[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 75832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26260]



[[Page 75832]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Invention; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

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 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Licensing information may be obtained 
by communicating with the indicated licensing contact at the Technology 
Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, National Institute of 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 5601 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 
20852; tel. 301-496-2644. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement 
will be required to receive copies of unpublished scientific data.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows.

A Human Progenitor Mast Cell Line for Allergic and Fibrotic Research 
and Therapeutic Screening

    Description of Technology: Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type-1 (HPS-1) 
is a rare genetic disorder that affects around 1 in 500,000 people 
worldwide and 1 in 1,800 Puerto Ricans. Patients with HPS-1 display 
oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding due to platelet abnormality, and 
pulmonary fibrosis. Those that develop pulmonary fibrosis often succumb 
and live no more than a decade after early onset of breathing problems.
    Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 
Diseases (NIAID) have developed the HPS-1 proMastocyte (HPM) cell line, 
containing an HPS-1 mutation. This cell line resembles a progenitor 
mast cell with reduced granule formation, significant chemotactic 
ability, and is the first mast cell line shown to constitutively 
release cytokines, chemokines, and most importantly fibrotic proteins. 
This cell line serves as a model to study granule formation, early mast 
cell development, chemotaxis and mechanisms controlling synthesis of 
molecules contributing to fibrosis.
    The cell line is available as live cells approximately 3-4 million 
cells per sample in a T25 Flask.
    Potential Commercial Applications:

 A tool to further understand fibrosis
 A tool to study granule formation, early mast cell 
development, degranulation and chemotaxis
 Screening tool to identify target compounds for the treatment 
of pulmonary fibrosis

    Competitive Advantages:

 First progenitor mast cell line known to produce fibrotic 
elements
 Progenitor mast cell line with rapid growth, no cytokine 
stimulation needed. Cell doubling time of 2-3 days

    Inventors: Arnold S. Kirchenbaum and Dean D.Metcalfe, both of 
NIAID.
    Publications:

Kirshenbaum AS et al. Immunophenotypic and Ultrastructural Analysis of 
Mast Cells in Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Type-1: A Possible Connection 
to Pulmonary Fibrosis.; PLoS One. 2016, Jul 26;11(7):e0159177, PMID 
27459687

    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-270-2016/0. Available as 
a Biological Material.
    Licensing Contact: Dr. Benjamin Hurley, (240) 669-5092, 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases is seeking statements of capability or 
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further 
develop, evaluate or commercialize this invention.
    For collaboration opportunities, please contact Dr. Dianca Finch; 
240-669-5503, [email protected].

    Dated: October 26, 2016.
Suzanne Frisbie,
Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2016-26260 Filed 10-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P