as freedom-to-operate and patentability analyses.

Industry Experience

James received his PhD in Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Yale University, where he conducted research in Professor Jonathan A. Ellman’s lab, focused on the discovery and synthesis of N-heterocyclic drug-like compounds by leveraging novel rhodium-catalyzed C-H activation methods. James collaborated on the development of the first potent G-protein biased agonists towards the 5-HT2A receptor utilizing virtual screening, as well as SAR work for a novel class of allosteric MKP5 inhibitors.

James conducted his postdoctoral studies with Professor Craig M. Crews at Yale, where he contributed to the development of novel PhosTACs for oncology indications. He also served as postdoctoral fellow at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, where he designed and synthesized novel bifunctional molecules towards the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

  • “Docking 14 million virtual isoquinuclidines against the mu and kappa opioid receptors reveals dual antagonists-inverse agonists with reduced withdrawal effects,” co-author, ACS Central Science, 2025
  • “Defining the Structure-Activity Relationship for a Novel Class of Allosteric MKP5 Inhibitors,” co-author, European Journal of Medical Chemistry, 2022
  • “Bespoke library dockings for 5-HT₂A receptor agonists with antidepressant activity,” co-author, Nature, 2022
  • Patent: “Selective Agonists of 5‑HT₂A Receptor and Methods of Use,” co-author, 2021

  • Yale University, PhD (2023) Organic Chemistry & Chemical Biology
  • Columbia University, BA (2017) Chemistry, with distinction, Richard Bersohn Prize

 

  • U.S. Patent & Trademark Office