Licensing & Royalties >> Licensing Opportunities >> Abstract Details   Method of Promoting Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engraftment by Enhancement of CXCR4 Activity Description of Invention: The success of allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) transplant is dependent upon factors affecting engraftment of donor HSC. Engraftment is affected by type and intensity of bone marrow conditioning and immunosuppression achieved by chemotherapy or radiation treatments as well as the number of stem cells present in the graft. Factors influencing HSC trafficking, such as HSC chemotaxis and adhesion, modulate the ability of HSCs to engraft in the transplant recipient. Chemokine receptor CXCR4 (present on HSC) and its ligand, SDF-1, play an important role in attracting HSC to and retaining HSC in the bone marrow after transplantation. Studies indicate that with increased amounts of CXCR4 in human HSC there is a several fold increase in the engraftment of HSCs in a xenograft mouse transplant model. This technology is directed to compositions comprising HSCs and methods for promoting CXCR4 expression in a HSC by inhibiting GRK3 or GRK6 (G-protein coupled receptor kinase (GRK) regulators of CXCR4) with an antisense compound. Application: Treatment of donor HSC for enhancement of engrafting in the recipient Development Status: Preclinical Market: More than 45,000 HSC transplants are performed every year worldwide. Despite significant progress over the past half century, the overall five-year survival rate is below 55%. This technology, directed to enhancing HSC engrafting, can help increase the survival rate after HSC transplant. Inventors: Harry L. Malech (NIAID) Patent Status: DHHS Reference No. E-007-2008/0 -- U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/085,689 filed 01 Aug 2008 Licensing Status: Available for licensing Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Host Defenses, is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize a method to improve hematopoietic stem cell transplantation through the enhancement of CXCR4 activity. Please contact Rosemary C. Walsh, Ph.D. at 301-451-3528 or rcwalsh@niaid.nih.gov for more information. Portfolios: Internal Medicine Internal Medicine-Therapeutics-Other Internal Medicine-Therapeutics For Additional Information Please Contact: Fatima Sayyid M.H.P.M. NIH Office of Technology Transfer 6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325 Rockville, MD 20852-3804 Phone: (301) 435-4521 Email: sayyidf@mail.nih.gov Fax: (301) 402-0220 Web Ref: 1862 Last Updated On: 12/08