[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46477-46478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19152]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by agencies of the U.S. 
Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance 
with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results 
of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent 
applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage 
for companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent 
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated 
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National 
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: 301/496-7057; fax: 301/402-0220; e-
mail: [email protected]. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement 
will be required to receive copies of the patent applications.

Vessel Delineation in Magnetic Resonance Angiographic Images

Peter Yim (CC)
Serial No. 60/181,990 filed 11 Feb 2000
Licensing Contact: Carol Salata; 301/496-7735 ext. 232; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    This invention relates to advances in magnetic resonance 
angiography (MRA) or the imaging of blood vessels in the body for the 
evaluation of vascular pathology. Presented are new methods for 
processing magnetic resonance angiographic images, or angiograms, to 
delineate certain vessels in an angiogram. These methods find 
particular utility in highly vascular regions of the body such as the 
cerebrum, heart, abdomen and extremities where there is extensive 
overlapping and variation in the size of the vessels. Current MRA 
methods are unable to generate high-resolution images of complex vessel 
geometries in these dynamic environments. The patent application for 
this invention covers algorithms and computer-implemented methods for 
tracking the paths of vessels in magnetic resonance angiography. Also 
covered are similar methods for digital image processing in alternative 
imaging technologies such as tomography and X-ray angiography.

Methods for Predicting the Biological, Chemical, and Physical 
Properties of Molecules From Their Spectral Properties

Dwight W. Miller et al. (FDA)
Serial No. 09/496,314 filed 01 Feb 2000
Licensing Contact: Peter Soukas; 301/496-7056 ext. 268; e-mail: 
[email protected]
    The number of known chemical compounds is enormous, and the number 
is constantly increasing. While there are a vast number of chemical 
compounds, only a relative few of those compounds may exhibit a 
particular desirable property, such as pharmaceutical activity. Random 
testing of known compounds to identify those compounds which show 
pharmaceutical activity is very expensive and time-consuming. 
Similarly, there is also a need to screen compounds for toxicity, so 
that rational decisions can be made regarding the use and regulation of 
compounds that have toxic potential. At present, only a fraction of 
known compounds have been thoroughly tested for their toxicological and 
potential therapeutic properties.
    Scientists have developed methods which attempt to predict which 
compounds are likely to exhibit a particular property. The present 
invention provides a method for establishing a quantitative 
relationship between spectral properties of molecules and a biological, 
chemical, or physical endpoint of the molecules. The present invention 
further provides methods for rapidly screening isolated compounds or 
mixtures of compounds based upon their spectral data.

Molecules That Influence Pathogen Resistance

Gregory A. Taylor and George F. Vande Woude (NCI)
DHHS Reference No. E-068-00/0 filed 03 Jan 2000
Licensing Contact: J.P. Kim; 301/496-7056 ext. 264; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    Interferon-gamma (IFN-) is an important cytokine for 
control of infectious agents and regulation of the immune system. IFN-
 is thought to exert its effects largely by activation of 
IFN-responsive genes. One recently identified IFN-
regulated gene is IGTP. It has been found that the IGTP-family proteins 
mediate the immune response of mammals to various infectious pathogens. 
In particular, it has been noted that IGTP functions as a downstream 
mediator of IFN- and

[[Page 46478]]

appears particularly important to host response in parasitic infection.
    The present invention provides for the prevention and treatment of 
infectious diseases through modification of immune response(s), in 
particular, to the involvement of GTPase molecule(s) in such immune 
responses to infectious disease (such as parasitic (e.g., protozoan) 
disease).

Method of Treating a Viral Infection Using Antagonists or 
Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (M-CSF)

Clouse-Strebel et al. (FDA)
DHHS Reference No. E-255-99/0 filed 08 Nov 1999
Licensing Contact: J.P. Kim; 301/496-7056 ext. 264; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    Colony stimulating factors (CSF's) are a class of proteins that 
stimulate growth and development of bone marrow progenitor cells into 
mature cells, such as granulocytes, macrophages, megakaryocytes, 
erythrocytes, lymphocytes, and mast cells. One of these factors is 
macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), a homodimeric 
glycoprotein with subunits linked by disulfide bonds. M-CSF is also 
known as CSF-1, CSF-69, LSF, MGF, and CSF-HU.
    The present invention provides for a method for treating a viral 
infection, such as HIV-1 and HIV-2, using an amount of an antagonist of 
M-CSF sufficient to inhibit replication of the virus, either 
administered alone or in combination with another anti-viral agent.

S-Nitrosoglutathione as a Protease Inhibitor for the Treatment of 
AIDS and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Chuang C. Chiueh (NIMH), Sang Y. Lee (NIMH), David A. Davis (NCI), 
Robert Yarchoan (NCI)
DHHS Reference No. E-008-00/0 filed 01 Nov 1999
Licensing Contact: J.P. Kim; 301/496-7056 ext. 264; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of 
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Over the years, drug-
resistance has been a critical factor contributing to the gradual loss 
of clinical benefit to treatments for HIV infection. There has been 
great concern regarding this apparent growing resistance of HIV strains 
to current therapies. Accordingly, there is a great need for new 
effective HIV therapeutics.
    The present invention provides for the use of nitrosylating 
compounds, such as S-Nitrosoglutathione and derivatives thereof (for 
example, as an HIV-1 protease inhibitor) for the treatment of AIDS and 
neurodegenerative disorders.

Enhancement of Hematopoietic Cells

William J. Murphy (NCI), Susan M. Richards (NCI), Dan L. Longo (NIA)
DHHS Reference Nos. E-247-99/0 filed 21 Jan 1997 and E-247-99/1 filed 
20 Jan 1998 (PCT/US98/00887)
Licensing Contact: J.P. Kim; 301/496-7056 ext. 264; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    The present invention provides a method for enhancing hematopoiesis 
by contacting hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells with a composition 
containing prolactin, preferably recombinant prolactin. Stimulation of 
hematopoiesis can serve to replace hematopoietic cells. The invention 
further provides a method for treating an animal to improve 
hematopoiesis or prevent hematopoietic-suppression by administering a 
pharmaceutically acceptable composition containing prolactin. The 
invention further relates to a composition comprising a cytokine that 
can enhance hematopoiesis and prolactin, and a composition comprising a 
therapeutic that can cause hematopoietic-suppression and a prolactin.

    Dated: July 19, 2000.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 00-19152 Filed 7-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P