Cook & Schmid PR Hire Science Leader

December 19, 2007

Cook & Schmid, a San Diego public relations, advertising and marketing agency with extensive experience in biotechnology, today announced that Debra Robertson, Ph.D., will serve as the agency’s director of science strategy. 

Robertson’s expertise lies in the strategic assessment of technologies and products for startup, high growth and established research, commercial and hospital environments.  As an independent biotechnology analyst, she is experienced at positioning commercial technology and products within the ultra-competitive biotech industry. Robertson will continue her practice counseling clients on IP issues, the company says. Robertson has logged more than 15 years work in antibody development, enzyme and cytokine development, and protein and genomic engineering. Her experience includes licensing, strategic planning and early-stage fund-raising as a former director of intellectual property for several biotechnology companies. In addition to her scientific and business background, Robertson is especially skilled at effectively communicating detailed scientific principles to the non-scientific community, including investors, analysts and the media. She has been a contributing writer to Nature Biotechnology for more than a dozen years. In 2003 she was recognized as the San Diego Business Journal’s “outstanding woman in business.” Robertson has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a B.A. in biology from the University of California, San Diego.

Cook & Schmid specializes in reputation and issues management, marketing and advertising for private and public companies, organizations and government agencies, ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. Cook & Schmid partners personally manage each program and lead expert teams to ensure measurable success, from positioning a new company, launching new services or products, growing a bottom line or passing a referendum. The firm’s partners include a former journalist with multiple Pulitzer Prize nominations, and its senior team members boast an average of 20 years experience. Additional information is available at www.CookandSchmid.com.