[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76372-76373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26390]


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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, 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. 209 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve expeditious 
commercialization 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 and copies of 
the U.S. patent applications listed below may be obtained by writing to 
the indicated licensing contact at the National Heart, Lung and Blood 
Institute, Office of Technology Transfer and Development, National 
Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive Room 4A29, MSC2479, Bethesda, MD 
20892-2479; telephone: 301-402-5579. A signed Confidential Disclosure 
Agreement may be required to receive copies of the patent applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology descriptions follow.

Methods for Artificial Oocyte Activation

Description of Technology

    Available for licensing and commercial development for both human 
and veterinary uses is a method of activating mammalian oocytes. These 
methods include contacting a mammalian oocyte of interest arrested at 
metaphase II with an effective amount of a Regulator of G-Protein 
Signaling (RGS)2 inhibitor; and contacting the mammalian oocyte of 
interest with an effective amount of a G protein coupled receptor 
activator. In general, RGS proteins stimulate the hydrolysis of GTP 
bound to activated G[alpha] subunits, leading to signal termination. 
RGS2, which inhibits both G-[alpha]q and G-[alpha]s signaling 
suppresses Ca2+ release in mature mammalian eggs. Regulators of G-
Protein Signaling (RGS)2 inhibitor and a G protein coupled receptor 
activator can be used to artificially activate a mammalian oocyte such 
that it re-enters the cell cycle. Examples of RGS2 inhibitors can be 
nucleic acids like siRNAs or dsRNAs. G-protein coupled receptor 
activators can be acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter such as serotonin, 
hormones, natural or synthetic G

[[Page 76373]]

protein coupled receptor ligands or modulator, and acidic pH. The 
oocyte can be fertilized in vitro to form an embryo, which can be 
implanted in a subject and developed to term or can be used for the 
preparation of stem cells.

Potential Commercial Applications

 in vitro fertilization

Development Stage

 Early Stage

    Inventors: Miranda L. Bernhardt, Carmen J. Williams, Andres Gambini 
(all of NIEHS), and Lisa M. Mehlmann (University of Connecticut).
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-253-2016/0.
     U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/405,803 filed 7 
October 2016.
    Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich, Esq, CLP; 301-435-5019; 
[email protected].

    Dated: October 24, 2016.
Michael Shmilovich,
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Technology Transfer 
and Development, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2016-26390 Filed 11-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P