T-Cell Immunotherapy that Targets Aggressive Epithelial Tumors

Metastatic cancers cause up to 90% of cancer deaths, yet few treatment options exist for patients with metastatic disease. Adoptive transfer of T cells that express tumor-reactive T-cell receptors (TCRs) has been shown to mediate regression of metastatic cancers in some patients. Unfortunately, identification of antigens expressed solely by cancer cells and not normal tissues has been a major challenge for the development of T-cell based immunotherapies. Thus, it is essential to find novel target antigens differentially expressed in cancer versus normal tissues.

Using Artificial Intelligence To Diagnose Uveitis

Summary: 
The National Eye Institute seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for a deep learning algorithm that can identify retinal vasculitis using color fundus images.

Description of Technology: 
Uveitis is caused by inflammation in the eye that can cause pain and reduce vision. The rate of uveitis in the United States is 1 in every 200 people with eye-related irritation. Permanent symptoms such as vision loss can occur if untreated. Therefore, early detection is crucial. 

Application of AAV44.9 Vector in Gene Therapy for the Inner Ear

This technology includes a novel AAV isolate (AAV44.9) to be used as gene therapy for the inner ear for the treatment of deafness. The ability of AAV vectors to transduce dividing and non-dividing cells, establish long-term transgene expression, and the lack of pathogenicity has made them attractive for use in gene therapy applications. Vectors based on new AAV isolates may have different host range and different immunological properties, thus allowing for more efficient transduction in certain cell types.

Identification of EGFR as A Receptor for AAV6 Transduction

AAV vectors offer unique advantages in gene therapy applications. Studies have shown that these replication deficient parvovirus vectors can deliver DNA to specific tissues and confer long-term transgene expression in a variety of systems. Although many studies have looked at the tissue-specific expression elicited by each of the AAV serotypes, a true understanding of how AAV transduces these tissues is still unclear. Of the large AAV family, only a few receptors or co-receptors have been identified.

Henipavirus Vaccine

Henipaviruses are RNA viruses containing two high consequence human pathogens: Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV). Both NiV and HeV infection in humans can result in severe respiratory disease and/or severe neurological manifestations, with mortality rates as high as 80%. There are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics, and both NiV and HeV are considered dangerous emerging human pathogens with pandemic potential.

mTOR Inhibition for the Prevention of Epithelial Stem Cell Loss and Mucositis

The integrity of the epidermis and mucosal epithelia is highly dependent on self-renewing stem cells and, therefore, is vulnerable to physical and chemical damage from common cancer treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy. Consequently, many cancer patients undergoing these treatments develop mucositis, a debilitating condition involving painful and deep mucosal ulcerations. Since current prevention and treatment options for mucositis are limited, providing only minor relief and no protection to stem cells, novel therapies are needed.

Diagnostic Biomarker of Metastasis for Improved Clinical Management of Head and Neck Cancer

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC) is associated with poor prognosis due to the advanced stage of disease (metastasis) typically found at the time of diagnosis. Investigators at the NIH have developed a sensitive method using a protein biomarker for detecting even just a few HNSCC tumor cells in lymph nodes with occult disease.
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