Branka Bogunovic, Ph.D.

Branka Bogunovic, Ph.D., is an associate in Sterne Kessler’s Biotechnology & Chemical Practice Group. She assists in worldwide procurement of patents in the biotechnology, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Her experience includes patent prosecution in the areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and chemistry. Branka’s experience also extends to assisting in the preparation of opinions for infringement and invalidity in the areas of pharmaceuticals and chemistry. Her technical areas of expertise include immunology, microbiology, protein biochemistry, virology, molecular biology, free radicals biology, and cell biology.

Prior to joining the firm, Branka worked as a technical specialist in an IP law firm. Her dissertation research involved studying the role of Gamma interferon Inducible Lysosomal Thiol Reductase (GILT) in immune response by analyzing the effects of GILT on antigen processing and presentation in a mouse strain deficient for GILT. The major focus of her research was to understand how the presence or absence of GILT affects the repertoire of presented self-peptides and cell activation patterns.

Branka earned her J.D. at The George Washington University Law School. She received her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from Georgetown University, her M.S. in biological sciences from the University of Maryland and her B.S. in biology also from the University of Maryland.

Technical Publications

• Bogunovic et al., “Comparative Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis of MHC Class II-Associated Peptides Reveals a Role of GILT in formation of Self-Peptide repertoire.” (2010) PLoS ONE, Accepted.
• Coauthor, “Cutting Edge: Developmental Up-Regulation of IFN-γ-Inducible Lysosomal Thiol Reductase Expression Leads to Reduced T Cell Sensitivity and Less Severe Autoimmunity.” (2009) J. Immuno. 182:46-750.
• Bogunovic et al., “An Unexpected Functional Link between Lysosomal Thiol Reductase and Mitochondrial Manganese Superoxide Dismutase.” (2008) J. Biol. Chem. 283:8855-8862.
• Coauthor, “Inhibitory Role of IFN-γ-Inducible Lysosomal Thiol Reductase in T Cell Activation.” (2006) J. Immuno. 177:4369-4375.