Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026

Examiner: NICOL, ALEXANDER W

Tech Center 1600 • Art Units: 1633 1634

This examiner grants 43% of resolved cases

Analysis

Alexander W Nicol is an examiner in Tech Center 1600 and Art Unit 1633. The examiner has 177 resolved cases. The data shows an allowance rate of 42.9 percent, which indicates the frequency of patent grants for applications in this unit. The median days to allowance for these cases is 1509. This timeframe provides a clear expectation for the duration of the prosecution process.

The interview lift is 43.1 percent. This figure suggests that conducting an interview has a significant impact on the probability of success compared to the 42.9 percent allowance rate. Applicants may find that verbal communication is a highly effective strategy. The 177 resolved cases provide a basis for these observations.

In Art Unit 1633, the 1509 median days to allowance reflects the typical speed of the examination cycle. The 43.1 percent interview lift represents a substantial improvement in outcomes. Practitioners should prioritize an interview when developing their strategy for Tech Center 1600.

Written from this page's own data; every figure is computed from USPTO records and verified before publication.

Performance Statistics

42.9%
Allow Rate
-17.1% vs TC avg
234
Total Applications
+43.1%
Interview Lift
1509
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 177 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

3.0%
§101 Eligibility
19.2%
§102 Novelty
41.4%
§103 Obviousness
21.1%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
18065255 SILENCING OF DUX4 BY RECOMBINANT GENE EDITING COMPLEXES Non-Final OA University of Massachusetts
18628143 CELL CULTURE MEMBRANE AND CELL CULTURE METHOD Non-Final OA TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
18538799 THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME Non-Final OA The Regents of the University of California
18034045 CONTROLLING CELLULAR BEHAVIOR USING FEED-FORWARD CIRCUITS Final Rejection The Regents of the University of California
17169442 COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS TO BARCODE BACTERIOPHAGE RECEPTORS, AND USES THEREOF Final Rejection THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
17152463 ADENO-ASSOCIATED VIRAL VECTOR, COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF PROMOTING MUSCLE REGENERATION, AND TREATMENT METHODS Non-Final OA NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
17616111 NOVEL LIVE-CELL ASSAY FOR NEURONAL ACTIVITY Non-Final OA UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
17244136 COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INHIBITION OF LINEAGE SPECIFIC ANTIGENS Non-Final OA The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
18020029 COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INCREASING PROTEIN EXPRESSION Final Rejection The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
18282463 CHARACTERIZING THE BINDING INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MUSK AND BMP RECEPTORS Final Rejection Brown University
18252194 EXPRESSION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A NETWORK IN A CELL AND CELL COMPRISING THE EXPRESSION SYSTEM Final Rejection ETH ZURICH
17285148 CERVICAL CANCER ORGANOIDS Final Rejection Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
18277933 ADENO-ASSOCIATED VIRUSES AND METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR MAKING AND USING ADENO-ASSOCIATED VIRUSES Final Rejection UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
18737396 SEQUENTIAL APPLICATION OF MACROPHAGES FOR WOUND HEALING Non-Final OA Drexel University
17996759 OVERCOMING THE TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT FOR CELL THERAPY BY TARGETING MYELOID DERIVED SUPPRESSOR CELLS THROUGH A TRAIL-R2 SPECIFIC RECEPTOR Final Rejection Baylor College of Medicine
17055075 CRISPR INTERFERENCE BASED HTT ALLELIC SUPPRESSION AND TREATMENT OF HUNTINGTON DISEASE Final Rejection THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA
17283433 GENERATION OF IMPROVED HUMAN PAH FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERE PKU BY LIVER-DIRECTED GENE REPLACEMENT THERAPY Final Rejection Genzyme Corporation
18394085 CELL PREPARATION METHOD Final Rejection KYOTO PREFECTURAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION
18539379 MULTI-ORGAN MODEL Non-Final OA CELLARTGEN INC.

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