Graham Dutfield

Graham Dutfield is a Visiting Professor at the School of Law, University of Leeds, and holds adjunct roles at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and Osgoode Hall Law School. His research bridges law, history, and policy, focusing on intellectual property (IP) governance, traditional knowledge, and biotechnology. He has advised governments globally and contributed to major initiatives like the ICTSD-UNCTAD Capacity-building Project on IP and Development.

His academic work examines IP's role in health, agriculture, and innovation, emphasizing equitable access and sustainable development. Notable research includes critiques of pharmaceutical patent practices, bioprospecting ethics, and the intersection of customary law with IP systems. He has supervised over 30 PhD students and authored/co-authored influential books on IP law and policy.

Recent grants include a £325k Darwin Initiative project on Access and Benefit-Sharing and a Leeds Strategic Fund grant on Personalised Medicine and Law. His publications span journals like Health Economics, Policy and Law and Journal of World Intellectual Property, addressing topics such as traditional knowledge protection and the 'pharmaceutical privilege' in patent law.

He actively engages with international bodies like the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and contributes to policy debates through media outlets like The Economist and Science. His work bridges academic rigor with practical policy solutions for global IP challenges.