[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 11846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03120]


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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 invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and is available for licensing 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: Daniel Lee at 301-761-6327 or 
[email protected]. Licensing information may be obtained by 
communicating with 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unpublished information related to the invention.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows:

DeePlexing--Extending Imaging Multiplexity Using Machine Learning

    Description of Technology: Spatial proteomics and transcriptomics 
are fast-emerging fields with the potential to revolutionize various 
branches of biology. In the last five years, various multiplex 
immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry imaging methods have been 
developed to stain 5-60 different protein markers in a given tissue. 
Nonetheless, most of these techniques are iterative and can image a 
maximum of 3-8 markers in a single cycle, resulting in processing time 
of several hours to days.
    Scientists at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 
(NIAID) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) have developed a new 
method--DeePlexing--that uses a deep learning algorithm to dramatically 
enhance the number of markers stained in a single imaging cycle. This 
is accomplished with no changes or upgrades to the imaging platform 
itself. In the DeePlexing method, multiple antibodies/probes are 
conjugated to the same fluorophores and later deconvolved 
computationally to retrieve the multichannel signal with high accuracy. 
In digital spatial profiling, DeePlexing enables the user to detect 
seven different protein markers in a single cycle using only three 
fluorophores and even quadruple the number of markers in a single round 
without compromising the quality of RNA and protein in the sample. For 
multiplex protein profiling, DeePlexing can potentially stain for up to 
255 different protein markets with eight fluorophores and deconvolve 
the signal for each of the 255 markers computationally.
    This technology is available for licensing for commercial 
development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404.
    Potential Commercial Applications:

 Imaging platforms in spatial transcriptomics
 Multiplex protein spatial imaging

    Competitive Advantages:

 Enhances the number of markers stained in a single imaging 
cycle
 Achieves this marker detection increase without compromising 
RNA or protein quality when that is part of the analytical pipeline
 Reduces the required processing time for multiplex imaging 
platforms
 Inexpensive and replicable

    Development Stage:

 Prototype

    Inventors: Ronald N. Germain (NIAID), Spencer M. Grant (NIAID), 
Nishant Thakur (NIAID), Chen Zhao (NCI), and Abigail J. Wong-Rolle 
(NCI).
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-202-2021-0; Software 
Tool.
    Licensing Contact: To license this technology, please contact 
Daniel Lee at 301-761-6327 or [email protected], and reference E-202-
2021-0.

    Dated: February 9, 2024.
Surekha Vathyam,
Deputy Director,Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property 
Office,National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2024-03120 Filed 2-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P