In 1995, Dr. Warren J. Leonard of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), reported the creation of an interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain (IL-2Rg) deficient mouse. His lab also demonstrated earlier that mutations in the gene encoding IL-2Rg result in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) and that IL-2Rg is a subunit common to multiple cytokine receptors. The IL-2Rgdeficient mice created by Dr. Leonard provide a unique animal model, the first of its kind, to study XSCID and other immune deficiencies. In addition, the mouse model can also be used as a parent to create new mutant mice harboring double or even triple mutations for the studies of a wide variety of human diseases. NIH obtained a patent for Dr. Leonard’s technology in 1999. 

Since 1998, Dr. Leonard’s technology had been licensed to five commercial entities by the NIH Office of Technology Transfer. Among the parties, The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), a nonprofit biomedical research institution, presented as the most significant and active licensee. JAX is the source for more than 7,000 strains of genetically defined mice for the worldwide research community. Its initial agreement in 1998 provided for royalty-free distribution of the mice to nonprofit laboratories, while corporate laboratories were required to license from NIH. In 2005, it signed an Inter-institutional Agreement with the NIH for a new mutant strain derived from Dr. Leonard’s IL-2Rg-deficient mice, with amendments to the agreement made in 2009 and 2010. 

Dr. Betty B. Tong, Senior Licensing and Patenting Manager; Steve M. Ferguson, Deputy Director, Licensing and Entrepreneurship; and Thomas Clouse, former Licensing and Patenting Manager, all of the NIH Office of Technology Transfer, negotiated these agreements. Thanks to their efforts, JAX has been able to continually provide its new mutant mice to an estimated 500 users in academic and industry labs. In addition, there are two other new mutant strains derived by JAX from Dr. Leonard’s IL-2Rg-deficient mice. They are available as new tools for research and drug discover. 

Besides the benefits to the research community, the 2009 JAX agreement also added language to include new mutant mice strains derived by JAX that carry the IL-2Rg mutant allele based on Dr. Leonard’s patent. With the execution of the 2009 agreement and its amendments, the amount of royalty payments made to the NIH by licensees now exceeds $2 million, with significant increases the past five years.

Awardees

NIH - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

• Dr. Warren Leonard

NIH - Office of Technology Transfer

• Dr. Betty Tong
• Steven Ferguson
• Thomas Clouse (currently of the National Cancer Institute)