Diagnostic Assays and Methods of Use for Detection of Filarial Infection

The effort targeting the mosquito borne neglected tropical disease lymphatic filariasis for elimination through mass drug administration by 2020 will require accurate, cost effective methods for detecting early infections. The World Health Organization-recommended immunochromatographic test detects adult Wuchereria bancrofti (Wb) antigen in blood, but shows variable efficacy due to the complex life cycle of the parasites and cross reactivity with other organisms. This variability may hinder effective lymphatic filariasis elimination efforts.

Vascularized Thyroid-on-a-Chip for Personalized Drug Screening and Disease Modeling

This technology includes a micro-engineered “thyroid-on-a-chip” that combines human thyroid organoids with integrated micro-vasculature to replicate the gland’s native blood flow and 3-D architecture, enabling rapid, patient-specific drug screening. By permitting real-time perfusion of nutrients, hormones, and immune cells, the platform yields more physiologically relevant data than conventional static cultures or animal surrogates.

Innovative Antibody Conjugates for Targeted Therapy

This advanced technology introduces innovative antibody conjugates that redefine the possibilities of targeted therapy. By coupling therapeutic agents to engineered antibodies with highly specific binding sites, these conjugates deliver treatments directly to diseased cells while sparing healthy tissues. The result is a powerful increase in treatment efficacy, accompanied by a meaningful reduction in side effects.

Postnatal Stem Cells and Uses Thereof

Many individuals with ongoing and severe dental problems are faced with the prospect of permanent tooth loss. Examples of such dental problems include: dentinal degradation due to chronic dental disease (caries or periodontal); mouth injury; or through surgical removal, such as with tumors associated with the jaw. For many, a technology that offers a possible alternative to artificial dentures by designing and transplanting a set of living teeth fashioned from an individual's own pulp cells would greatly improve their quality of life.

Rabbit Antisera to Various Matrix, Matricellular, and Other Secreted Proteins

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of a group of proteins that regulate many cellular functions, such as cell shape, adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Deregulation of ECM protein production or function contributes to many pathological conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthrosclerosis, and cancer. Scientists at the NIH have developed antisera against various ECM components such as proteoglycan, sialoprotein, collagen, etc.. These antisera can be used as research tools to study the biology of extracellular matrix molecules.

Antigen Mixtures for Serological Detection of HHV-8 Infection

This invention describes a highly specific and sensitive serological test for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection that uses the Luciferase Immunoprecipitation System (LIPS). A mixture of four virus-specific antigens, including K8.1, v-cyclin, ORF65 and LANA, was shown to provide more robust detection of HHV-8 infection than traditional methods due its ability to detect very low viral loads.