Cyclic Peptides as Non-Hormonal Male Contraceptive Agents and Methods of Use Thereof

The available options for male contraceptives are limited. Current research is focused mainly on hormonal male contraceptives. This technology is a potential non-hormonal contraceptive using cyclic peptides to prevent spermatogenesis or the process of generating sperm within the male reproductive organs.  Specifically, this technology describes the development of a class of cyclic peptides inhibiting phosphorylation of gonadotropin-regulated testicular helicase (GRTH/DDX25).

Novel Regulatory B cells for Treatment of Cancer and Autoimmune Disease

The manner by which cancers evade the immune response is not well-understood. What is known is that the manner is an active process that regulates immune responses employing at least two types of suppressive cells, myeloid-derived suppressive cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs), a key subset of CD4+ T cells that controls peripheral tolerance to self- and allo-antigens. Tregs are considered to play a key role in the escape of cancer cells from anti-tumor effector T cells.

A Murine Model of Inflammation Based on Chronic Expression of Interferon-Gamma

An autoimmune disease is characterized by a malfunctioning healthy immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells, tissues, and organs. These chronic diseases likely result from interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Gender, race, and ethnicity characteristics have been linked to the development of an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases affect approximately 8% of the population, 78% of whom are women. Importantly, autoimmunity is known to have a genetic basis and tends to cluster in families.

Establishment of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) from the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

The limited choice in cell types available for in vitro studies has become an obstacle in hibernation research. 

Researchers at the National Eye Institute for the first time have successfully established iPSC line(s) from a mammalian hibernator, which can be potentially used to generate various cell types and tissue models for in-depth mechanistic studies of hibernation and coldness tolerance in vitro. 

Strategies to Protect Mammalian Neural Tissue Against Cold and Potentially Other Metabolic Stresses and Physical Damages

Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have discovered an invention describing a composition and method(s) of using such composition for preserving viability of cells, tissues, or organs at a low temperature (around 4ºC). Current cold storage solutions or methods for cells, tissues, and organs are suboptimal due to irreversible damage to cold-sensitive tissue or organ transplants that need a longer term of storage for facilitating clinical practices.

MADCO-Accelerated Multidimensional Diffusion MRI

Although multidimensional diffusion/relaxation NMR experiments are widely used in materials sciences and engineering applications, preclinical and clinical MRI applications of these techniques were not feasible. Moreover, higher-field MRI scanners posed another obstacle to translation of this NMR method. Their specific absorption rate (SAR) limits the use of multi-echo or CPMG pulse trains, so that the large amounts of data required by these methods cannot be collected in vivo due to exceedingly long scan times.

Isotropic Generalized Diffusion Tensor MRI

Scientists at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) have developed a method implemented as pulse sequences and software to be used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners and systems. This technology is available for licensing and commercial development. The method allows for measuring and mapping features of the bulk or average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of water in tissue – aiding in stroke diagnosis and cancer therapy assessment.