Our Work

Background Publications:

McMahon, Aisling, Biotechnology, Health and Patents as Private Governance Tools: the Good, the Bad and the Potential for Ugly? (August 1, 2020). (2020) 3 Intellectual Property Quarterly 161-179.

McMahon, Aisling. (2020). Patents, access to health and COVID-19 – The role of compulsory and government-use licensing in Ireland. Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly, ISSN: 0029-3105, Vol: 71, Issue: 3, Page: 331-358.

McMahon, A. (2021). Global equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for COVID-19: The role of patents as private governance. Journal of Medical Ethics;47:142-148.

McMahon, A. (2021). Patents, Governance and Control: Ethics and the Patentability of Novel Beings and Advanced Biotechnologies in Europe. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 30(3), 529-542. doi:10.1017/S0963180120001073

McMahon, Aisling. Accounting for Ethical Considerations in the Licensing of Patented Biotechnologies and Health-Related Technologies: A Justification. (September 1, 2021). In Naomi Hawkins (eds), Patenting Biotechnological Innovation: Eligibility, Ethics and Public Interest. (Edward Elgar 2022).

McMahon, Aisling, The ‘Ethical’ Regulation of ‘Novel Being’ Technologies: The Potential Role for Patents as Ethical Drivers, Blockers and Guiders? (April 12, 2022). David Lawrence and Sarah Morley (eds), Novel Beings: Regulatory Approaches for a Future of New Intelligent Life (Edward Elgar 2022).

Project Publications:

Published Articles:

4. Aisling McMahon,  ‘Intellectual Property Rights & Global Access to Health-Technologies During Pandemics: Reflecting on Vaccine Nationalism, COVID-19 & the WHO Pandemic Agreement Negotiations – The Need for Bottom-Up Institutional Change & Collective Action’  (2025) pp1-17 Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, August 2025.

3. Aisling McMahon, ‘Patents Over Technologies Related to how we Treat, Use and Modify the body: An Urgent Need for Greater Bioethics Scrutiny’ (2025) 33 (3) Medical Law Review, August 2025.

2. Aisling McMahon & Opeyemi Kolawole, ‘Intellectual Property Rights over ‘Integrated’ Medical Devices: The Potential Health Impacts and Bioethical Implications of Rightsholders’ Control’ (2025) 33(1) Medical Law Review, March 2025.

1. Aisling M McMahon, Opeyemi I Kolawole. “Biobank donation in search of public benefits and the potential impact of intellectual property rights over access to health-technologies developed: A focus on the bioethical implications” Medical Law Review, April 2024.

Reports:

Professor Aisling McMahon and Sinéad Masterson, PatentsInHumans – Year Two Project Report, April 2025.

Professor Aisling McMahon & Sinéad Masterson, Report of the First International PatentsInHumans Workshop, April 2024.

Professor Aisling McMahon and Sinéad Masterson, PatentsInHumans – Year One Project Report, February 2024.

Professor Aisling McMahon and Sinéad Masterson, A Report on the Launch Event for the PatentsInHumans Project, 20th April 2023.

Blog Articles:

Opeyemi Kolawole, ‘Proposed European Union Reforms to the Supplementary Protection Certificate Framework: Implications for Access to Medicines in the EU?’ IdeasinALL Blog (04 July 2025).

Sharon Adedapo, ‘Intellectual Property Injunctions over Health-Related Technologies: Balancing Patient Interests and Intellectual Property Rights’ IdeasinALL Blog (16 May 2025).

Lauren Kane, 30 Years of the TRIPS Agreement: The Need to Balance Intellectual Property Rights with the Right to Health , IdeasinALL Blog Article (09 May 2025).

Opeyemi Kolawole, ‘Competition Law Enforcement in the EU and Access to Health Technologies: An Overview of the EU 2024 Competition Law Report on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technologies – Update on Competition Enforcement in the Pharmaceutical Sector (2018–2022)’ IdeasinALL Blog (24 May 2024).

 Durham Cells Blog Article, 15th November 2024, Aisling McMahon, Patents & Stem Cell-Based Embryo Models in Europe: The Need for Nuanced Bioethics Scrutiny?

Ideas in ALL Blog Article 5th April 2024, Professor Aisling McMahon and Sinéad Masterson, “The ERC funded PatentsInHumans Project – Year One Project Report and Reflections!” 

Ideas in ALL Blog Article 30th June 2023, Dr Opeyemi Kolowole, A Right to Repair for Medical Devices?

Ideas in ALL Blog Article 14th June 2023, Professor Aisling McMahon & Sinéad Masterson, PatentsInHumans Public Launch Event: An Overview

Journal of Medical Ethics Blog Article 4th May 2023, Professor Aisling McMahon, EU’s compulsory licensing proposals, patents and crisis preparedness – Some steps in the right direction but more to do for future pandemic preparedness

Ideas In ALL Blog Article 2nd December 2022, Professor Aisling McMahon & Sinéad Masterson, PatentsInHumans ERC Project Commences: PatentsInHumans Explores the Bioethical Implications of Patents on Technologies Related to the Human Body

Book Chapters:

Aisling McMahon and Ciara Staunton, ‘Managing access to health data for research and innovation in the EU: is a better regulatory approach possible?’ in Edward Dove (eds) Confidentiality, Privacy, and Data Protection in Biomedicine: International Concepts and Issues. (United Kingdom : Routledge, 2024).

McMahon, Aisling (2023) Decision-Makers, Institutional Influences and the Role of Ethical issues in the Patenting of Biotechnological Inventions in Europe: Enter the Unitary Patent System. In: European Patent Law: The Unified Patent Court and the European Patent Convention. De Gruyter, Germany. ISBN 9783110774016

Other:

Professor Aisling McMahon, Patently Obvious, Law Society Gazette in Ireland (April Edition) pp. 27-31.

 Presentations: 

Aisling McMahon, “Patents & human embryonic related technologies in Europe: a focus on ethics, equity and broader policy considerations”, Special Interest Groups Ethics & Law and Stem Cells, Pre-congress Course 4: “Adult stem cells: a valuable resource for addressing reproductive health questions?” European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Conference, 29 June 2025. (Invited)

Aisling McMahon, “Embedding Ethical Considerations in Regulation: Patents, ‘Ethical’ Licensing Clauses and Self-Regulatory Spaces” Workshop Private Law Beyond the Market, Maynooth University, 30 May 2025 (Invited).

Aisling McMahon, “Health & Wellbeing – An Overview of the ERC PatentsInHumans Project”, Research Spotlight Event, Maynooth University International Week 2025, 29 April 2025. (Invited).

Aisling McMahon, “Patents & Stem Cell-Based Embryo Models in Europe: Moving Beyond Definitional Questions – The Need for Nuanced Bioethics Scrutiny?”,  Future of Human Reproduction Stream, SLSA Conference 2025, Liverpool University (16 April 2025).

Opeyemi Kolawole, “Assessing the Role of EU Competition Law in Addressing Bioethical Concerns Raised by the Enforcement of Patents over Health Technologies: A Focus on Recent Developments.”, Intellectual Property Stream, SLSA Conference 2025, Liverpool University, (15 April 2025).

Aisling McMahon & Lauren Kane, “Patents & Access to Everyday Health-Technologies: Implications and Limitations of Addressing Access Issues Through a Human Right to Health”, Intellectual Property Stream, SLSA Conference 2025, Liverpool University, (15 April 2025).

Aisling McMahon, “Bioethics, Morality & the ‘European’ Patent System: Interpretative Approach(es) to the Morality Provision in Europe & Challenges posed by Emerging Technologies Related to the Human Body.” Invited Seminar,  New Zealand Intellectual Property Office (IPONZ), Wellington, New Zealand, 12 March 2025 (Invited).

Aisling McMahon, Patents over Health-Technologies, Bioethical Issues and Human Rights,  “Future of Intellectual Property and Human Rights” Conference, University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Law, 8 March 2025. (Invited)

Aisling McMahon, ‘Conference Panel: Intellectual Property Rights, Health and a Healthy Environment, ‘New Frontiers in Intellectual Property’ Conference, University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Law, 7 March 2025. (Invited Panel Speaker).

 Aisling McMahon, “ERC PatentsInHumans: Exploring the Health and Bioethical Implications of Patents for How We Treat, Use, and Modify the Human Body.” Tell ALL Talk, Maynooth University, 12 February 2025. (Invited).

Aisling McMahon, “Delivering Sustainable Pathways For The Provision Of CAR-T Therapies To Patients: Legal, Ethical, And Regulatory Challenges And Opportunities” 8 November 2024, Cell and Gene UK Conference 2024, London, November 2024 (Invited Speaker)

Aisling McMahon, Panel Discussion: Cell and Gene Therapies IP Challenges,  Cell and Gene UK Conference 2024, London, 6 November 2024 (Invited Speaker)

Aisling McMahon, Invited Panel Speaker, Forum on the Future of Irish Bioethics, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, Ireland (30 October 2024)

Aisling McMahon, ‘Patenting of Biotechnologies in Europe: The Biotechnology Directive’ World Intellectual Property Organization Summer School organised in co-operation with Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL), Wuhan China (Invited) (Online Presentation) 10 July 2024.

Aisling McMahon, “Patents & Ethical Licensing Approaches to Steering Responsible & Ethical Uses of Emerging Technologies: A Regulatory Opportunity?” at the ‘International Association for the Advancement of Teaching and Research in Intellectual Property’ (ATRIP) Conference, LUISS University, Rome  (30 June – 3 July 2024)

Aisling McMahon, “Patents and the Global Governance of Health: An Institutionalised Marginalisation of Health and Broader Societal Needs within Patent Decision-Making Systems?” at the International Society for the History and Theory of Intellectual Property (ISHTIP) workshop, ‘Intellectual Property Law and the Anthropocene’ Boston University (26-27 June 2024). 

Aisling McMahon, “Patents & IVG Technologies within Europe: Definitional Tests, Institutional Inertia and Bioethics Gaps?” at the Wellcome Trust funded ‘Future of Human Reproduction’ ‘In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG): Ethics and Policy’ Symposium, Leiden, 3-4 June 2024 (Invited)

Aisling McMahon, “Patents & Bioethics within the European Biotechnology Directive: The Case of Human Embryo Models – Asking the Wrong Questions amidst Institutional Inertia?” at the ‘Law and Futures’ Seminar Series, Newcastle Law School, Newcastle University (22 May 2024) (Invited)

Aisling McMahon, “Patents and the Global Governance of Health: An Institutionalised Marginalisation of Health Needs within Patent Decision-Making Systems?” at the Durham CELLS (Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences) Seminar Series, Durham University (20 May 2024) (Invited)

Aisling McMahon & Opeyemi Kolawole, “Intellectual Property Rights, Control and Repair of Medical Devices: Autonomy, Sustainability and the Need (and Challenges) for a Right to Repair for Medical Devices?” at the British and Irish Law Education and Technology Association (BILETA) Conference, DCU Dublin, 18 April 2024. (presented by Aisling McMahon).

Aisling McMahon, “Bioethics, Patent Decision-Making and the Biotech Directive: A Failure to Keep Pace with Scientific Developments amidst Institutional Inertia?” SLSA Conference 2024, University of Portsmouth, England 27 March 2024.

Opeyemi Kolawole, “Competition Law and Access to Medical Technologies: Can European Competition Law Improve Patients’ Welfare and Access to Medical Technologies?” SLSA Conference 2024, University of Portsmouth, England 27 March 2024.

Aisling McMahon & Opeyemi Kolawole, “Intellectual Property Rights, Control and Repair of Medical Devices: Autonomy, Sustainability and the Need (and Challenges) for a Right to Repair for Medical Devices?” SLSA Conference 2024, University of Portsmouth, England 27 March 2024.

Aisling McMahon, ‘Guest Seminar: TRIPS, Patents and Access to Health: A Time for Critical Reflections?’, LLM Guest Seminar, University of Galway, 21 March 2024 (Invited).

Aisling McMahon, “Patents Over Brain Computer Interface ‘Technology’ & Rightsholder(s)’ Governance: A Blurring of the ‘Technological’ & Human Body,” Guest Seminar, LAWS2019: Law & Technology Module, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Canada (Virtual Presentation) 11 March 2024 (Invited).

Aisling McMahon, ‘The Ethical Regulation of Innovative Health Technologies: The role for Patents?’ Regulation of Innovative Health Technologies Workshop, Centre for Law and Genetics, University of Tasmania, November 2023. (Invited)

Aisling McMahon, “Bioethical issues posed by patents – and how they are used – over ‘technologies’ related to the human body: An Urgent Need for Scrutiny”, International Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (AABHL) conference, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, November 2023.

Aisling McMahon, “Patents over Brain Computer Interface ‘Technology’: A Blurring of the ‘Technological’ and Human Body with Significant Bioethical Implications”. International Interdisciplinary Workshop “Beyond Boundaries: Persons, (Bio)Technologies, & the Law” organised by the EverydayCyborgs and HybridMinds Projects, Gladstones Library, Wales, 2-3 October 2023. (Invited)

 Aisling McMahon, ‘Patents, TRIPS and the Private Governance of Public Health: A Perpetuating Institutionalised Marginalisation of Health?’, COMPHACRISIS Public Health, Markets and Law Conference, UCD 29 September 2023 (Invited). 

Aisling McMahon, ‘The Biotechnology Directive & the Patentability of Emerging Biotechnologies in Europe: Scope for the Consideration of Bioethical Issues in Practice?’, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Center for Studies of Intellectual Property Rights and Maynooth School of Law and Criminology Joint Intellectual Property Research Exchange, Maynooth University, 22 September 2023. 

Aisling McMahon, ‘Bioethics, Patent Decision-Making and the Biotech Directive: A Failure to Keep Pace with Scientific Developments amidst Institutional Inertia?’, Conference on the 25th Anniversary of the Biotechnology Directive, Maynooth University, 15  September 2023. 

Aisling McMahon, Patents and Access to Health, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Summer School on Intellectual Property Law, (Virtual Presentation) 30 June 2023. (Invited).

Aisling McMahon, Embedding Ethical Considerations in Regulation: Patents, ‘Ethical’ Licensing Clauses and Self-Regulatory Spaces. “Engineering Life: Regulating Science, Risks, and Society in Europe Conference”; 50th Anniversary of the Asilomar Conference, Rice University’s Global Center Paris. (Virtual Presentation) 15 June 2023. (Invited)

 Aisling McMahon and Opeyemi Kolawole, Patents over Implantable Medical Devices: Examining the Potential Impacts of Rightsholder(s) Control and Medical Device Users’ Needs?, Planting Seeds for the Future of IP Law  Conference – A conference in honour of Margaret Llewelyn., Sheffield University 8 June 2023. 

Aisling McMahon, Patents, TRIPS and the Private Governance of Public Health: A Perpetuating Institutionalised Marginalisation of Health?” at the Royal Society of Edinburgh funded ‘Public Health, Trade and the Role of Law’  Workshop, University of Edinburgh, 25 May 2023. (Invited)

Aisling McMahon, “Patents, Pandemics and Public Health: Revisiting Patents Governance Role” at the AHRC funded Targeting Therapies: Exploring the Cultural and Normative Dimensions of ‘Targeted’ Approaches to Biomedicine and Public Health Workshop, University of Edinburgh, 5 May 2023. (Invited)

Aisling McMahon, ‘Patents  on Technologies related to the Form, Function and Modification of the Human Body:  The Urgent Need for Greater Bioethics Scrutiny in Patent Decision-Making’ Health Law Panel, Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) Conference, University of Ulster, 5 April 2023. 

Aisling McMahon & Opeyemi Kolawole, “Patenting (In) the Human Body: The ‘No (Tangible) Property Rights in the Body’ Principle & Patents Considered” Intellectual Property Panel, Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) Conference, University of Ulster 5 April 2023. 

Aisling McMahon, “Patents on Technologies Related to the Human Body: The Urgent Need for Greater Bioethics Scrutiny” Law and Futures Seminar “’Technology, Medicine and the Human Body”, Newcastle Law School 31 March 2023. (Invited Seminar) 

Aisling McMahon, “The “ethical” regulation of “novel being” technologies: the potential role for patents as ethical drivers, blockers and guiders?” Book Launch Event: Novel Beings: Regulatory Approaches for a Future of New Intelligent Life, Newcastle Law School, 30 March 2023. (Invited) 

Aisling McMahon, “Patents, Pandemics and Public Health Access to Vaccines: Lessons from COVID-19 on the Bioethics Gap” Economic, Legal, Social, and Political Perspectives on Public Policy, Department of Economics, Maynooth University 29 March 2023. 

Aisling McMahon, “Patents, Access to Healthcare and Covid-19: The Role of Intellectual Property Rights & Mechanisms to Alleviate Access Issues” Immunology and Global Health Seminar, Maynooth University 21 March 2023. (Invited)

Engagement:

 First PatentInHumans Project Infographic can be downloaded here.

 Second PatentInHumans Project Infographic can be downloaded here.