[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41585-41586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15059]


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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.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and is available for licensing and/or co-development in the 
U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404 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 and/or co-development.

ADDRESSES: Invention Development and Marketing Unit, Technology 
Transfer Center, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, 
Mail Stop 9702, Rockville, MD 20850-9702.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information on licensing and co-
development research collaborations, and copies of the U.S. patent 
applications listed below may be obtained by contacting: Attn. 
Invention Development and Marketing Unit, Technology Transfer Center, 
National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Mail Stop 9702, 
Rockville, MD 20850-9702, Tel. 240-276-5515 or email 
[email protected]. A signed Confidential Disclosure 
Agreement may be required to receive copies of the patent applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows.
    Title of invention: Biomarker signature development: microRNAs as 
biodosimetry markers.
    Description of Technology:
    Alterations in microRNAs (miRNAs), a type of small non-coding RNAs, 
have been reported in cells/tumors subjected to radiation exposure, 
implying that miRNAs play an important role in cellular stress response 
to radiation.
    Researchers at the National Cancer Institute evaluated small non-
coding RNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), and mRNA as potential non-
invasive biomarkers for radiation biodosimetry. While the use of miRNAs 
as radiation biomarkers has been reported, the integrated use of 
miRNAs, mRNAs and lncRNAs to accurately determine radiation doses is 
novel and has not been published. The researchers characterized a 
unique method of examining miRNA levels along with levels of its target 
mRNA and lncRNA to determine radiation exposure using whole blood 
samples from mice exposed to 2, 4, 8, 12 and 15 Gy irradiation. In 
doing so, they discovered distinct miRNA, mRNA and lncRNA biomarker 
signatures that inform degree of radiation exposure.

[[Page 41586]]

    Integrated analysis of miRNA, mRNAs, and lncRNAs to assess 
radiation exposure after mass-casualty incidents could provide a 
valuable tool in identifying biomarkers, and in the development and 
appropriate implementation of effective medical countermeasures. This 
application could potentially also be used to immediately detect, and 
therefore circumvent or mitigate non-specific injury from cancer 
radiotherapy treatments.
    Potential Commercial Applications:
     Diagnostic for radiation exposure, including for 
therapeutic procedures.
    Value Proposition:
     Blood-based biomarker assay for circulating miRNAs.
     Could be developed as part of point-of-care and high-
throughput screening platforms.
     Immediate medical care based on amount of radiation 
exposure is critical for giving appropriate care to affected 
individuals.
    Development Stage:
    In-vivo testing.
    Inventor(s):
    Molykutty Aryankalayil (NCI), Norman Coleman (NCI), Adeola Makinde 
(NCI).
    Intellectual Property:
    HHS Reference No. E-066-2015/0-US-01 US Provisional Application 62/
244,044 (HHS Reference No. E-066-2016/0-US-01) filed October 20, 2015 
entitled ``Biomarker signature development: microRNAs as biodosimetry 
markers''
    Collaboration Opportunity: Researchers at the NCI seek parties 
interested in licensing or co-development for microRNA biomarker 
signatures as biodosimetry markers.
    Contact Information:
    Requests for copies of the patent application or inquiries about 
licensing, research collaborations, and co-development opportunities 
should be sent to John D. Hewes, Ph.D., email: [email protected] or 
phone: 240-276-5515.

    Dated: June 20, 2016.
John D. Hewes,
Technology Transfer Specialist, Technology Transfer Center, National 
Cancer Institute.
[FR Doc. 2016-15059 Filed 6-24-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P