Non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic assay for early stage lung cancer

In the United States alone, one of four cancer deaths occur from lung cancer and there are over 8 million individuals considered to be at high-risk due to cigarette smoking and other behaviors. It's well known that early detection of cancer significantly improves survival of this disease, however a lack of lung cancer screenings and analysis precludes fast results at a low cost.

Compositions and Methods for the Treatment of Immune-Related Disease

The ability of the immune system to discriminate between self and non-self is controlled by central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms. One of the most important ways the immune system controls the outcome of such a response is through naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating immune related disease, a method for determining the presence of or predisposition to an immune related disease, and a pharmaceutical composition for treating an immune related disease in a mammal.

Treatment for Ichthyosiform Skin Diseases

A synthetic composition that contains the transglutaminase 1 (TGase I) enzyme and a lipid vesicle, which can be used to provide ameliorative therapy for inherited autosomal recessive ichthyoses (ARI). Icthyoses are rare inherited skin disorders that result in extensive scaling of the skin. Because this abnormality can affect heat and fluid transfer through the skin, individuals with this disease may have an increased risk for dehydration and skin infections. Each year, more than 16,000 babies are born with some form of ichthyosis. Ichthyosis affects people of all ages, races and gender.

Bioreactor Device and Method and System for Fabricating Tissue

Available for licensing and commercial development is a millifluidic bioreactor system for culturing, testing, and fabricating natural or engineered cells and tissues. The system consists of a millifluidic bioreactor device and methods for sample culture. Biologic samples that can be utilized include cells, scaffolds, tissue explants, and organoids. The system is microchip controlled and can be operated in closed-loop, providing controlled delivery of medium and biofactors in a sterile temperature regulated environment under tabletop or incubator use.

Antibodies Against TL1A, a TNF-Family Cytokine, for the Treatment and Diagnosis of Autoimmune Inflammatory Diseases

Autoimmune inflammatory diseases occur in greater than five percent of the United States population; this disease group includes asthma, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Treatments generally include immunosuppressants or anti-inflammatory drugs, which can have serious side effects; recently, more specific immunomodulatory therapies such as TNF-alpha antagonists have been developed.

Cell-Nanofiber Composite and Cell-Nanofiber Composite Amalgam Based Engineered Intervertebral Disc

Diseased or damaged musculoskeletal tissues are often replaced by an artificial material, cadaver tissue or donated, allogenic tissue. Tissue engineering offers an attractive alternative whereby a live, natural tissue is generated from a construct made up of a patient’s own cells or an acceptable/compatible cell source in combination with a biodegradable scaffold for replacement of defective tissue.

Quantitative Measurement of Syndesmophytes in Ankylosing Spondylitis Using Computed Tomography (CT)

Syndesmophyte (abnormal bone) growth in the spine is a hallmark of Ankylosing Spondylitis, a type of inflammatory arthritis. Syndesmophyte growth is currently monitored using semi-quantitative scoring of radiographs, but radiographs consider only a small part of the vertebra, and the method is subject to reader error. Because syndesmophytes grow slowly, radiographs also lack sensitivity. The invention provides a method to measure syndesmophytes using data from computed tomography scans of the lumbar spine.

An Automated Method for Precise Measurement of Vertebral Body Height and Intervertebral Disk Height Using Computed Tomography

Vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis result in loss of vertebral height. Degenerative disk disease in the spine results in loss of disk height. Currently, radiography and magnetic resonance imaging are used to assess vertebral and disk height, and measurements are done manually. The present invention offers improved method to measure vertebral and disk heights. The invention provides computer algorithm that substantially automates the task, and uses computed tomography. The advantage of computed tomography over radiography is that of 3D imaging over 2D imaging.

TL1A Transgenic Mice for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Allergic-Type Immune Responses

TL1A is a TNF family cytokine that co-stimulates T-cell proliferation and cytokine production through its interactions with the TNF family receptor DR3. TL1A-DR3 interactions have been shown to be important for the development of autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Modulating Autophagy as a Treatment for Lysosomal Storage Diseases

Researchers at NIAMS have developed a technology for treatment of lysosomal storage diseases by inhibition of autophagy. Pompe disease is an example of a genetic lysosomal storage disease caused by a reduction or absence of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). Patients with Pompe disease have a lysosomal buildup of glycogen in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells and severe cardiomyopathy and skeletal muscle myopathy. Treatment of Pompe disease by GAA enzyme replacement therapy is quite ineffective for the skeletal muscle myopathy.