[Federal Register: September 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 173)]
[Notices]
[Page 52805-52806]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se06-63]
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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, Public Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S.
Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance
with 35 U.S.C. 207 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.
ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville,
Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: 301/496-7057; fax: 301/402-0220. A
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive
copies of the patent applications.
Methods for Enhancing Beta Cell Function in Diabetes
Description of Technology: Diabetes results when beta cell
performance is compromised through loss of cells or by reduced cell
function. Anti-diabetic drugs that stimulate insulin production, such
as sulfonylureas and meglitinides, have limited efficacy when beta cell
responsiveness is deficient. There exists a critical need, therefore,
for new diagnostics and therapeutics that focus on beta cell
responsiveness in diabetes.
This technology describes methods for improving pancreatic
endocrine function and delaying the onset of diabetes by enhancing beta
cell function using ligands and/or regulators of Notch receptors. These
methods are directed not only to mature beta cells, but to immature
beta cells and to beta cells formed from differentiation of stem cells.
This technology also describes isolated pancreatic progenitor cells,
and offers an effective method for identifying and isolating these
cells using Notch receptor markers.
Applications: (1) Treatment for diabetes that enhances beta cell
function or replaces lost beta cells; (2) Isolation and expansion of
pancreatic progenitor cells for diabetes therapy; (3) Diagnostic test
to monitor beta cell function
Market: (1) Over 20 million people suffer from diabetes in the
United States, and approximately 170 million people are affected
worldwide. (2) There are an estimated 6.2 million undiagnosed cases of
diabetes in the United States.
Development Status: Pre-clinical data are available.
Inventors: Josephine M. Egan, et al. (NIA).
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/590,281 filed 22
Jul 2004 (HHS Reference No. E-262-2003/0-US-01); PCT Application No.
PCT/US2005/026207 filed 22 Jul 2005, which published as WO 2006/023209
on 02 Mar 2006 (HHS Reference No. E-262-2003/0-PCT-02).
Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive
licensing.
Licensing Contact: Tara L. Kirby, Ph.D.; 301/435-4426;
tarak@mail.nih.gov.
A Nurr1-Knockout Mouse Model for Parkinson's Disease and Stem Cell
Differentiation
Description of Technology: The researchers have generated Nurr1-
knockout mice via genomic locus inactivation using homologous
recombination.
Transcription factor Nurr1 is an obligatory factor for
neurotransmitter dopamine biosynthesis in ventral midbrain. From a
neurological and clinical perspective, it suggests an entirely new
mechanism for dopamine depletion in a region where dopamine is known to
be involved in Parkinson's disease. Activation of Nurr1 may be
therapeutically useful for Parkinson's disease patients; therefore, the
mice would be useful in Parkinson's disease research.
Additionally, Nurr1 has been shown to be critical for development
of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, and thus may contribute to stem cell-
based therapies for neurological disorders. Nurr1 is also important for
osteoblast differentiation, suggesting a general role in stem cell
differentiation and growth.
Applications: (1) Research and drug testing for Parkinson's disease
and other neurological disorders; (2) Stem cell research relating to
neurological and other disorders and bone formation.
Inventor: Dr. Vera Nikodem (NIDDK).
Relevant Publication: SO Castillo, JS Baffi, M Palkovits, DS
Goldstein, IJ Kopin, J Witta, MA Magnuson, VM Nikodem. Dopamine
biosynthesis is selectively abolished in substantia nigra/ventral
tegmental area but not in hypothalamic neurons in mice with targeted
disruption of the Nurr1 gene. Mol Cell Neurosci. 1998 May, 11(1-2):36-
46.
Related Publications:
1. MK Lee, H Choi, M Gil, VM Nikodem. Regulation of osteoblast
differentiation by Nurr1 in MC3T3-E1 cell line and mouse calvarial
osteoblasts. J Cell Biochem. 2006 June 1 [Epub ahead of print,
doi:10.1002/jcb.20990].
2. J Jankovic, S Chen, WD Le. The role of Nurr1 in the development
of dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson's disease. Prog Neurobiol. 2005
Sep-Oct, 77(1-2):128-138. Epub 2005 Oct 21, doi:10.1016/
j.pneurobio.2005.09.001.
[[Page 52806]]
Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E-024-1999/0--Research Tool.
Licensing Status: This technology is available under a Biological
Materials License.
Licensing Contact: Tara L. Kirby, Ph.D.; 301/435-4426;
tarak@mail.nih.gov.
Dated: August 31, 2006.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer,Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E6-14832 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P