In recognition of pioneering research and development that has brought NIH technology from the theoretical realms of the laboratory to clinical applications.
Awardee
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
In recognition of pioneering research and development and an unsurpassed commitment to transferring NIH/NIA technology to benefit mankind.
Awardee
National Institute on Aging
Reactive mast cells are the culprit in allergic diseases and have also been implicated in other diseases ranging from autoimmune disorders to cancer to atherosclerosis. These immune sentinel cells normally defend against parasites and bacteria, but sometimes they overreact to harmless intruders, such as pollens or plant oils, releasing granules loaded with inflammation-inciting molecules, such as histamine, as well as various proteases and cytokines that cause allergic and inflammatory reactions.
The development of restriction enzyme technology in the 1970s was a breakthrough in molecular biology research. For the first time, scientists were able to cut DNA at specific sites, and insert sequences with matching ends. However, the technology was limited to insertion at particular sites in the host vector, and the size of the inserted DNA quickly became a limiting factor.
Cell lines are important biomedical tools that have revolutionized the way in which researchers study diseases. Human tumor cell lines can be used as in vitro model systems of cancer that are able to simulate the manner in which the disease behaves in the body. This technology describes approximately 439 human tumor cell lines that have important application as research tools to study a wide variety of cancers. The majority of the cell lines were cultured from lung cancer tissue, but they can be used to study many tumor types.
The development of restriction enzyme technology in the 1970s was a breakthrough in genetic engineering. For the first time, scientists were able to cut DNA at specific sites and insert sequences with matching ends. However, the technology was limited to insertion at particular sites in the host vector, and the size of the inserted DNA quickly became a limiting factor. The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) solution is a technology that consists of three specialized bacterial strains and seven plasmids, developed around a genetic system in E.
Cell lines are important biomedical tools that have revolutionized the way researchers study diseases. Human tumor cell lines can be used as in vitro model systems of cancer that are able to simulate how the disease behaves in the body. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has approximately 439 human tumor cell lines that have an important application as research tools to study a variety of cancers. The majority of the cell lines were cultured from lung cancer tissue, but they can be used to study many tumor types.
In the Mid-Atlantic Region, Maryland is in an enviable position with regard to biotechnology-related resources that encourage and support entrepreneurial efforts. Academic institutions, a federal laboratory, a committed county department of economic development, and a unique small business have developed an effective consortium to leverage these resources. The potential for human capital to support this entrepreneurial growth is further augmented by the number of graduate and post-doctoral programs available in the region.
New research discoveries from federal intramural laboratories typically reach the market via transfer of the underlying technology to private companies for further development and commercialization.
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.