W.C. "Chip" Hood, Jr. is the Executive Director for the MUSC Foundation for Research Development (MUSC FRD) which serves as the technology transfer office for the Medical University of South Carolina. Chip has also served as the in-house legal counsel for the MUSC FRD where he not only filed patent applications, but was also involved in the evaluation of new technology, the development of technology commercialization strategies, and the negotiation and drafting of license agreements.  

Prior to rejoining the MUSC FRD team, Chip was an officer at Needle & Rosenberg, P.C. (N&R), engaging exclusively in the practice of patent, trademark and copyright law. Chip worked with the Electronics/Software, Biotechnology, and Litigation practice groups of N&R and headed up its office in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Chip obtained his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina. He is also currently enrolled in graduate school at the Medical University of South Carolina majoring in Bioinformatics. Chip is a member of the South Carolina Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 

Chip also operated his own litigation practice in Charleston where he handled several types of litigation matters, including trade secret and license agreement cases. Prior to becoming an attorney, Chip worked as an electronics engineer for the United States Navy designing, installing, and testing communications systems.

Mr. Hood can be contacted by email:hoodwc@musc.edu, or phone: 843.876.1901