The Mintz Levin 2008 Pro Bono Report 25 Public Interest Intellectual Property Advisors, Inc. and International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology When a person is passionate about a country, and a cause, seeking and finding an opportunity for pro bono work can be especially meaningful. For Mintz Levin patent agent Isaac Rutenberg, the country is Kenya (the birthplace of his wife, Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg), and the cause is helping scientists find and use local, sustainable materials and methods to address the human and agricultural diseases facing people in developing or tropical regions. Starting in 2007, these interests led Isaac to search for an opportunity to bring Mintz Levin’s expertise to bear on these problems. During a visit to Kenya, on a referral from Public Interest Intellectual Property Advisors, Inc., he met and befriended Peter Munyi, in-house counsel at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). ICIPE is a non-profit intergovernmental organization established in Kenya in 1970 to study and alleviate human, crop and livestock diseases, especially those caused by insects. This is a much bigger problem in developing countries, where Western chemicals and technologies are less effective–and often out-of-reach. As Isaac explains, it’s a question not only of finding cures, but also of addressing (and preventing) the root causes of these serious health and agricultural concerns. “Sometimes it’s as simple as using bed nets to combat malaria–but they’re not available.” Understandably, ICIPE’s scientists have less experience with patent prosecution, and Mintz Levin has been able to offer timely pro bono help–on an international basis–as the organization begins to make use of international intellectual property protection mechanisms. Isaac launched the current project, in the summer of 2008, by working with ICIPE to turn draft documents into formal patent applications. Mintz Levin also enlisted the help of Shantanu Basu, for his expertise in the life sciences, and Julian Crump, for his extensive experience in proceedings before the European Patent Office. This project illustrates ICIPE’s goal of developing solutions that are directly applicable to local–and pressing–problems. As Isaac reminds us, “this is a drop in the bucket, compared to the need out there.” “ They live with these problems day to day, and know what’s available to address them. They’re addressing needs that wouldn’t be addressed elsewhere, and they’re doing this in unique ways that the world should know about. Encouraging local solutions to problems is much more sustainable.” - Isaac Rutenberg