David J. Zelner’s practice at McHale | Slavin focuses on patent prosecution and advising clients on patent portfolio strategies. Mr. Zelner has an advanced degree in cell biology in addition to a law degree and specializes in biotechnology.

Prior to pursing his legal degree, Mr. Zelner spent over seven years in the research laboratories at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, in the Department of Urology developing technical experience in a variety of cellular and molecular biology related technologies. In support of multiple NIH-funded projects, Mr. Zelner conducted research developing novel prostate cancer treatment strategies and identifying prostate cancer markers, including the development of advanced prostate cancer screening tools. Mr. Zelner also performed research examining the role of TGF-β in prostate cancer and the use of this growth factor as a target for gene therapy and immunotherapy. Additionally, Mr. Zelner conducted research in the area of molecular mechanisms of neuropathic erectile dysfunction and the neural control of prostate development and function.

Scientific Publications:

• User, H., Zelner, D.J., McKenna, K.E., McVary, K.T. Microarray analysis and description of SMR1 gene in rat penis in a post-radical prostatectomy model of erectile dysfunction. J Urol. 170(1):298-301, 2003.
• User, H.M., Hairston, J.C., Zelner, D.J., McKenna, K.E., and McVary, K.T. Penile Weight and Cell Subtype Specific Changes in a Post-Radical Prostatectomy Model of Erectile Dysfunction. Journal of Urology, 169, 1175-1179, March 2003.
• Podlasek, C.A., Zelner, D.J., Tang, Y., McKenna, K.E., McVary, K.T. Altered Sonic hedgehog signaling is associated with profound morphological abnormalities in the penis of the BB/WOR diabetic rat, Biol. Reprod. 69(3):816-27, 2003.
• Podlasek, Carol A., Zelner, David J., Jiang, Hong Bin, Houston, John, McKenna, Kevin E., McVary, Kevin T. Sonic Hedgehog cascade is required for penile postnatal morphogenesis, differentiation, and adult homeostasis. Bio Repro. 68: 423-438, 2002.
• Podlasek, C.A., Gonzalez, C.M., Zelner, D.J., Jiang, H.B., McKenna, K.E., McVary, K.T. Highlight Article: Analysis of NOS isoform changes in a post radical prostatectomy model of erectile dysfunction. J of Urology, May 2002.
• Podlasek, C.A., Gonzalez, C.M., Zelner, D.J., Jiang, H.B., McKenna, K.E., McVary, K.T. Analysis of NOS isoform changes in a post radical prostatectomy model of erectile dysfunction. International Journal of Impotence Research. 13 Suppl. 5, S1-S5, 2001.
• Podlasek, C.A, Zelner, D.J, Bervig T.R., Gonzalez, C.M., McKenna K.E., McVary K.T. Characterization and localization of NOS isoforms in BB/WOR diabetic rats. J Urology. 166: 746-755, 2001.
• Gonzalez, C.M., Brannigan, R.E., Zelner, D.J., Bervig, T., Podlasek, C.A., McKenna, K.E., McVary, K.T. Protein and gene expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms I and II in the rat penile shaft. J Andrology. 22(1):54-61, 2001.
• Kindu, Shilajit D., Kim, Isaac Y., Zelner, David J., Janulis, Lynn, Goodwin, Shannon, and Lee, Chung. Loss of expression of transforming growth factor-ß type II receptor is associated with an aggressive growth pattern in a renal carcinoma cell line, Renca. J Urology. 160(5):1883-9, 1998.
• Rohlff, C., Blagosklonny, M. V., Kyle, E., Kesari., A., Kim. I.Y., Zelner, D, Hakim, F., Trepel, J., Bergan, R.C. Prostate cancer cell growth inhibition by tamoxifen is associated with inhibition of protein kinase c and induction of p21wafl/cip l. Prostate. 37:51-59, 1998.
• Nemeth, J.A., Zelner, D.J., Lang, S, Lee, C. Keratinocyte growth factor in the rat ventral prostate: androgen-independent expression. J. of Endo.156:115-125, 1998.
• Kim, Isaac, Zelner, David, and Lee, Chung. The conventional transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) receptor type I, is not required for TGFß1 signaling in a human prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP. Exp. Cell Res. 241:151-160, 1998.
• Nemeth, Jeffrey A., Sensibar Julia A., White, Roxanne R., Zelner, David J., Kim, Isaac Y., and Lee, Chung. The prostatic ductal system in rats: Tissue-specific expression and regional variation in stromal distribution of transforming growth factor ß1. Prostate 33:64-71, 1997.
• Qian, Yi, Sensibar, Julia, Zelner, David J., Schaeffer, Anthony J., Judith A., Finlay, Rittenhouse, Harry G., and Lee, Chung. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis detects prostate-specific antigen-∂1-antichymotrypsin complex in serum but not in prostatic fluid. Clinical Chemistry 43(2): 352-359, 1997.
• Kim, Isaac, Ahn, Han-Jong, Zelner, David J., Shaw, Jennifer E., Lang, Sharon, Kato, Mitsuyasu, Oefelein, Michael, Miyazono, Kohei, Nemeth, Jeffrey A., Kozlowski, James M., and Lee, Chung. Loss of expression of transforming growth factor ß receptors type I and II correlates with tumor grade in human prostate cancer tissues. Clinical Cancer Research 2: 1255-1261, 1996.
• Kim, Isaac Y., Kim, Jin-Ho, Zelner, David, Ahn, Han-Jong, Sensibar, Julia A., and Lee, Chung. Transforming growth factor ß1 is a mediator of androgen-regulated growth arrest in an androgen-responsive prostatic cancer cell line, LNCaP. Endocrinology 137:991-999, 1996.
• Kim, Isaac Y., Ahn, Han-Jong, Zelner, David J., Shaw, Jennifer W., Sensibar, Julia A, Kim, Jin-Ho, Kato, Mitsuyasu, and Lee, Chung. Genetic change in transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) receptor type I gene correlates with insensitivity to TGF-ß1 in human prostate cancer cells. Cancer Research 56:44-48, 1996.
• Kim, Isaac Y., Zelner, David J., Sensibar, Julia A, Ahn, Han-Jong, Park, Linda, Kim, Jin-Ho, and Lee, Chung. Modulation of sensitivity to transforming growth factor-ß ( TGF-ß) and the level of type II TGF-ß receptor in LNCaP cells by dihydrotestosterone. Experimental Cell Research. 222:103-110, 1996.
• Kim, Isaac Y., Ahn, Han-Jong, Zelner, David J., Park, Linda, Sensibar, Julia A, and Lee, Chung. Expression and localization of transforming growth factor-ß receptors type I and type II in the rat ventral prostate during regression. Molecular Endocrinology 10: 107-115, 1996.
• Lee, Chung, Sutkowski, Debra M., Sensibar, Julia A, Zelner, David, Kim, Isaac, Amsel, Irma, Shaw, Norman, Prins, Gail S., and Kozlowski, James. Regulation of proliferation and production of prostate specific antigen in androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP, by dihydrotestosterone. Endocrinology 136: 6796-803, 1995.

Scientific Presentations:

• “Analysis of Directed Extracellular Fluorescent Bead Movements Over the Surface of Diatoms.” Presentation & defense of research for Master of Science degree, 2005.
• “Bilateral cavernous nerve resection caused a compensatory increase in NOS III expression in the penis,” co-presented at 2nd Fall Meeting Society for the Study of Impotence, September 15-17, 2000, Cleveland, OH
• “Distribution of NOS expression in normal and diseased tissues,” co-presented at 1st Fall Meeting Society for the Study of Impotence, October 1-3, 1999, Boston, MA
• “Detection of prostate-specific antigen-∂1-antichymotrypsin complex in serum but not in prostatic fluid or seminal fluid,” co-presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association, April 23-28, 1995, Las Vegas, NV