[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34914-34915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12182]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Availability for Non-Exclusive, Exclusive, or Partially Exclusive 
Licensing of U.S. Patent and Related U.S. Patent Application Concerning 
Protein Biomarker for Mustard Chemical Injury

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6 and 404.7, announcement is 
made of the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent No. 6,124,108, 
entitled ``Protein Biomarker for Mustard Chemical Injury,'' filed May 
13, 1997, and related U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 
09/482,604, filed January 14, 2000 and having the same title. The 
United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Army 
has rights in this invention.

ADDRESSES: Commander, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, 
ATTN: Command Judge Advocate, MCMR-JA, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, 
Frederick, MD 21702-5012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For patent issues, Ms. Elizabeth 
Arwine, Patent Attorney, (301) 619-7808. For licensing issues, Dr. Paul 
Mele, Office of Research & Technology Assessment, (301) 619-6664, both 
at telefax (301) 619-5034.

[[Page 34915]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This invention relates to the discovery that 
toxicity to mustard may be evaluated by diagnostic test means 
disclosed. Upon electrophoretic separation (sodium dodocyl sulfate 
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)) of buffered extract of 
human skin cells (normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK)) which 
had been exposed to mustard-type chemical compounds a band at 
approximately 50,000 to 80,000 daltons molecular weight was found. The 
protein band constitutes a biomarker. The marker protein can be used 
either to raise protective antibodies to protect against the protease 
or may be used in a kit for identifying presence or absence of the 
marker in study of tissues taken from individuals who may have been 
exposed to mustard poisoning.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-12182 Filed 5-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M