Photoinduced Electron Transfer Fluorescent Primer for Nucleic Acid Amplification

CDC scientists have developed a rapid and cost-efficient method for generating fluorescently labeled primers for PCR and real-time PCR. At present, fluorescent primers are useful for detecting and identifying microbes and specific nucleic acid sequences, amplifying nucleic acids for pyro-sequencing, determining the levels of gene expression, and many other uses. However, problems exist with current techniques used to create fluorescent primers. For one, labeling is not one hundred percent efficient, leading to inaccurate results.

Methods of Retaining Methylation Pattern Information in Globally Amplified DNA

CDC researchers have developed a novel method that generates globally amplified DNA copies retaining parental methylation information; making accurate DNA-archiving for methylation studies much more feasible and cost-effective than undertaking such an endeavor with alternate technologies. This unique approach eliminates a significant bottleneck in the collection of methylation information in the genome(s) of an individual organism, hosts and pathogens.

Automated Microscopic Image Acquisition, Compositing and Display Software Developed for Applied Microscopy/Cytology Training and Analysis

Micro-Screen is a CDC developed software program designed to capture images and archive and display a compiled image(s) from a portion of a microscope slide in real time. This program allows for the re-creation of larger images that are constructed from individual microscopic fields captured in up to five focal planes and two magnifications. This program may be especially useful for the creation of data archives for diagnostic and teaching purposes and for tracking histological changes during disease progression.

Multichannel Individualized Seizure Therapy (MIST) Device

The Multichannel Individualized Stimulation Therapy (MIST) device is a multichannel electrical stimulation system that can be used for targeted, individualized electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), especially for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Millions of individuals suffer from TRD, for which ECT is often the most efficacious and rapidly acting treatment option.

Discovery of potent and selective D3 antagonist with alleviated hERG liability and optimized pharmacokinetic properties

One of the most challenging hurdles in creating safe and effective new medicines for many diseases is finding drugs that are effective without causing off-target cardiac issues, such as cardiac arrythmias. In collaboration with NIDA, scientists at NCATS have developed a series of novel and highly specific dopamine D3 receptor agonists and antagonists that have potential to target and treat Parkinson’s disease, Schizophrenia, Depression, and substance-use disorders including opioid addiction.

Oral Iron-Chelator Therapy for Treating Developmental Stuttering

This technology discloses the use of small-molecule iron chelators—drugs that bind and remove excess iron—for the oral treatment of developmental stuttering in children and adults. Mouse models carrying human stuttering mutations show both elevated striatal iron and impaired vocalization; daily low-dose deferiprone reverses these speech-like deficits while normalizing brain-iron MRI signals.

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