Methods of Detecting Loss of Heterozygosity and Damaging Mutations in Immune-Related Genes Using Liquid Biopsies

Summary: 
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks co-development partners and/or licensees for a liquid biopsy diagnostic assay capable of detecting loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and somatic mutations in genes important for antigen processing and presentation and interferon-γ response pathways.

Method of Detecting Circulating Cell-Free HPV 6 and 11 DNA in Patients Afflicted With Diseases Caused by Chronic HPV 6 or 11 Infection and Use Thereof

Summary:

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) seek research co-development partners and/or licensees for commercial development of a novel liquid biopsy diagnostic for non-invasive detection of cell-free HPV 6 and 11 DNA for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

Helical Guidewires and Related Systems for Transcatheter Heart Valve Procedures

This technology includes a guidewire purpose-built for delivery of bulky transcatheter heart valves (THV). Conventional THV guidewires are rigid and have a distal tip shaped like a pigtail to prevent apical ventricular perforation. This invention is a 3-dimensional helical or antihelical curve that can protect against apical perforation, possibly better, and that allows subtle 3-mensional deflection to aid the operator in achieving coaxiality or overcoming delivery obstacles such as calcific spicules.

Transcatheter MRI-guided Implantable Cavopulmonary Bypass Endograft for the Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease

This technology includes a catheter-delivered endograft designed to treat congenital heart disease without surgery. The specific surgical procedure averted is cavopulmonary bypass graft. The key innovations are features to effect distal end-to-side anastomosis and proximal end-to-end anastomosis without surgery. The system operates under X-ray and MRI guidance.

Functions and Targets of Therapeutic MicroRNAs to Treat and Diagnose Cancer

This technology includes a method to identify potentially therapeutic microRNAs in cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). This approach first utilizes a large and publicly available expression dataset, which is then validated by a smaller independent dataset to determine deregulated microRNAs expression. These results are then intersected with in vitro functional anti-proliferative screening data to select for microRNAs that play a functional tumor suppressive role and likely serve as therapeutic targets.

Targeted Gene Mutation Technology for Studying Specific Cell Functions in Mice

This technology includes the development of transgenic mice with a targeted gene mutation that flanks exon 8 of the Ikzf2 (Helios) gene using loxP sites. These Ikzf2 fl/fl (floxed) mice allow researchers to selectively delete the Ikzf2 gene in specific tissues or cells by crossing them with mice that express Cre recombinase under tissue-specific promoters.

A New Molecular Scaffold for Targeting hRpn13 as a Treatment for Cancer

This technology includes a new chemical scaffold (with lead compound XL5) against hRpn13 that induces apoptosis, which may have clinical efficacy against cancer. The structure of XL5-conjugated hRpn13 guided the design of XL5-PROTAC degrader compounds that exhibit greater efficacy than previous hRpn13-targeting compounds, as evaluated by selectivity for hRpn13, induction of apoptosis, and loss of cell viability. In cells, XL5-PROTACs revealed the presence of a truncated hRpn13 product that binds to proteasomes and is selectively degraded by XL5-PROTACs.