[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4605-4606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1247]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by an agency 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. A 
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive 
copies of the patent applications.

Human Papillomavirus microRNA Diagnostics and Therapeutics

    Description of Technology: Available for licensing and commercial 
development are patent rights that cover the uses of a p53 specific 
microRNA (miRNA). It has been reported that the tumor suppressive mRNA 
miR-34a is downregulated in HPV-infected primary keratinocytes. miR-34a 
arrests the cell cycle at G2 phase and promotes apoptosis. Therapeutic 
restoration of normal miR-34a expression levels and/or simultaneous 
stabilization of p53 (inhibited by HPV E6) may induce miR-34a 
accumulation in G0/G1 phase and potentially arrest tumor growth.
    Applications: Cervical cancer; Human papillomavirus; Therapeutics.
    Inventors: Zhi-Ming Zheng, Xiaohong Wang (NCI).
    Relevant Publications:
    1. WO Lui et al. Patterns of known and novel small RNAs in human 
cervical cancer. Cancer Res. 2007 Jul 1;67(13):6031-6043.
    2. I Martinez et al. Human papillomavirus type 16 reduces the 
expression of microRNA-218 in cervical carcinoma cells. Oncogene 2007 
Nov 12; Advance online publication, doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210919.
    Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/983,368 filed 29 
Oct 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-029-2008/0-US-01).
    Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Michael A. Shmilovich, Esq.; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute 
HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch is seeking statements of capability or 
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further 
develop, evaluate, or commercialize HPV-induced aberrant expression of 
microRNAs for cervical cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Please 
contact John D. Hewes, PhD at 301-435-3121 or [email protected] for 
more information.

Nitroxide Radical as a Treatment for Neurodegeneration

    Description of Technology: This invention describes the use of a 
nitroxide radical to treat or prevent the progression of 
neurodegeneration characterized by a deficiency in iron regulatory 
protein 2 (IRP 2) function. The inventors discovered that IRP 2 null 
mice with adult-onset neurodegeneration and microcytic anemia regain 
activity of iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP 1) after eating food 
formulations containing specific nitroxide radicals. The inventors also 
discovered the nitroxide agent prevents the progression of 
neurodegeneration by attacking inhibitory iron-sulfur clusters found on 
IRP 1 thereby allowing IRP 1 to bind to iron responsive elements found 
on transcripts that encode iron metabolism proteins that regulate 
cellular iron homeostasis in the brain.
    Applications: Treatment for neurological disorders resulting from a 
deficiency in the amount of bioavailable iron in the central nervous 
system, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, erythropoietic 
protoporphyria or adult-onset neurodegeneration.
    Market: Over 22 million people suffer from neurodegenerative 
diseases worldwide, and in 2050, this number could triple due to 
increased life expectancy and an increased aging population.
    Development Status: Early-stage.
    Inventors: Tracey Rouault et al. (NICHD).
    Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/894,134 filed 09 
Mar 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-153-2007/0-US-01).
    Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Charlene A. Sydnor, PhD; 301/435-4689; 
[email protected].

A Sensitive, High Throughput Pseudovirus-Based Papillomavirus 
Neutralization Assay for HPV 16 and HPV 18

    Description of Technology: This invention is a research tool for 
measuring protective antibody responses against Human Papilloma Viruses 
(HPV). Sensitive high-throughput neutralization assays, based upon 
pseudoviruses carrying a secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter 
gene, were developed and validated by the inventors for HPV 16, HPV 18, 
and bovine papillomavirus 1 (BPV1). In a 96-well plate format, the 
assay was reproducible and appears to be as sensitive as, but more 
type-specific than, a standard papillomavirus-like particle (VLP)-based 
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The SEAP pseudovirus-based 
neutralization assay should be a practical method for quantifying 
potentially protective antibody responses in HPV natural history and 
prophylactic vaccine studies.
    Inventors: John T. Schiller (NCI), Douglas R. Lowy (NCI), 
Christopher Buck (NCI), Diana V. Pastrana (NCI), et al.
    Publication: The assay is further described in Pastrana et al., 
``Reactivity of human sera in a sensitive, high-throughput pseudovirus-
based papillomavirus neutralization assay for HPV16 and HPV18,'' 
Virology. 2004 Apr 10;321(2):205-216.
    Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E-137-2004/0--Research Material.

[[Page 4606]]

    Licensing Status: This assay is available nonexclusively through a 
biological materials license.
    Licensing Contact: Peter A. Soukas, J.D.; 301/435-4646; 
[email protected].

Molecular Motors Powered by Proteins

    Description of Technology: The technology available for licensing 
and commercial development relates to molecular motors powered by 
proteins. Some implementations describe a molecular motor in which 
multiple concentric cylinders or nested cones rotate around a common 
longitudinal axis. Opposing complementary surfaces of the cylinders or 
cones are coated with complementary motor protein pairs, such as actin 
and myosin. The actin and myosin interact with one another in the 
presence of ATP to rotate the cylinders or cones relative to one 
another, and this rotational energy is harnessed to produce work. Speed 
of movement is controlled by the concentration of ATP and the number of 
nested cylinders or cones. The length of the cylinders or cones can 
also be used to control the power generated by the motor.
    Another configuration forms the motor out of a set of stacked 
disks, much like CDs on a spindle. The advantage of this form is 
extreme simplicity of construction compared to the nested cylinders or 
cones. In yet another configuration, which has aspects of both of the 
previous forms, the surfaces are broken into annular rings in order to 
overcome that the inner surfaces rotate at a different rate than the 
outer surfaces. This belt form may ultimately be used in molecular 
manufacturing.
    Applications: Supplying power to prosthetic implants and other 
medical devices without external power sources.
    Many other applications that could use a motor in other 
biotechnological areas, in addition to the medical applications.
    The inventions can be implemented on either a microscopic or 
macroscopic scale.
    Development Status: Very early stage of development.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Schneider and Ilya G. Lyakhov (NCI).
    Relevant Publications: ``Molecular motor'', Patent Publication Nos. 
WO 2001/009181 A1, published 02/08/2001; CA 2380611A1, published 02/08/
2001; AU 6616600A, published 02/19/2001; EP 1204680A1, published 05/15/
2002; and U.S. 20020083710, published 07/04/2002.
    Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E-018-1999/0--International 
Application Number PCT/US 2000/20925 filed 07/31/2000; granted 
Application AU 2002/18688 B2, and the corresponding European and 
Canadian applications being prosecuted, all entitled ``Molecular 
Motor.''
    HHS Reference No. E-018-1999/1--allowed U.S. Application No. 10/
061,377 filed 02/01/2002, entitled ``Molecular Motor.''
    Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive or exclusive 
licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Cristina Thalhammer-Reyero, PhD, MBA; 301-435-
4507; [email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute, 
Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program is seeking statements of 
capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative 
research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize the Molecular 
Rotation Engine. Please contact John D. Hewes, PhD at 301-435-3121 or 
[email protected] for more information.

    Dated: January 16, 2008.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
 [FR Doc. E8-1247 Filed 1-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P