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This technology includes a small molecule drug (VDAC inhibitor, also known as VBIT4) that may be useful for inhibiting lupus disease. To test lupus animal model, VBIT4 was continuously administered for 5 weeks to mice and there was no mortality or clinical symptoms in these animals. Additionally, VBIT4 treatment blocked the development of skin lesions and alopecia of the ears and face, and suppressed the thickening of the epidermis that accompanies leukocyte infiltration.

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have developed orthotopic allograft models for pancreatic cancer that utilize low passage primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells or tumor fragments implanted into the cancer-free pancreata of recipient syngeneic immunocompetent mice. Tumor development in these models is more synchronized, latency is substantially shortened, and tumors develop only in one location, as pre-determined by the choice of a site for cells/tumor fragment implantation.

This technology includes an alpha-galactosidase-A knockout mouse model that can be used to study Fabry disease, an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder. Alpha-galactosidase-A is a crucial enzyme responsible for the breakdown of glycolipids, particularly globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), within lysosomes. In Fabry disease, a rare and inherited lysosomal storage disorder, mutations in the GLA gene lead to deficient or non-functional alpha-galactosidase-A enzyme activity.

This technology includes a novel method to train deep learning convolution neural network model to improve the signal-noise-ratio for the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The novelty lies on the fact that actual MR imaging physics information is used in the deep learning training. The resulting model achieves significant signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improved for different acceleration factors in MR imaging. The resulting model can be used for many body anatomies (e.g., brain, heart, liver, spine, etc.) to significantly improve the SNR.

This technology includes the creation and use of A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR)-selective agonists for treating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, chronic neuropathic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other conditions. A3 receptors for adenosine are found in most cells and endogenous activation of the A3 receptors can result in apoptosis, thereby relieving the inflammation or targeting a tumor. A3AR agonists have been a promising strategy for the treatment of various diseases.

This technology includes a gene-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporter platform that harnesses adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery of the metal transporter Zip14 to create image contrast wherever the gene is expressed. By driving Zip14 from cell-specific promoters, investigators obtain robust, long-lasting signal changes on standard clinical MRI sequences (e.g., MPRAGE and GRE), enabling real-time visualization of living cells and their gene-expression patterns.

HCC is the most frequent malignant tumor in the liver and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide.  A progressive sequence of somatic mutations and epigenetic changes of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes are believed to cause tumor development. However, high genomic instability in tumors causes the accumulation of genomic aberrations that do not contribute to tumor progression. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between ''driver'' mutations that are functionally important and ''passenger'' mutations that do not provide a selective advantage to the tumor cells.

The National Cancer Institute's Urologic Oncology Branch is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize the use of Tempol to target HIF-2a in cancer.

Summary:

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for the pre-clinical and clinical development of the compounds as anti-inflammatory therapeutics for systemic degenerative and neurodegenerative disorders.