[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45555-45556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21706]
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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, DHHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by agencies 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.
Surface Coating for Hot-Melt Adhesive Films
John I. Peterson, Tristan Gorrindo (ORS), DHHS Reference No. E-015-
99/0 filed 10 May 1999.
Licensing Contact: John Fahner-Vihtelic; 301/496-7735 ext. 270; e-
mail: jf36z@nih.gov.
The present application describes a method and apparatus for
applying thin-film coatings to poly(ethylene/vinyl acetate, CAS24937-
78-8) (EVA) hot-melt layers used in Laser Capture Microdissection
(LCM). These methods result in the placement of a hard, non-adhering
surface on the EVA layer. The placement of this layer overcomes the
problems associated with nonspecific pickup of tissue. Analysis errors
in tissue samples captured by laser melting are easily prevented, and
using various brush-off or wash-off techniques the removal of undesired
tissue material from EVA with thin-film coatings is easily
accomplished. Additional advantages include the protection of the hard
surface against ambient humidity and temperature variations that
adversely affect performance. A desirable coating is one that is a
water or water-ethanol solution since it does not deform the EVA
surface. Three materials have been tested and are acceptable for this
application.
A Method of Preventing Tumor Metastasis
S Rong, G Vande Woude, DL Faletto, I Tsarfaty, M Oskarsson (NCI),
Serial No. 09/248,901 filed 12 Feb 1999.
Licensing Contact: Susan S. Rucker; 301/496-7056 ext. 245; e-mail:
sr156v@nih.gov
This application generally relates to signal transduction involving
hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and its receptor the
met proto-oncogene. In vitro experiments have indicated that some
tumors, such as sarcomas, exhibit metastatic behavior due to
inappropriate HGF/SF signaling. The application describes a method
whereby this signaling can be inhibited by a substance such as an HGF/
SF variant, an HGF/SF mimetic or an antibody or antibody fragment that
prevents HGF/SF from binding to met.
Several related cases are also available for licensing: U.S. Patent
5,871,959 issued 2/16/1999 entitled ``A Method of Producing HGF/SF and
Related Cell Lines'' and U.S. Patent 5,648,273 issued 7/15/1997
entitled ``Hepatic growth factor receptor is the MET proto-oncogene''.
Expressed Sequence Tags of Genes Expressed in Drosophila Testes
Brian Oliver, Justen Andrews, Jining Lu (NIDDK)
DHHS Reference No. E-023-99/0.
Licensing Contact: Peter Soukas, 301/496-7056 ext. 268; e-mail:
ps193c@nih.gov.
This unpatented invention describes the generation of high quality
Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) of genes expressed in Drosophila testes
obtained through ongoing sequencing. Approximately sixty percent (60%)
of the generated ESTs have no significant homology to existing
Drosophila EST sets. Thus, this invention represents a valuable
addition to the Drosophila unigene set. Additionally, approximately
forty-three percent (43%) of these ESTs have no significant similarity
to sequences to any other organism in public databases, representing
possibly previously unidentified genes.
Approximately 3000 sequence reads have been submitted to dbEST at
the present time. The ESTs were prepared from a library derived from
poly-A+ RNA isolated from 700 y* w67c1
1-5 day post-eclosion testis. cDNA was cloned in the Stratagene Uni-Zap
XR vector according to the manufacturer's instructions. The primary
unamplified library contained 8 x 106 plaque forming units
(pfu). The library was amplified once (1 x 106 pfu yielded
1.75 x 1012 pfu). There are no NIH patent rights
associated with this invention; it is available for commercialization
through a Biological Materials License Agreement.
Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Activating Gene 1 (FRAG1),
Related Proteins and Methods
MV Lorenzi (NCI), T Miki (NCI)
Serial No. 09/202,548 filed 15 Dec 98 claiming priority to PCT/US97/
10660 filed 18 Jun 97 and 60/020,009 filed 18 Jun 96
Licensing Contact: Susan S. Rucker; 301/496-7056 ext. 245; e-mail:
sr156v@nih.gov
These applications describe the identification, isolation and
cloning of the human gene named Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor
Activating Gene I (FRAG1) as well as its rat homolog. A full length
clone of the human FRAG1 was deposited and the partial sequence (about
90%) is disclosed. The complete sequence of the rat homolog is
disclosed.
The gene for FRAG1 encodes a protein which activates the known
growth factor receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2).
[[Page 45556]]
FRAG1, when fused to FGFR2, leads to a transformed phenotype when
transfected into cells and enhanced levels of phosphorylation/
activation of FGFR2. The FGFR2-FRAG1 fusion protein was isolated from
an osteosarcoma. Products derived from the FRAG1 cDNA, protein or
antibodies which recognize the FRAG1 antigen are likely to be useful as
diagnostics, therapeutics and research reagents.
This work has appeared, in part, in Lorenzi, MV, et al. ``FRAG1, a
gene that potently activates fibroblast growth factor receptor by C-
terminal fusion through chromosomal rearrangement'' PNAS, USA 93(17):
8956-61 (Aug. 20, 1996).
Spontaneous Breathing Apparatus and Method
Theodor Kolobow (NHLBI)
Serial No. 08/933,003 filed 18 Sep 1997.
Licensing Contact: Girish Barua; 301/496-7056 ext. 263; e-mail:
gb18t@nih.gov
A novel assisted breathing system and method has been developed to
greatly decrease/eliminate work of breathing, and is under the total
control of a patient.
The system includes a minitracheostomy tube, a reverse thrust gas
insufflation catheter introduced through a special minitracheostomy
tube to deliver well humidified air/oxygen to near the carina, and a
threshold valve to limit airway plateau pressure. Inspiration is
effected through spontaneous closing of the glottic opening, while
expiration follows opening of the glottis. Such breathing is under the
exclusive, spontaneous control of a patient to determine respiratory
rate and tidal volumes. Lung inflation is hence passive, and accounts
for the greatly decreased (even zero) work of breathing. Speech, cough
and swallowing remain unimpeded.
Dated: August 16, 1999.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 99-21706 Filed 8-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M
