Fluorinated MU-Opioid Receptor Agonists

Summary: 
Investigators at the National Institute on Drug Abuse seek co-development partners and/or licensees for collection of mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists as alternatives for existing compounds.

Description of Technology: 
Although existing opioids are excellent analgesics and useful as positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers, they come with debilitating side effects. These include addiction, respiratory distress, hyperalgesia, and constipation. Therefore, there is a need for alternatives with lower adverse effects.

T Cell Receptors Targeting EGFR L858R mutation on HLA-A*11:01+ Tumors for Use as Research Tools

Tumor-specific mutated proteins can create neoepitopes, mutation-derived antigens that distinguish tumor cells from healthy cells, which are attractive targets for adoptive cell therapies. However, the process of precisely identifying the neoepitopes to target is complex and challenging. One method to identify such neoepitopes is Mass Spectrometry (MS) when used in conjunction with elution of peptides bound to a specific Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) allele.

A Protocol to Enhance Therapeutic Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and the Methods to Realize It

Summary: 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for a high-powered electronic device and coil that delivers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) pulses as well as the software that controls the device for treating treatment resistant depression, substance use disorders and other CNS disorders.

Description of Technology: 

Directed Acetylation of Cytidine in Cellular mRNA through Engineered snoRNA Adapters for the Treatment of Haploinsufficiencies

Summary: 

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for engineered chimeric snoRNA guides that recruit NAT10 to a specific target and cause directed acetylation of the target. They could be used to treat haploinsufficiency-associated disorders or diseases.

Description of Technology: 

Combined RNA and DNA Vaccination Strategy for Improving the Vaccine Immune Response

The development of an effective HIV vaccine has been ongoing. HIV sequence diversity and immunodominance are major obstacles in the design of an effective vaccine. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) developed a novel vaccine strategy combining both DNA and mRNA vaccination to induce an effective immune response. This combination strategy could also be used to develop vaccines against cancer or other infectious diseases (ex. SARS-CoV-2). 

Novel Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptides as Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers and Inhibitors of Amyloid Formation

Over 34 million Americans are living with diabetes. An estimated 6.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellites (T2DM). Amyloidosis due to aggregation of amyloid-β is key pathogenic event in AD, whereas aggregation of mature islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP37) in human islet leads to β-cell dysfunction. A hallmark feature of T2DM is the accumulation of islet amyloid polypeptide fibrils in pancreatic islets. Such accumulations form amyloid plaques and cause apoptosis of -cells of islets. 

T Cell Receptor Targeting CD22 for the Treatment of Lymphomas and Leukemias

CD22 is a protein expressed by normal B cells and B-lymphoid malignancies. Its limited tissue expression pattern makes it a safe antigen for targeted therapies, such as T-cell Receptor (TCR)-T cell therapy. CD22-targeting therapies already on the market, mainly antibody-immunotoxin conjugates and chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)-T cells, have limitations such as resistance to treatment and/or side effects. Resistance mechanisms to the current CD22 therapies involve loss or modulation of target antigen on the cell surface.