Padmashree Gehl Sampath, an Indian National, joined UNU-INTECH, now UNU-MERIT, in the autumn of 2002. She completed her doctoral studies at the Graduate College for Law and Economics, University of Hamburg, in 2002. Her research specialization is in biotechnology, with a particular emphasis on pharmaceuticals/health, and other issues relating to the global protection of intellectual property rights in developing countries. She actively participates in international discussions around the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, on biotechnology-related issues. She is also the Coordinator of UNU-MERIT Research Seminar Series, which brings together scholars working on issues of innovation, technology and development. Dr. Gehl Sampath has consulted various UN organisations, including the World Health Organisation and UNCTAD, the European Commission and also the German Government on intellectual property rights and health innovation issues. She has published several articles and book chapters on these topics, and recently completed the book: Regulating Bioprospecting: Institutions for Drug Research, Access and Benefit-Sharing ( UNU Press, 2005). Prior to joining UNU-INTECH, Dr. Gehl Sampath worked at the Institute for International and European Environmental Policy in Berlin, where she is still affiliated as a research associate.