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Our keynote speaker
Deborah Paul, PhD
Deborah Paul, PhD, received her master's degree in biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in January 1979, and her PhD in Biochemistry from the Medical College of Virginia for work on the structure of Hepatitis B surface antigen. In 2016 she retired from Abbott Laboratories where she worked for 34-plus years. She authored 42 journal articles, four book chapters, 80 abstracts, and has three issued patents.
While at Abbott, she spent 14 years with Abbott Diagnostics doing Hepatitis/ Retrovirus research, where she is credited with the pioneering research leading to the identification of HIV antigen in the serum of infected patients, resulting in the development of Abbott's HIV antigen test, used in assessing disease prognosis, monitoring antiviral therapy, determining HIV infection in the newborn, and diagnosing acute HIV infection, prior to the advent of PCR testing for HIV. She also collaborated with Abbott’s Pharmaceutical Division (now AbbVie) aiding in the discovery of Abbott’s protease inhibitor antiviral treatments for HIV. Additionally, she worked on diagnostic immunoassays for Hepatitis B, C and E, and was responsible for developing the monoclonal antibodies used in Hepatitis B surface antigen assays.
In 1995, she left the lab to work as a Patent Liaison in Technology Assessment and Acquisitions, acting as the interface between scientists, engineers and patent attorneys, with responsibility for coordinating the patent application process and managing the division’s patent portfolio, as well as handling knowledge management issues. This transitioned into licensing, which encompassed negotiating licenses, legal agreements and contracts. From 2005 until her retirement, she was Director of Licensing and Business Development for Abbott Molecular, a wholly owned subsidiary of Abbott, when it was segmented from Abbott Diagnostics to pursue diagnostics focused on nucleic acid testing.
Additionally, she taught Immunology at Carthage College, and was an Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Wisconsin-Parkside (where she received her bachelor's degree in life sciences) teaching a graduate level Immunology Lab module. She is also a Certified Group Fitness Instructor of 43 years, teaching Aerobic Dance, Body Toning, Barre and Mat Pilates classes at College of Lake County, and she is an avid golfer.
At Illinois, she has served on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Dean’s Council and in 2016 was the winner of the LAS Dean’s Quadrangle Award. She joined the University of Illinois Foundation Board of Directors in 2018, and is also a board director with Illinois Ventures as well as serving on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
