Dara L. Onofrio, Esq. has been practicing law for over 20 years. Prior to beginning her law practice over 10 years ago, Dara was partner in another law firm. She also worked as a research scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, in both the Developmental Genetics and Somatic Cell Genetics Departments.
She obtained her law degree from Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University) in New York. She hold a B.S. degree, cum laude, in Chemistry from Southern Connecticut State University. Dara completed special science studies at Yale University and graduate studies in Molecular Biology at Cornell Medical School. Prior to beginning law school, Dara received a scholarship to study Art and Art History at the University of Urbino, Italy. While in law school, she spent a semester abroad to study international law at Cambridge University in England.
Dara's legal expertise is in the area of intellectual property, covering mainly patent and trademark matters as well as copyright protection. She is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She is also admitted to the New York and Connecticut state bars. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern District of New York and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Dara is a member of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the New York Academy of Sciences.
In providing community service, Dara has been the Village Justice for Grand View-on-Hudson in Rockland County, New York, for over five years. She is a member of the New York State Magistrates Association. She has been an active Staff Officer in Division 10 and Flotilla 10-10 of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary for the past five years. She is a member of the Red Cross (Rockland County) Board of Directors and is also the executive vice president of the Rockland Business Women's Network.
Dara was the executive producer of a short film entitled "875" and is currently producing a feature film about the life of Emily Dickinson with writer, Christine Baker.
Science Experience:Southern Connecticut State University - Department of Psychobiology
Conducted experimental research on rats to determine the neurological local of circadian rhythm. Performed electronic lesions in various brain areas, in particular the hypothalamus, with follow up observation of resulting behavior and final analysis of dissected brain sections. Conducted independent studies on the theoretical aspects of regeneration of the central nervous system. Focus on studies performed at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden regarding neurological embryonic implants and inducible developmental proteins and chemical changes during aging of the central nervous system.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Department of Somatic Cell Genetics
Conducted studies involving the genetic mapping of X-linked chromosome diseases such as Muscular Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis. Responsible for constructing phage libraries to isolate the actin gene. Transformed DNA prepared from phage libraries into plasmid vectors and performed radio isotope labeling to screen for actin proteins. Cloned the c-DNA of the actin gene from the m_RNA isolated. Conducted immunological experiments on rabbits regarding the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Isolated and purified papilloma virus proteins after injections with TNF.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Department of Developmental Genetics
Conducted experimental studies on mice involving the function of T-cells in tumor development. Focused on isolating and purifying testicular proteins through column chromatography and gel electrophoresis and prepared monoclonal antibodies to T-cell antigens.