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Sangeeta K. Cheema, Ph.D.

Sangeeta K. Cheema, Ph.D.

Of Counsel

Sangeeta Cheema is a patent attorney in the firm’s life sciences practice group where she focuses her practice on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in biotechnology and related sciences, with specialization in cancer biology, molecular biology, physiology, neurology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, and nanotechnology. Sangeeta’s practice extends to conducting freedom-to-operate searches and performing patent diligence analyses, patent licensing and agreements, and IP strategy and portfolio management. Sangeeta brings over 10 years of patent experience to her practice, working within a variety of in-house, educational and research institution, and private practice roles. This diverse industry experience enables Sangeeta to develop practical, business-centric solutions that align with clients’ objectives.

Prior to returning to private practice, Sangeeta was IP counsel of the technology transfer department at the University of Houston, where she advised and counseled on matters related to intellectual property and licensing transactions. Before this, she was the head of the patent group in India for Unilever, as part of a global legal team to support the intellectual property needs of this leading multinational consumer goods company.

Sangeeta earned a Ph.D. in cancer biology from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in microbiology from Panjab University in India. Sangeeta earned her J.D., cum laude, from South Texas College.

  • J.D., cum laude, South Texas College of Law, 2011
  • Ph.D., Cancer Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002
  • M.S., Microbiology, Panjab University, 1992
  • B.S., Microbiology, Panjab University, 1990

  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office

  • Christensen O’Connor Johnson KindnessPLLC
    Seattle, WA, 2022 - present
  • Seed IP LLP
    Seattle, WA, 2021 - 2022
  • University of Houston
    Houston, TX, 2020 - 2021
  • Unilever
    Mumbai, India, 2017 - 2019
  • Winstead PC
    Houston, TX, 2012 - 2017
    Patent Agent, 2007 - 2008

  • Scientific Advisor
    Adler and Associates, 2006 - 2007

  • Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)

    Presentations

    • "Recent Developments in Patent Law," University of Texas Medical Branch, Office of Technology Transfer (Galveston, TX, June 2014).
    • "Using the Patent System to Protect your Biomedical Inventions in the U.S. and Abroad," Biomedical Technology Club of Houston (Houston, TX, April 2014).
    • “Promotion of Stable Vasculature via siRNA Technology,” Houston Society of Engineering and Biomedical Sciences (HSEBS) Annual Meeting (Houston, TX, October 2006).
    • “Promotion of Stable Vasculature via siRNA Technology,” 8th Annual Tissue Engineering Society International (TESI) Meeting (Shanghai, China, October 2005).
    • “PAR-4 Mediates Regulation of Bcl-2 via a WT1 binding site on the bcl-2 promoter in Advanced Prostate Carcinoma,” Bioimmunotherapy Faculty Retreat (Houston, TX, 2003).

      Publications

      • “Regulation and Guidance of Cell Behavior for Tissue Regeneration via siRNA Mechanism,” Wound Repair and Regeneration, Volume 15, Issue 3, 2007, pp. 286-295, Cheema, S.K., Chen, E., S.D., Lonnie, Mathur, A.B.
      • “Silk Fibroin Mediated Delivery of Liposomal Emodin to Breast Cancer Cells,” International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 341, Issue 1-2, 2007, pp. 221-229, Cheema, S.K, Gobin, A.S., Rhea, R., Lopez-Berestein, G., Newman, R.A., Mathur, A.B.
      • “Androgen receptor controls the expression of WT1 in the androgen dependent prostate cancer cell line LNCAP,” Proc American Association for Cancer Research, Volume 46, 2005, p. 1029, Sanguino, A.M., Chavez, A., Cheema, S.K, Tari, A.M., Lopez-Berestein, G.
      • “Par-4 Transcriptionally Regulates Bcl-2 through a WT1-binding Site on the bcl-2 Promoter,” Journal of Biological Chemistry, Volume 278, Issue 22, 2003, pp. 19995 – 20005, Cheema, S.K., Mishra, S.K, Rangnekar, V.M., Tari, A.M., Kumar, R., and Lopez-Berestein, G.
      • “Par-4 transcriptionally regulates Bcl-2 in Prostate Cancer Cells,” Proc American Association for Cancer Research, Volume 42, 2002, pp. 591, Cheema, S. K., Rangnekar, V.M., Tari, A.M., Lopez-Berestein, G.
      • “Growth Regulation of Prostate Cancer Cell Lines by Bcl-2 Down-modulation,” Proc American Association for Cancer Research, Volume 41, 2001, pp. 264, Cheema, S. K., Rangnekar, V.M., Tari, A.M. and Lopez-Berestein, G.
      • “Retinoid-mediated Signaling Pathways in CD38 Antigen Expressing Myeloid Leukemia Cells,” Leukemia & Lymphoma, Volume 32, Issue 5-6, 1999, pp. 441-449, Mehta, K., Cheema, S. K.
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