Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026

USPTO Art Unit 1616: Examiners and Allowance Rates

40 examiners • 11 with pending office actions • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals (Tech Center 1600)

Art unit baseline (last 5 years, 3,744 dispositions): 25% allowance rate • 5.0 office actions per allowance • 1,351 days median pendency
ExaminerAllowance rateResolved casesPending apps
Carlos A Azpuru100.0%70
Jasmine Afiya Evans100.0%312
David J Blanchard100.0%10
Benjamin J Packard100.0%10
Grant Thomas Kinsey100.0%10
Casey Shea Hagopian100.0%10
Jeffrey T Palenik100.0%10
Silvana C Runyan87.5%841
Jane C Oswecki70.9%3440
Alton Nathaniel Pryor69.8%1,4390
Sophia Marie Taylor66.7%30
Thor B Nielsen55.0%3490
Monica A Shin50.5%5010
Mina Haghighatian46.0%88340
John D Pak44.5%6650
Daniel L Branson43.8%4290
James Henry Alstrum Acevedo41.9%3650
Andriae M Holt41.6%6040
Nathan W Schlientz41.3%81431
Abigail Louise Vanhorn41.2%1,0190
Dongxiu Zhang Spiering41.2%3442
Danielle D Johnson41.0%780
Erin E Hirt40.6%69942
Konata M George36.4%110
Jessica M Kassa35.2%2700
Janice Y Silverman35.1%1340
Ali S Saeed31.6%13356
Frank I Choi30.9%5570
Luke E Karpinski30.8%4610
Susannah Sipple Armstrong30.0%3037
Sarah Clinkscales Wistner26.7%3035
Mei Ping Chui25.9%4550
Ernst V Arnold25.2%1390
Courtney A Brown24.6%690
Kristie Latrice Brooks20.7%820
Ali Soroush19.4%720
Sue Xu Liu15.9%13228
Hong Yu7.7%130
Johann R Richter0.0%180
Olivia Anne Macmillan—05

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the allowance rate in USPTO Art Unit 1616?

24.5% over the last five years, across 3,744 resolved applications.

Which examiners in Art Unit 1616 have the highest allowance rates?

Among examiners with at least 30 resolved applications: Jane C Oswecki (70.9%, 344 resolved), Alton Nathaniel Pryor (69.8%, 1,439 resolved), Thor B Nielsen (55.0%, 349 resolved).

Which examiners in Art Unit 1616 have the lowest allowance rates?

Among examiners with at least 30 resolved applications: Sue Xu Liu (15.9%, 132 resolved), Ali Soroush (19.4%, 72 resolved), Kristie Latrice Brooks (20.7%, 82 resolved).

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