Dr. Helen Free, a member of Akron Law’s Intellectual Property Advisory Council, was awarded a 2009 National Medal of Technology and Innovation on Nov. 18, 2010 by President Obama. Dr. Free received the prestigious award for work in the field of medical and clinical urinalysis testing. She and her husband, the late Dr. Alfred Free, were both chemists with Miles Laboratories (now Bayer Corporation) and were instrumental in the development of the “dip and read” test that allowed diabetics to instantly monitor their blood glucose levels from the privacy of their homes. She is a consultant for Bayer AG.