Submitted by: Brendan Rauw, Portfolio Director, Science and Technology Ventures, Columbia University, New York, NY

Inventor Information: Martin Chalfie, PhD, is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. He shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Osamu Shimomura and Roger Y. Tsien “for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP.” He holds a PhD in neurobiology from Harvard University.

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and its derivatives are used as reporters because they readily form active fusion proteins, can be safely expressed in cells and are easily visualized by standard microscopic techniques. This invention details the use of a “split” GFP, where the original GFP molecule is expressed as two separate polypeptides. When brought into close proximity, the polypeptides fold together, reconstituting the original protein and its fluorescent properties. The key to this invention is the low rate of spontaneous reconstitution; the polypeptides will not fluoresce without a molecular “zipper” to associate them together. This “zipper” is modular since binding domain from protein-protein, protein-small molecule or protein-nucleic acid interactions can be used to reconstitute the fluorescent protein.

Why is this important or intriguing? Current applications of fluorescent proteins, especially high throughput screens used in drug discovery, are limited in spatial and temporal resolution by the number of flourophores. This invention adds finer grain control to the expression of fluorescent molecules, dramatically improving assays.  Also, the polypeptides can be introduced into animal models using standard transgenic techniques, providing a direct path for in vivo target validation.

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: This technology is available for non-exclusive licensing and sponsored research support.

Ownership: This intellectual property is assigned to The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York.

Patent Status: Patent Pending (US 2007/0256147 A1, WO/2005/118790)

Key Commercialization Contact

Jullian G. Jones, Ph.D., J.D.
Science and Technology Ventures
Columbia University
80 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 10027-5712
USA

Email: techtransfer@columbia.edu
Phone: 212.851.0258

Submitted by: Lindsay Polak, Marketing & Communications Manager, University of Colorado

Inventor Information: Lead inventors: Dr. Jeffrey W. Karpen, Oregon Health Sciences University; Dr. Jerome Schaack, University of Colorado Denver (School of Medicine)

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: Dr. Karpen and his team have developed a novel research tool to detect activity of the cellular signaling molecule cAMP. They genetically engineered cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGs) that are 2-20 fold more sensitive to activation by cAMP. Once activated, CNG channels allow positively charged calcium ions (Ca2+) to flow into the cell. This Ca2+ influx can either be recorded as an electrical current or imaged with fluorescent dyes. Using modified CNGs, both measurements act as a quantification of cAMP activity. Technically, this tool has a high signal-to-noise ratio allowing for improved spatial and temporal resolution over current techniques.

Why is this important or intriguing? Modified CNGs show potential as a drug-screening tool, testing the efficacy of pharmaceutical treatments for pathological conditions involving the cAMP-signaling pathway. This includes the following medical conditions: diabetes, heart failure, ischemic brain damage, some cancers and cognitive deficits common with aging and ADHD.

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: Development of modified CNGs (mCNGs) will provide the research and medical fields with a powerful drug-screening tool for potential treatments of diabetes, heart failure, ischemic brain damage, some cancers and cognitive deficits common with aging and ADHD.  In addition, mCNGs could be marketed as a research tool to laboratories in the basic sciences studying cAMP signaling pathways. mCNGs are an improvement over current technology. First, mCNGs are more sensitive, able to detect cAMP over a wider concentration range. Second, the electrical recording methods allowed by mCNGs give improved spatial and temporal resolution.

Ownership: This technology is owned by the University of Colorado, and is available for licensing.

Patent Status: U.S. Patents 7,341,836 and 7,166,463.

Contact Information:

David Poticha
Senior Licensing Manager
University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office
12635 E. Montview Blvd., Suite 350
Aurora, CO 80045
United States

E-mail: david.poticha@cu.edu
Phone: 303-724-0220
Fax: 303-724-0816

Key Science/Technology Team Team Member 1:
Jerome Schaack, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Medicine, Dept. of Microbiology
Aurora, CO 80045
United States

E-mail: Jerry.Schaack@UCDenver.edu
Phone: 303-724-4220

Submitted by: Larry Loev, Business Director, Engineering and Physical Sciences, Ramot at Tel Aviv University, Ltd.

Inventor Information: Prof. Ehud Gazit, PhD, Vice President for Research and Development, Chair for Nano-Biology, and Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: We have developed a unique and novel family of peptide nanostructures that are based on aromatic homo-dipeptides. This includes peptide nanotubes, nanospheres, and hydrogels with nano-scale order. It has also been demonstrated that these peptide nanotubes could serve as a mold for the fabrication of metals and building blocks of a novel electrochemical platform. Furthermore, the peptide tubes were demonstrated to have very strong mechanical rigidity with Young modulus of about 19 GPa. Our work also reveals that a peptide homologue can form spherical nanometric assemblies. Both the nanotubes and nanospheres assemble efficiently and have remarkable stability.

Why is this important or intriguing? A huge range of applications is available for implementing peptide nanostructures, including textiles, structural materials, MEMS, and chemical and biological sensors. Key features of these novel nanostructures are:

• Remarkable rigidity
• Thermally stable to ~300 C
• Chemically stable (acids/bases/organic solvents)
• Can be produced using simple building blocks, is water soluble, and formed under mild conditions
• High versatility, with a chemical structure that allows tailor-made chemical and biological modifications

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: Joint ventures are welcomed in fields seeking to give additional properties of internal and external strength, surface area increase, preferential uptake of chemicals/biological materials.  We are seeking an enterprise interested in in-licensing our technology and working together toward commercializing it.

Ownership: All IP and know-how are owned by Ramot, the tech transfer office of Tel Aviv University.

Patent Status: U.S. patents 7,491,699 and 7,504,383; European patent 1,583,713; 4 PCTs

Contact Information:

Larry Loev
Business Director,
Engineering and Physical Sciences
Ramot at Tel Aviv University, Ltd.
PO Box 39296 Israel
Tel Aviv, 61392

E-mail: larry.loev@ramot.org
Phone: 972-3-6406544

Submitter: Lesley Millar, Director, Office of Technology Management, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Inventor Information: Professor Nick Holonyak, Jr inventor of the practical light-emitting diode (LED) and the first graduate student of Nobel Prize winning University of Illinois Professor John Bardeen — who invented the transistor in 1948 — along with Professor Milton Feng are two of the inventors of the Transistor Laser. Illinois Professors Holonyak and Feng are continually inventing in the compound semiconductor realm to elicit insight into faster transistors. Holonyak has received numerous accolades for his work, including the National Medals of Science and Technology, Japan Prize, Russian Global Energy Prize, and Lemelson-MIT Prize.

Milton Feng holds the record for fastest transistor, approaching 1THz in frequency. Their accomplishments are in two disparate, complimentary fields: the physical chemistry that makes lasers work and electrical engineering that creates circuitry to take advantage of the physical chemistry of lasers.

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: The Optical Modulation bandwidth of a transistor laser used, for example, in optical communication can be more than doubled from the typical 10GHz to about 22GHz. This is done by adding an AC signal to one terminal of the transistor laser. This AC signal addition serves to peak the photon output of the laser. This technique is much more convenient in comparison to optical methods to increase bandwidth.

Why is this important or intriguing? This increased bandwidth is fundamental to the cost and performance of optical fiber communication networks.

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: Optical Communication Networks are consuming hundreds of thousands of lasers annually, striving to find ways to increase bandwidth and content delivery over current infrastructure. This invention enables the industry to double its current content delivery.

Ownership: Wholly owned by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Funding for research provided by DARPA. U.S. government rights will exist.

Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Patent Application filed for this application, plus U.S. patents pending for background art on Transistor Laser.

Contact Information:

Steven Wille
Senior Technology Manager
Office of Technology Management
University of Illinois
Ceramics Building, 105 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
USA

E-mail: stvwille@illinois.edu
Phone: 217-244-5956
Fax: 217-265-5530

Submitter: Duncan Jones, Executive Director, OnSETT (The Ontario Society for Excellence in Technology Transfer)

Inventor Information: Stan Brown, PhD, Professor and former head, Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University, winner of multiple awards (most recent include: Canadian Chemistry Society Alfred Bader Award (2004) and R.U. Lemieux Award (2007), Canada Council for the Arts Killam Research Fellowship (2006-2008), a two-year time-release fellowship).

Alexei Neverov, PhD, Research Associate in the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University.

The inventors have developed, characterized and tested the method over more than five years in their laboratory and have published twelve peer-reviewed papers on the technology.

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: Inventors at Queen’s University have developed a novel method for the decontamination of toxic chemical warfare agents, insecticides and pesticides.

The process is fast, catalytic, produces non-toxic products, and occurs at room temperature and under neutral, non-corrosive conditions. It is broadly suitable for decomposing neutral organophosphorous compounds, including chemical warfare agents (e.g., G-, V- and VX-agents) and pesticides.

In testing on live chemical warfare agents by two independent research organizations, the method far exceeds all NATO and U.S. requirements. Full decontamination of both G- and V-agents is achieved in solution within 30 seconds. In testing of surface decontamination, >99% decontamination is achieved within 10 minutes, the shortest time period tested.

Why is this important or intriguing? Advantages over existing technologies are:

1. Catalytic, allowing high loading of agent
2. Extremely fast, with full decomposition in less than 30 seconds at standard challenge levels compared to a benchmark of 30 minutes
3. Non-toxic products
4. Occurs under neutral, non-corrosive conditions

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: The method has many applications, including:

• Demilitarization of chemical weapon stockpiles
• Decontamination of military equipment, including sensitive equipment
• Homeland security applications, including clean-up of contaminated sites, buildings or civilian areas
• Soil decontamination and remediation
• Military and civilian emergency preparedness

Ownership: The IP is owned by Queen’s University. PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer office of Queen’s University, is seeking a development partner and licensee for the technology.

Patent Status: U.S. Patent No. 7,214,836 issued on May 8, 2007. Corresponding international and additional U.S. patent applications are pending.

Contact Information:

Davis E. Hill
Manager, Commercial Development
PARTEQ Innovations
Queen’s University, Biosciences Complex, Suite 1625
Kingston
Ontario CANADA

E-mail: dhill@parteqinnovations.com
Phone: +1 613 533 2342

Submitted by: Michael Pazzani, Vice President for Research and Graduate and Professional Education, Rutgers University

Inventor Information: Richard H. Ebright, Professor, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Waksman Institute of Microbiology Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: Rutgers scientists have discovered several agents that have strong antibiotic activity against a wide array of infectious bacteria and exhibit little or no cross-resistance with current antibiotics. Further, they have identified the novel targets in RNA polymerase (“Switch Region” and “RNA-Exit Channel”) that confer susceptibility to various antibiotic agents. The target and unique mechanism of action may enable the further development of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. The target is found in many diverse pathogens that are becoming increasingly resistant to current antibiotics, including a host of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Why is this important or intriguing? There is an absolutely urgent unmet clinical need for new classes of antibiotics effective against bacterial pathogens resistant to current antibiotics.

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: Development of novel treatments and discovery tools for increasingly drug-resistant pathogens is critical global imperative representing a major opportunity for health improvement worldwide. In the U.S., hospital-acquired bacterial infections strike 2 million persons annually, resulting in 90,000 deaths and $5 billion in medical costs. Worldwide, the bacterial infectious disease tuberculosis kills nearly 2 million persons each year. One third of the world’s population currently is infected with tuberculosis, and the World Health Organization projects that there will be nearly 1 billion new infections by 2020, 200 million of which will result in serious illness, and 35 million of which will result in death. Bacterial infectious diseases also are potential instruments of bioterrorism.

Ownership: Rutgers University owns all IP.

Patent Status: There are eight (8) patents and applications covering novel compounds and targets.

Contact Information:

Thomas Richardson
Biomedical Business Development
Office of Technology Commercialization
Rutgers University
3 Rutgers Plaza, ASB III, 3rd Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
USA

E-mail: richardson@ocltt.rutgers.edu
Phone: 732-445-6400 ext. 106
Web: http://otc.rutgers.edu/default.php

Submitted by: Dana Bostrom, Director, Innovation and Industry Alliances, Portland State University

Inventor Information: Dr. Iwata-Reuyl’s research interests are in the area of modern biological chemistry, and include the biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolism and the molecular genetics of biosynthetic pathways. At present his group is investigating the biochemistry of the hypermodified nucleosides queuosine and archaeosine, as well as engaging in directed evolution studies of a enzymes important to the chemical manufacturing industry.

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: Chemical manufacturing industries are facing demands to practice environmentally conscientious methods and processes, while also facing a need to increase efficiency and maximize their bottom line. These factors are driving an increase in the use of enzymes in industrial chemical transformations. Amines are manufactured daily by the ton and are essential intermediaries for hundreds of chemical processes. The standard methods of producing amines require harsh reaction conditions and result in significant hazardous waste. An enzymatic method would render the production of amines a cleaner, safer, and less expensive process, and this technology promises to provide such a method.

Why is this important or intriguing? Enzymes possess exceptional catalytic efficiencies, operate under mild conditions, exhibit high selectivity and specificity, and generate minimal waste. As such, these enzymes may favorably impact industrial chemical processes and provide attractive alternatives to traditional chemical synthesis.

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: Portland State University seeks to license the intellectual property covering the current version of the enzyme and seeks partners in improving the technology.

Ownership: An issued U.S. patent is owned by Portland State University and Scripps Research Institute.

Patent Status: Patent Issued, U.S. 7,364,882

Contact Information:

Dana Bostrom
Director
Innovation and Industry Alliances
Portland State University, ORSP
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 97207
USA

E-mail: bostrom@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-725-5660

Dirk Iwata-Reuyl
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Portland State University

E-mail: iwatareuyld@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-725-5737

Submitted by: Tari Suprapto, Assistant Director, Office of Technology Transfer, The Rockefeller University

Inventor Information: Moriya Tsuji, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor at The Rockefeller University and the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City. He has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, and this body of work on the glycolipid adjuvants is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Tsuji has also received the NIH FIRST Award and Independent Scientist Award.

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: The immune system has components that bind and present antigens to cells that are capable of initiating a response to those antigens. One of these components is the CD1 receptor, which binds glycolipids, resulting in activation of natural killer T-cells (NKT cells), which in turn produce cytokines to eliminate the threat. Our scientists have synthesized a number of glycolipids, some of which are analogs of alpha-galactosyl ceramide (a-GalCer), which is the most extensively studied CD1 ligand to date. Several of these compounds have 100-fold more biological activity than a-GalCer.

Why is this important or intriguing? These compounds have the potential to be the next generation of vaccine adjuvants, which are greatly needed to enhance the effectiveness of vaccines against cancer and other infectious diseases.

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: These novel compounds are currently being tested as adjuvants in vivo with T-cell based HIV and malaria vaccines, and our scientists are preparing for a Phase I clinical trial. We are looking for a strong commercial partner for further development and creation of effective products to combat disease.

Ownership: This intellectual property is jointly owned by The Rockefeller University and The Scripps Research Institute.

Patent Status: Patent applications WO2006071848 and WO2008128062 are pending.

Contact Information:

Tari Suprapto
Assistant Director
Office of Technology Transfer
The Rockefeller University
1230 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065
USA

E-mail: tsuprapto@rockefeller.edu
Phone: 212-37-7095

Submitted by: John Fraser, Executive Director, Office of Intellectual Property Development and Commercialization, Florida State University

Inventor Information: Dr. Ben Wang, Director; Dr. Richard Liang, Chief Technologist, High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI), Florida State University; and Dr. Chuck Zhang, Professor and Chairman, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Non-Confidential Technology Summary: The HPMI team has manufactured carbon nanotube composites demonstrating mechanical performance equivalent to the state-of-the-art aerospace-grade carbon fiber composites and possessing exceptional conductivity properties. The team is conducting feasibility studies for scale-up continuous production and continuing development of a preliminary database for real-world engineering applications.

Many researchers and engineers consider nanotubes one of the most promising materials for developing the next generation of high-performance, multifunctional lightweight composites for aerospace, high-end sporting goods, advanced electrical/electronic devices, and energy harvesting applications.

Why is this important or intriguing? Carbon nanotubes demonstrate exceptional mechanical, thermal and electrical properties that may be incorporated into composites to make lightweight, multifunctional structures.

HPMI has produced product prototypes for lightweight materials offering applications for lightning striking protection, EMI shielding, composite conductors, and thermal management.

The HPMI technologies have received several accolades, including the MICRO/NANO 25 Award (R&D Magazine and MICRO/NANO Newsletter), and the Nano 50 Award (Nanotech Briefs, 2008).

Synopsis of Business Opportunity: Sponsored by ARL, AFRL and ONR, the research team at FSU High-Performance Research Institute (HPMI) has developed novel material treatments and composite manufacturing technologies that have resulted in major breakthroughs in both mechanical and electrical conducting properties. FSU is seeking corporate development partnerships to move the technology into particular applications which can be scaled up into usable products

Ownership: Florida State University

Patent Status: Several U.S. applications pending

Contact Information:

John Fraser
Executive Director
Office of Intellectual Property Development and Commercialization
Florida State University
Westcott Building
Tallahassee, FL 32306
USA

E-mail: jfraser@techtransfer.fsu.edu
Phone: 850-644-8637