N-Methanocarba Adenosine Derivatives and Their Dendrimer Conjugates as A3 Receptor Agonists

This technology relates to specific (N)-methanocarba adenine nucleosides that have been developed and dendrimers that connect these compounds to create molecules with multiple targets. Dendrimers are essentially repeated molecular branches presenting the core receptor-binding molecules. The compounds synthesized function as agonists and antagonists of a receptor of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily.

A Novel Scaffold for Multivalent Display of Ligands

Multivalent interactions are important in cell attachment, wound healing and immune responses. Such interactions are associated with cancer metastasis, blood clotting and the generation of antibodies from a vaccination. Mimicking multivalent interactions on a synthetic scaffold is challenging especially when large numbers of ligands (such as 5 or more) need to be displayed. There are numerous synthetic scaffolds that have been developed, but there are significant limitations that remain.

System and Method for Producing Nondiffracting Light Sheets that Improves the Performance of Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy (SPIM)

The technology offered for licensing relates to a system and method of producing nondiffracting beams of light that spatially overlap, but do not interfere with each other when intersecting the detection plane of an optical arrangement. The system includes an illumination source (i.e.

Superresolution Microscopy via Azicon Beam Polarization Devices

The technology offered for licensing pertains to novel polarizers that produce tangentially and radially polarized beams. The polarizers and polarizing beam splitter of the technology include one or more pairs of axicons (also known as conical lenses) that are configured to separate an input beam into a radially polarized component and a tangentially (or azimuthally) polarized component. A second axicon pair can be positioned to recombine the tangentially polarized component so as to provide a more uniform beam intensity.

Compounds That Treat Malaria and Prevent Malaria Transmission

Malaria is the single leading cause of death, especially among children, in the developing world. Malaria is caused by infection with parasites of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted by mosquitos. In addition to transmission, vital steps in the parasite lifecycle occur in the mosquito host. The invention offered for licensing relates to therapeutic compounds and related pharmaceutical compositions that can be used in the prevention and treatment of malaria infection.

A Computer Program to Predict Optimal Sites on Protein Sequences for Production of Peptide-Directed Antibodies (NHLBI AbDesigner)

The invention offered for licensing is a computer program called "NHLBI AbDesigner" that allows the user to input a unique identifier for an individual mammalian protein to be analyzed in order to find out what short peptides in its amino sequence would most likely result in a strong immunogenic response when injected into a research animal. The software displays standard predictors of immunogenicity and antigenicity in easy-to-view heat maps and also allows users to choose peptides most likely to elicit antibodies that are specific to said protein.

Single Channel MRI Guidewire

The invention offered for licensing and commercial development is in the field of Interventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (“iMRI”). More specifically the invention discloses a guidewire for magnetic resonance imaging with a single channel design to reduce complexity and to provide conspicuous tip visibility under MRI. In the design of the present device, the guidewire body includes an antenna formed from a rod and a helical coil coupled together. The helical coil can have multiple windings without a gap between the windings.

Therapeutic Approach to Neurodegenerative Disorders Using a TFP5-Peptide

This invention discloses methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases by administering cyclin dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) inhibitory peptides derived from P35, the activator of Cdk5. Abnormally hyperactive Cdk5 has been shown to be associated with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Disclosed in this invention are isolated peptide fragments, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for use of such for treating subjects with a neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Modulation of Leucine-rich Repeats and Calponin Homology Domain-containing Protein 4 (Lrch4) Activity for Therapeutic Applications

NIH Inventors have recently discovered a novel Leucine-rich repeat and calponin homology domain-containing protein 4 (Lrch4) in a proteomic screen of the plasma membrane of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed macrophages. Expression data by RT-PCR revealed that all Lrch family members (1-4) are expressed in macrophages, but only Lrch4 was recruited into lipid rafts (signaling microdomains of the plasma membrane) by LPS. Lrch4 is the most highly expressed Lrch family member in mouse tissues. It is a predicted single-spanning transmembrane protein that is encoded by the Lrch4 gene in humans.