Rutgers Technology

Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for Kinetic Separation of Propane and Propene

2010-01-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Jing Li, Ph.D.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 10-006

Invention Summary:
The separation of propane and propene by cryogenic distillation is one of the most energy-and cost-intensive industrial separation processes. Prof. Jing Li and her research group at Rutgers University have discovered an alternative adsorption-based kinetic separation of propene and propane. They demonstrate, for the first time, that zeolite-like microporous metal organic frameworks (MMOFs) are capable of separating these two hydrocarbon species based on the significant difference in their diffusion rates (125:1).

Market Applications:
Chemical and petrochemical industry.

Advantages:
This method is expected to be less expensive and more energy efficient than previous methods.

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Peptides Inhibiting Surfactant Protein-D Assembly and Related Novel Targets

2009-12-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventors:
Andrew Gow, PhD
Changjiang Guo, MD
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Rutgers Technology #: 10-011

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have discovered a novel mechanism of multimer assembly that relies on non-covalent linkages between cysteine residues. This mechanism has been shown to be critically important in the assembly of the innate immune regulatory protein surfactant protein D (SP-D). Peptides designed to disrupt these linkages have been shown to modify SP-D multimer formation. This mechanism is critically dependent on a particular cysteine containing sequence motif. This motif is found in other clinically relevant multimers such as HIV gp160, and those present in HCV. By designing peptides that can interact with specific structural cysteine containing motifs, one can interrupt assembly of specific multimeric proteins, such as gp 160. These peptides may be further developed for clinical use as a therapy and the target may be a unique drug discovery tool or a vaccine. This technology may find utility in bronchopulmonary dysplasia therapy, and in inflammation, emphysema, and chronic infections such as HIV and HCV.

Market Applications: Peptide drug, target, therapeutic, drug discovery, vaccine, surfactant protein-D, HCV, HIV, ventilator-assisted pneumonia.

Advantages: Unique structural determinant with wide applicability as a vaccine or drug target, inhibitory peptides demonstrate disruption of the SP-D complex.

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Opiate-based Polyanhydrides

2009-12-15T08:46:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Kathryn E. Uhrich, PhD
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Rutgers Technology #: 08-075

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed novel drug candidates based on the polymerization of opioids. Opioid agonists or antagonists are chemically incorporated into the polymeric backbone of polyanhydride esters. Upon degradation, the opioid-based polymer releases the drug molecules in a controlled fashion. The polymers are designed so that instant drug release is impossible, thus the drug is not able to be abused. The technology may provide an important clinical tool aiding opioid addiction treatment and withdrawal.

Market Applications: Prophylactics, Therapeutics, Opiates, Addiction.

Advantages: Simple chemistry, tailored release profile, inexpensive to produce.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending.

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Cell State Analyzer

2009-12-15T08:40:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventors:
Martin L. Yarmush, MD, PhD
Nada N. Boustany, PhD
Department of Biomedical Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 09-049

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed a method to analyze the state of cells such as metabolic states associated with conditions of cell and tissue stress and/or differentiation.This technology relies on the intrinsic optical properties of cells and tissues to diagnose and/or measure cell state changes and uses a label-free, optical high-throughput in situ method to evaluate cells and tissues. This novel method may provide unique quantitative fingerprints for various cell conditions including disease, growth and differentiation conditions.

Market Applications: Tissue Diagnostics, Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine

Advantages: Not invasive or destructive to the cell, enables enhanced scientific and experimental description, improved protocols for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine.

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Method for Novel Microfluidic Incubation Geometry of Antibody-conjugated Beads in Immunosensing Applications

2009-12-15T08:38:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Jeffrey D. Zahn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 09-054

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have invented a novel incubation geometry for microfluidic biochips, allowing longer incubation times between antibody-coated magnetic beads and antigens. This procedure permits continuous monitoring of specific antigens found at low concentrations in biological specimens.

Market Applications: Micorfluidics, Diagnostics, Proteomics, Antigen Quantification, High-Throughput Assays.

Advantages: Simple, easy, fast, sensitive.

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Nanoparticle-mediated Delivery of U1 Adaptor Silencing Molecules to Tumors

2009-12-15T08:25:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventors:
Samuel I. Gunderson
Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

Rutgers Technology #: 10-021

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed novel formulations of gene silencing compounds for the effective treatment of cancer. This invention permits effective gene silencing in tumors by conjugation of U1 Adaptors to delivery competent nanoparticles (dendrimers, liposomes, polymers, etc). The U1 Adaptors provide silencing of a specific gene or genes whereas the nanoparticles provide delivery to specific types of tumors while maintaining low cytotoxicity.

Market Applications: Drug Delivery, Drug Development, RNAi, Gene Silencing, Polymer, Dendrimer, Liposome.

Advantages: Gene silencing in tumors, protection of oligonucleotide from degradation, specific gene targeting.

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FREM2 Polymorphisms as Predictors of Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

2009-12-15T08:16:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Derek Gordon, Ph.D.
Department of Genetics

Rutgers Technology #: 09-029

Invention Summary: Investigators at Rutgers have identified novel polymorphisms in the FREM2 gene that are associated with an unfavorable prognosis for Alzheimer’s in humans. This technology will allow the construction of transgenic animal models to study Alzheimer’s disease in vivo and help identify potential drugs against it.

Market Applications: Animal models, Alzheimer’s, Therapeutics, Phophylactics, Drug Discovery, Transgenesis.

Advantages: Novel assay for Alzheimer’s prognosis/diagnosis, ease of transgenesis, drug screen potential.

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Automated Method of Quantifying Biomarkers in Biological Samples

2009-12-15T08:04:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Anant Madabhushi, PhD
Department of Biomedical Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 09-078

Invention Summary:
Rutgers Investigators have developed a novel algorithm and methodology that enables rapid, quantitative analysis of biomarkers in tissue samples. The algorithm utilizes an iterative mean shift approach to capture snapshots at various levels of color resolution in the tissue sample as it approaches convergence (defined here to mean all points have reached their associated mode based off of the bandwidth parameter). The layers are then Normalized Cut, guided by a small swatch of user specified domain knowledge, and then mapped to a final segmented result. The procedure can be performed in less than one minute to obtain accur-ately segmented images of the stained regions allowing quantification and analysis to easily take place. By selecting representative points(pixels) from the class of interest in the tissue sample, the system can rapidly extract all similar values across many samples. The overall approach provides an objective segmentation that is user-independent and can analyze very large numbers of samples, reducing time, cost of diagnosis and user bias.

Market Applications: Diagnostics, Medical Imaging, Bioimaging, Drug Efficacy.

Advantages: Rapid, accurate detection and analysis of tissue samples; objective segmentation; easily scaled to large numbers of samples; automated (lower cost); demonstrated utility in ground truth samples.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending.

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Malignancy Diagnosis Using Content-based Image Retrieval of Tissue Histopathology

2009-12-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Anant Madabhushi, PhD
Department of Biomedical Engineering

Rutgers Technology # 09-010

Invention Summary: Investigators at Rutgers have developed a novel algorithm and methodology utilizing digitized histological images to stratify ER+ breast cancers for prognostic applications. The approach uses information taken from diseased and normal tissues to create biomarker signatures of tissue samples at various stages of breast cancer progression. This method is significantly cheaper than and strongly correlates to the current diagnostic standard; does not require specialized facilities to perform, and is not subject to user/pathologist interpretation. Proof-of-concept has been demonstrated in a cohort of samples and efforts are currently underway to scale up to larger sample sizes. Use of this information may ultimately enable clinicians to provide improved treatment protocols.

Market Applications: Diagnostics, prognostics, Medical Imaging, Bioimaging, breast cancer

Advantages: Rapid, accurate detect; objective, bias-free metric; easily scaled to large numbers of samples; automated (lower cost); demonstrated utility in ground truth samples.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending.

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Method to Create Meta- and Ortho-selective Compounds

2009-09-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Leslie Jimenez, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology

Invention Summary:
Scientists at Rutgers University have developed a novel method to regioselectively introduce functional groups onto arenes by using aryl bromides as easily removable blocking groups. This novel method addresses the difficulty of functional group placement for a variety of aromatic ring structures and enables the synthesis of compounds in far fewer steps. The methodology has been exploited in over 12 distinct substrates demonstrating broad utility. This method may be useful for a variety of chemical synthesis strategies employed by chemical and drug manufacturers.

Market Applications:
Chemical synthesis, organic synthesis, process development, pharmaceuticals.

Advantages:
High yield synthesis, easily removable by-products, reduced number of steps for synthesis.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A Provisional patent application has been filed.

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Novel Synthetic Route for c-di-GMP and Analogs

2009-09-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Roger Jones, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology

Invention Summary:
Investigators at Rutgers have developed a procedure for the synthesis of cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) that can be carried out in one day starting from commercially available material. A number of other routes to this molecule have been reported, though all require more time to synthesize the molecule, and employ starting materials that are not commercially available. Further, this novel route lends itself to preparation of a variety of analogs, including especially the thiophosphates, gives crystalline material, and is scalable. There is intense current interest in c-di-GMP, and analogs, because of its role as a bacterial signaling molecule and its importance in bacterial virulence, pathogenesis, and biofilm formation.

Market Applications:
Chemical synthesis, c-di-GMP, bacterial virulence, pathogenesis, biofilm.

Advantages:
Rapid, scalable, one-flask, gram quantity.

Intellectual Property & Development Status:
A Provisional patent application has been filed.

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Total Synthesis of Microcin C Analogues with Altered Intracellular Targets

2009-09-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Konstantin Severinov, PhD
Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Invention Summary:
Scientists have recently developed a novel, total synthesis for analogues of Microcin C (McC), a potent antibacterial agent. McC is a Trojan horse inhibitor that is actively taken into sensitive cells and processed to a non-hydrolyzable form that inhibits translation by preventing aminoacylation of tRNAAsp by aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS). The new synthetic approach results in analogues lacking proplyamine and N-terminal formyl groups, and the phosphoramide normally found in McC is substituted by a sulfamoyl bond. These analogues are taken up by a unique mechanism of action and inhibit aaRS, found in both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. These compounds may also be used as coupling agents for other drugs to enhance uptake. Further, synthesis allows for the generation of inhibitors of all 20 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and may be widely applicable to creating novel antibiotics.

Market Applications:
Therapeutics, Antibacterial, Antiobiotic, Food preservative, gram-positive, gram-negative.

Advantages:
Total synthesis, broad spectrum antibiotic activity.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A provisional patent application has been filed. Note: Rutgers also has an IP estate on the compounds and analogues.

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Automated, Self-Contained Venipuncture Device

2009-09-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Rutgers Inventors:
Martin L. Yarmush, MD, PhD
Stanley Dunn, PhD
Department of Biomedical Engineering

Invention Summary:
Rutgers scientists have developed a device design for autonomous venipuncture. It combines a subcutaneous imaging system with a robotically driven needle in a compact form that allows for portable application. The device uses near-infrared imaging to create a 3-D vector coordinate system in real-time to visualize subcutaneous veins. The device also provides critical depth representations of the target vein and utilizes robotics for optimal needle placement. The introduction of an automated venipuncture device will find utility in numerous clinical care and out-patient settings and will enable improved blood collection methods for a wide range of patient populations.

Market Applications: Automated venipuncture, robotics, blood vessel imaging, phlebotomy.

Advantages: Safe and accurate venipuncture, elimination of human error, improved patient comfort, rapid phlebotomy

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A provisional patent application has been filed.

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Biodegradable, Antimicrobial PolymerActives as Films/Particles

2009-09-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Kathryn Uhrich Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology

Summary:
Biodegradable, bioactive-based polymers (PolymerActives) (i.e., plastics) are patented materials that can be used for a variety of applications from food safety to personal care products. The bioactive molecules are chemically incorporated into the polymers, so that a very high bioactive loading is achieved. Furthermore, the polymers are fully biodegradable (i.e., hydrolytically degradable), and upon degradation release the bioactive molecules in a controlled, sustained manner. The polymer degradation rate can be easily manipulated, and degradation times can be controlled to release the bioactive from hours to days or weeks to months, depending on the specific application.

For traditional food packaging, bioactives (e.g., antimicrobials, preservatives, antioxidants) are physically incorporated into a polymer “carrier”. In this technology, the polymer is both the carrier and the bioactive. The bioactive is only released when the polymer is in contact with water. Additional bioactive molecules can be “loaded” into the PolymerActive to give a dual or triple release system.

Relevant for food products, PolymerActives can easily be formulated into films or wraps: PolymerActives have already been proven effective for prevention of biofilm formation on both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staph. epidermis and Staph. Aureus. There are a variety of patented synthetic approaches for the incorporation of the bioactives depending on the specific application and polymer properties desired.

Advantages:
· Bioactives (e.g., antimicrobial, antioxidants) are naturally occurring with proven track record of safety (GRAS and EAFUS status)
· Bioactives are chemically (not physically) incorporated into the polymers to give a controlled release
· High weight percentage of bioactive incorporated means high activity per mass
· Polymer degradation rate to release bioactive is controlled by changing polymer composition
· Ease of manipulation into different geometries (e.g., particles, films, fibers)
· Food-based polymers are dual release systems – release two compounds (i.e., an antimicrobial agent and food preservative such as EDTA); ability to physically admix other bioactive compounds
· Proven effective for prevention of biofilms (i.e., microbial contamination)

Market Applications:
· Biodegradable, antimicrobial food packaging (i.e., edible packaging and active plastic wrap)
· Mixing with foods as particles (i.e., replacement for antibiotics sprinkled onto food surfaces)

IP Protection and Development Status:
Numerous U.S. patents and U.S. patent provisional applications support this invention. The IP associated with PolymerActives is available for licensing. Additional research and development support is available from Dr. Kathryn Uhrich’s group in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department at Rutgers University. Complete synthesis and characterization of these biodegradable, bioactive-based polymers were published in scientific journals (see http://rutchem.rutgers.edu/content_dynamic/faculty/kathryn_uhrich.shtml).

Uses of Kombo Better Extract and Derivatives

2009-07-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

Rutgers Inventor:
James E. Simon, Ph.D.
Department of Plant Biology & Pathology

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed novel methods to treat a variety of neurological disorders including ischemic stroke. The methods center on the use of novel neuroprotectants isolated from Kombo butter, an African nutmeg. The scientists additionally developed methods to produce and purify the Kombo butter, its extracts and derivatives. These compounds may find utility in treat CNS and neurodegenerative diseases and for uses in aiding cognition.

Market Applications: CNS, Stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Neuroprotection, Kombo butter.

Advantages: Complementary and alternative medicine.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed.

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Functional Neuronal Cell Lines

2009-07-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Martin Grumet, PhD
Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed a novel cell line that gives rise to GABAergic neurons, currently lacking in the research field. The cells express markers characteristic of GABAergic-like neurons such as calretinin, calbindin, neuropeptide Y and somatostatin, and are electrically excitable in culture. These cells may be important for developing models of CNS diseases or for drug screening and transplantation, and may be useful for indications such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Market Applications: Drug Discovery, Drug Screening, Cell Transplantation, Neuron.

Advantages: The cells show restricted neuronal differentiation in vitro, giving rise exclusively to neuron-like cells (b-III tubulin+) but not to astrocytes or oligodendrocytes. Further, they express significantly higher levels of mRNAs for a variety of enzymes, transcription factors and markers associated with functional neurons.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A provisional patent application has been filed.

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Method to Create Meta- and Ortho-selective Compounds

2009-07-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

Inventor:
Leslie Jimenez, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology

Invention Summary: Scientists at Rutgers University have developed a novel method to regioselectively introduce functional groups onto arenes by using aryl bromides as easily removable blocking groups. This novel method addresses the difficulty of functional group placement for a variety of aromatic ring structures and enables the synthesis of compounds in far fewer steps. The methodology has been exploited in over 12 distinct substrates demonstrating broad utility. This method may be useful for a variety of chemical synthesis strategies employed by chemical and drug manufacturers.

Market Applications: Chemical synthesis, organic synthesis, process development, pharmaceuticals.

Advantages: High yield synthesis, easily removable by-products, reduced number of steps for synthesis.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed.

Novel Synthetic Route for c-di-GMP and Analogs

2009-07-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Inventor:
Roger Jones, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology

Invention Summary: Investigators at Rutgers have developed a procedure for the synthesis of cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) that can be carried out in one day starting from commercially available material. A number of other routes to this molecule have been reported, though all require more time to synthesize the molecule, and employ starting materials that are not commercially available. Further, this novel route lends itself to preparation of a variety of analogs, including especially the thiophosphates, gives crystalline material, and is scalable. There is intense current interest in c-di-GMP, and analogs, because of its role as a bacterial signaling molecule and its importance in bacterial virulence, pathogenesis, and biofilm formation.

Market Applications: Chemical synthesis, c-di-GMP, bacterial virulence, pathogenesis, biofilm.

Advantages: Rapid, scalable, one-flask, gram quantity.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed.

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Viral Glycosphingolipids with Apoptotic Activity

2009-07-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

Inventors:
Kay D. Bidle, Ph.D.
Assaf Vardi, Ph.D.
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have discovered a novel class of agents that have apoptotic activity. These natural product glycosphingolipids were discovered in a type of marine phytoplankton in response to viral infection. The purified glycosphingolipidsderive from a marine virus and are sufficient to induce apoptosis at nanomolar concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. These novel agents may find unique utility in a variety of medical applications including cancer.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, DrugDiscovery, Vaccine, Lipidomics.

Advantages: Potent apoptotic activity, novel agents, natural products that can be easily generated via known biosynthetic pathways.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A provisional patent application hasbeen filed.

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Expression Systems for Human Secreted Proteins

2009-07-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Inventor: Stephen Anderson, Ph.D.
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have discovereda novel protein expression system that allows proper folding and easy extraction of secreted mammalian proteins in E.coli hosts. The proteins can be easily labeled allowing their 3D structure to be determined by NMR spectroscopy.

Market Applications: Peptide and Protein Synthesis, Drug Development, Isotope Labeling, Structural Biology, Proteomics.

Advantages: Proteins fold properly and maintainstructure, easy labeling and extraction, appropriate forregulated and constitutive expression.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed.

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Spray-On Wound Dressing

2009-02-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

Prof. Patrick J. Sinko in the Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University has developed a novel and easy to use enabling technology for topical application of therapeutics . This technology utilizes a poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) hydrogel for the topical controlled release of a therapeutic agent for up to several days. In addition, the hydrogels can be made to be either degradable or non-degradable depending upon the specific application.

Hydrogels have been used to release drugs slowly over time, to protect drugs from degradation or to trigger drug release in response to various stimuli such as, for example, temperature, insulin blood levels or inflammation. Due to their high water content and soft and elastic consistency, hydrogels resemble natural tissue causing minimal mechanical irritation. However, hydrogels typically are found to be unsuitable as controlled drug delivery devices for low molecular weight hydrophilic compounds because the high water content of the hydrogel and the presence of large pores results in rapid drug release. Therefore, there exists a need for hydrogels which can be used for the controlled release administration of low molecular weight therapeutically active agents.

Dr. Sinko has developed novel hydrogels that can be used as topical dressings, similar to artificial skin, for the treatment of skin wounds. These novel hydrogels have the following attributes:

* low cost of synthesis;
* stable against extremes of temperature;
* application to the affected site is done as comfortably and conveniently as possible;
* strong physical protection to the wounded area;
* impervious to transit of microorganisms into the wound;
* transparent for observing the wound;
* ability to breathe, like natural skin;
* slowly releases various effectors, such as antiseptics, local anesthetics, etc.;
* slowly releases stimulators and components of tissue repair;
* easy removal without further injury to the wound site.

The hydrogel could be packaged in a pressurized spray can and sprayed onto the wound to form a thin layer of the hydrogel. Repeat spraying would thicken the coating. Since the hydrogel can be made to be degradable or non-degradable, the wound dressing would either expire after a few days or be removed with a second solution that would dissolve the gel and wash it away.

Patent Status
The following United States and PCT Patent Application has been filed: International Patent Application Number PCT/US2005/046891 (WO2006069344/US Provisional 60/638,552) was published on June 29, 2006 and claims priority from a U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/638,552 that was filed December 22, 2004.

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G-Quadraplex Stabilizers

2009-02-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

Inventor: Edmond J. LaVoie, Ph.D.

Benefits
Recent studies have provided evidence to support G-quadruplexes as targets for the development of novel anticancer agents. This line of thinking is novel and of recent origin. Competitive intelligence reveals that there could be considerable interest in the pharmaceutical industry for developing novel anti-cancer agents via this unique mechanism of action.

Potential commercial use
Within the Oncology franchise, with the constant need for more specific therapeutic agents with minimal side (toxic) effects, G-quadraplex stabilizers offer unique opportunities. The market size for the novel G-Quadraplex stabilizers can be expected to be in the multibillion dollar range, resembling some of the highly successful current block buster anti-cancer agents.

Reference
Synthesis and G-Quadruplex Binding Affinity of a Series of Oxazole-Containing Macrocycles Gurpreet Singh Minhas a, Daniel S. Pilch b, John E. Kerriganb, Edmond J. LaVoie a and Joseph E. Rice a, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2006), 16(15), 3891-3895.

Research and Licensing
The intellectual property associated with the technology is available for licensing.
Some general information on Dr. LaVoie's research interests is available at
http://medchem.rutgers.edu/Faculty/LaVoie.htm.

Patent Information
A Provisional Patent Application was filed 4/25/06.

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A Novel Role for Snapin in Dendrite Patterning: Interaction with Cypin

2009-02-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

Inventor: Bonnie Firestein, Ph.D.

Benefits
Agonists of Cypin, and inhibitors of Snapin have the potential to become effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of CNS diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease or Autism. Agents that can result in the elevation of glutamate transporters in glia have the potential to become therapeutic agents to treat Spinal Cord Injury or ischemic stroke.

Potential commercial use
Therapeutic agents for each one of these targets offer the potential to become a blockbuster ($1B+) drug.

The technology
The precise patterning of dendrites is important for determining how information is processed by a neuron (Vetter et al., 2001; Schaefer et al., 2003). Furthermore, it is believed that dendrite number increases in response to an enriched environment, a model of learning (Volkmar and Greenough, 1972). When there is an abnormal decrease in the number of dendrite branches on neurons, neurological disorders result (autism, Rett, Down, Fragile-X, Alzheimer's and Lesch-Nyhan Syndromes). Our understanding of how dendrite patterns are determined is quite limited and there is ongoing research in a few laboratories to gain insight into how dendrite morphology is regulated. Prof. Bonnie Firestein and her collaborators at Rutgers University have identified a pathway by which the protein Cypin increases the number of dendrites on a neuron. Cypin protein is increased in response to factors that aid in
learning and memory. In parallel, Firestein and colleagues have found that snapin, a protein that binds to cypin, inhibits cypin's ability to increase dendrites. Compounds that enhance the levels of Cypin and/ or inhibit the activity of snapin have the potential to become therapeutic agents to treat the above stated CNS disorders.

Prof. Firestein and colleagues have also found that Cypin acts as an enzyme to break down guanine, which upon further metabolism yields uric acid. Uric acid has been shown to protect neurons from damage during spinal cord injury or ischemic stroke. Prof. Firestein has identified EAAT-1, a glutamate transporter found in astroglia, as a protein that confers this protection to neurons. Uric acid increases the expression of EAAT-1, and using compounds that would increase cypin levels and/or activity would presumably aid those patients who have experienced spinal cord injury or ischemic stroke.

Research and Licensing
The intellectual property associated with the technology is available for licensing. At the present time these inventions offer the opportunity to provide research support with an option agreement to license the technologies on a later date. Further details on Professor.Firestein's research may be obtained on her laboratory homepage – http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/~firestein/.

Patent Information: Using CYPIN in Assays, Diagnostics and Treatment Of Cognitive Disorders (Technology 04-082) - A Utility patent was filed 1/12/05; A Novel Role for Snapin in Dendrite Patterning: Interaction with Cypin (Technology 05-093) - A PCT was filed 4/4/06;

Elevation of Glutamate transporters in glia to treat SCI and pain (Technology 06-117) - A Provisional Patent Application was filed 9/7/06.

Related Technologies:

* Using CYPIN in Assays, Diagnostics and Treatment Of Cognitive Disorders (Technology 04-082)
* A Novel Role for Snapin in Dendrite Patterning: Interaction with Cypin (Technology 05-093)
* Elevation of Glutamate transporters in glia to treat SCI and pain (Technology 06-117)

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Using CYPIN in Assays, Diagnostics and Treatment Of Cognitive Disorders

2009-02-23T10:43:00.000-08:00

Inventor: Bonnie Firestein, Ph.D.

Potential commercial use
Therapeutic agents for each one of these targets offer the potential to become a blockbuster ($1B+) drug.

Elevation of Glutamate transporters in glia to treat SCI and pain (Technology 06-117) - A Provisional Patent Application was filed 9/7/06.

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Related Technologies:

Antibiotic Drug Discovery

2009-02-23T08:42:00.000-08:00

Prof. Richard H. Ebright, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University has identified two new sites for interaction with "antibiotics" within the structure of bacterial RNA polymerase, the key enzyme that mediates bacterial gene expression. These new sites have been shown to serve as "drug targets" for developing novel antibiotics. The two new "drug targets" are termed "Switch-Region Target" and "RNA-Exit-Channel Target". Both of these new targets can serve as a potential binding site for compounds that inhibit bacterial gene expression and thereby kill bacteria. Since these new targets are present in most bacterial species, compounds that bind to them are active against a broad spectrum of bacteria. Since these new targets are different from targets of current antibiotics, compounds that bind to them are not cross-resistant with current antibiotics. For both of these new targets, at least one "lead compound" has been identified and in several instances, further optimization of the lead compound has been carried out. The lead compounds exhibit potent activity against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens including staph, strep, tuberculosis, anthrax, and plague and exhibit little or no cross-resistance with current antibiotics.

Switch-Region Target:
The switch-region-target lead compound RSL0001 inhibits growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species, including Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium mediolanum, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli DH21f2tolC, Micrococcus luteus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (MICs =10 µg/ml for all; MICs =1 µg/ml for Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Escherichia coli DH21f2tolC, and Staphylococcus aureus).

The switch-region-target lead compound RSL0002 inhibits growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Burkholderia thailandensis, Corynebacterium mediolanum, Escherichia coli DH21f2tolC, Francisella tularensis, Micrococcus luteus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Yersina pestis (MICs =25 µg/ml for all; MICs =10 µg/ml for most; MICs =1 µg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus).

The switch-region-target lead compounds RSL0001 and RSL0002 show no cross-resistance with current antibacterial agents. Ten novel analogs of the switch-region-target lead compound RSL0001, comprising new compositions of matter, have been prepared by synthesis and have been found to retain the ability to inhibit bacterial RNA polymerase.

RNA-Exit-Channel Target:
The RNA-exit-channel-target lead compound RRL0001 has been shown to inhibit growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species, including Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli DH21f2tolC, Micrococcus luteus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Staphylococcus aureus (MICs =10 µg/ml for all; MICs=1 µg/ml for Clostridium difficile , Micrococcus luteus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis). The RNA-exit-channel-target lead compound RRL0001 shows little or no cross-resistance with current antibacterial agents. Two novel analogs of the RNA-exit-channel-target lead compound RRL0001, comprising new compositions of matter, have been prepared by fermentation with precursor feeding. Both have been found to retain the ability to inhibit bacterial RNA polymerase; one has been found to exhibit a broadened spectrum of activity against Gramnegative bacterial species.

Several PCT patent applications covering the "drug targets" as well as specific composition of matter are under prosecution.

Patent Status:
The following United States and PCT Patent Applications on targets and lead compounds have been filed:

* PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US03/27457 entitled "Target and Method for Inhibition of Bacterial RNA Polymerase" was filed on September 4, 2003 and published on July 20, 2006.
* PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US04/016826 entitled "RNA-Exit-Channel: Target and Method for Inhibition of Bacterial RNA Polymerase" was filed on May 28, 2004 and published on June 15, 2006.
* PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US04/28640 entitled "Target and Method for Inhibition of Bacterial RNA Polymerase Minimized Derivatives of Peptide Antibiotic MccJ25" was filed on September 2, 2004 and published on August 23, 2007.
* PCT United States Patent Application Number 11/351,709 entitled "Switch Region: Target and Method for Inhibition of Bacterial RNA Polymerase" was filed on February 10, 2006 and published on November 2, 2006.
* PCT United States Patent Application Number 11/371,736 entitled "Mutational Derivatives of Peptide Antibiotic Microcin J25 with Increased Antibacterial Action" was filed on March 9, 2006.
* PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US06/09963 entitled "Switch Region Target and Method for Inhibition of Bacterial RNA Polymerase" was filed on March 20, 2006.
* PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US06/43152 entitled "Bipartite Inhibitors of Bacterial RNA Polymerase" was filed on November 4, 2006.
* PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US07/06282 entitled "Non-MccJ25-Related Lariat-Peptide Inhibitors of Bacterial RNA Polymerase" was filed on March 13, 2007.
* PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US07/79032 entitled "Nucleic Acid Sequences for Biosynthesis of Non-MccJ25-Related Lariat Peptides" was filed on September 20, 2007.
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Chemical Chaperones as Suppressors of Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens for Crop Safety and Yield Improvement

2009-02-23T07:49:00.000-08:00

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed novel methods to suppress Fusarium proliferation on host plants. Using chemicals with known mechanisms of action, the technology is widely applicable to a variety of necrotrophic fungi and its use should lower the expenses incurred from routine screens for toxin contamination in harvested grains. This technology also provides obvious routes for facile chemical applications. Ultimately, this method may enhance resistance to increase crop yield and biomass by grasses and other crops, and minimize toxin contamination associated with these fungi.

Market Applications: Fusarium Head Blight, Agrichemicals, Crop Yield, Biomass.

Advantages: low toxicity, chemical with known mechanism of action, demonstrated safety in humans.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed. Proof-of-concept demonstrating chemical suppression of Fusarium graminearum infection in variety of plant models including wheat.

Select Research

"Size and number of tandem repeat arrays can determine somatic homologous pairing of transgene loci mediated by epigenetic modifications in Arabidopsis thaliana nuclei" (2008) Gabriele Jovtchev, Koichi Watanabe, Ales Pecinka, Faye M. Rosin, Michael F. Mette, Eric Lam and Ingo Schubert, Chromosoma, Epub, January.

Watanabe, N., and Lam, E. Arabidopsis Bax • Inhibitor - 1: a Rheostat for ER Stress-induced Programmed Cell Death. Plant Signaling & Behavior 2008 33(8): 564-566.

"Bax Inhibitor-1 modulates endoplasmic reticulum • stress-mediated programmed cell death in Arabidopsis" (2007) Naohide Watanabe and Eric Lam, J. Biol. Chem. EPub, November.

"DNA hypomethylation reduces homologous pairing of inserted tandem repeat arrays in somatic nuclei of Arabidopsis thaliana" (2005) Koichi Watanabe, Ales Pecinka, Armin Meister, Ingo Schubert, and Eric Lam, Plant Journal 44, 531-540.

"Tandem repetitive transgenes and fluorescent chromatin tags alter the local interphase chromosome arrangement in Arabidopsis thaliana" (2005) Ales Pecinka, Naohiro Kato, Armin Meister, Aline V. Probst, Ingo Schubert and Eric Lam, J. of Cell Science 118, 3751-3758.

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Growing nanowires on flexible polymer substrates

2009-01-29T12:16:00.001-08:00

Invention summary: In this technology, semiconducting nanowires (germanium in our case) are grown via a vapor-liquid-solid mechanism in a hot-wall chemical vapor deposition reactor. The catalysts in this reaction are gold nanoparticles. The gold catalyst is deposited onto a thermally stable polymer film either directly in the form of nanoparticles or as a film which coalesces into nanoparticles. The polymer film is then secured in a rigid holder to prevent deformation and placed into a reactor. The semiconductor precursor gas (germane here) is subsequently introduced into the reaction chamber at a the appropriate temperature (~360 °C for the Au/Ge case). Ge nanowires are then grown following standard procedures. The partial pressure of germane as well as the flow rate and time can be adjusted to tailor nanowire length. This results in the growth of
germanium nanowires directly on a flexible substrate. The technology applies to a range of nanowire and nanoparticle growth systems on thermally stable polymer substrates.

Market application:Flexible electronics and optoelectronics devices such as displays, LEDs, solar cells, sensors, IR filters, field effect transistors, and photoresistors. There may be other applications of this class of structures in chemical filters/purification, catalysis, woven electronics/optics, biotechnology (medical implants), and in enhancing large area or high volume manufacturing of nanostructured materials.

The advantage of growing nanowires directly on flexible substrates reduces number of steps and nanowire manipulations. It would likely ensure better purity, better bonding and interface control, and higher fabrication density and yield.

IP status: Provisional application filed

Selected publications:
¹High-Performance Nanowire Electronics and Photonics on Glass and Plastic Substrates, Michael C. McAlpine, Robin S. Friedman, Song Jin, Keng-hui Lin, Wayne U. Wang, and Charles M. Lieber, Nano Lett.3, 1531 (2003)

²Photoinduced charge transfer between poly(3-hexylthiophene) and germanium nanowires, Aurelien Du Pasquier, Daniel D. T. Mastrogiovanni, Lauren A. Klein, Tong Wang, and Eric Garfunkel, Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 183501 (2007)

³Highly ordered nanowire arrays on plastic substrates for ultrasensitive flexible chemical sensors, M.C. Mcalpine, H. Ahmad, D. Wang and J.R. Heath, Nature Materials 6, 379 (2007).
⁴Fabrication of fully transparent nanowire transistors for transparent and flexible electronics, S. Ju, A. Facchetti, Y. Xuan, J. Liu, F. Ishikawa, P. Ye, C. Zhou, T. J. Marks and D. B. Janes, Nature Nanotechnology 2, 378 (2007).

⁵High-Density Arrays of Germanium Nanowire Photoresistors, B. Polyakov, B. Daly, J. Prikulis, V. Lisauskas, B. Vengalis, M. A. Morris, J. D. Holmes, and D. Erts, Adv. Mater., 18, 1812 (2006).

A new type of semiconductor material for energy-efficient white-light LEDs

2009-01-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

Invention summary:
Rutgers researchers have developed a new type of semiconductor materials that are capable of generating white light directly from a single material so that there is no need for using complex mixing/doping processes.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are energy-saving lighting devices that are fast growing in recent years. LEDs utilize semiconductor materials to convert electricity to light more effectively than conventional lighting sources. These devices are capable of generating about twice as much light per watt as incandescent light bulbs and their lifetime is about 50 times longer. White-light LEDs have great potential for general lighting applications. Typically they are produced by combination of red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs. Phosphor conversion is another way used to produce white LEDs, in which white light is generated by coating a blue or near-UV LED with a yellow or multichromatic phosphor. However, such processes are often associated with complex doping schemes, and significant reduction of device efficiency due to problems such as self-absorption, relatively low light capture efficiency of phosphores or nonradiative carrier losses.

Market application: Lighting

Advantages: Since the new materials generate direct white light, complex doping/combination processes used at the present time to make LEDs can be avoided. Consequently they will be less expensive. In addition the optical properties of these materials can be tuned systematically to enhance lighting power and efficiency, making them possible to be used in general lighting applications.

IP status: Provisional application filed.

Select publications:
1. Li, J.; Bi, W.-H.; Ki, W.; Huang, X.-Y.; Reddy, S. “Nanostructured Crystals: Unique Hybrid Semiconductors Exhibiting Nearly Zero and Tunable Uniaxial Thermal Expansion Behavior”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129, 14140.
2. Lee, J. Y.; Olson, D. H.; Pan, L.; Emge, T. J.; Li, J. “[M(bdc)(ted)0.5]•2DMF•0.2H2O (M = Zn, Cu): Microporous Metal Organic Frameworks with High Gas Sorption and Separation Capacity”, Adv. Func. Mater., 2007, 17, 1255-1262.
3. Huang, X. -Y.; Li, J. “From Single to Multiple Atomic Layers: A Unique Approach to the Systematic Tuning of Structures and Properties of Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Nanostructured Semiconductors”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129, 3157-3162.

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Cranberry varieties with higher yields and increased disease resistance

2009-01-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

Three new cranberry varieties have just been released by the Phillip E. Marucci Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extention Center. These are available for licensing by members of the Ocean Spray Cooperative.

Working at the university’s Marucci Blueberry-Cranberry Research Center in Chatsworth, Nick Vorsa led an effort to develop a cranberry plant that delivered higher yields, ripened earlier in the season, and had vines that grew faster and resisted weeds and disease better than previous varieties. The higher yields from Vorsa’s new hybrid, named Crimson Queen, mean that fewer new acres of environmentally sensitive wetlands have to be developed to meet increased demand. The earlier ripening helps growers get their product to market in time for the annual Thanksgiving feast.

Press Release: Development Of New Cranberry Helps Growers Increase Production

For additional information contact:
Leon Segal:(732) 932-1000 Ext: 577
segal@otc.rutgers.edu

Methods to Produce Hepatitis C Virus E2 Protein

2009-01-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

Inventor:
Joseph Marcotrigiano, PhD

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
School of Arts and Sciences

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed methods to produce and purify the ectodomain of HCV E2, a critical structural protein of the virus that has potential to serve as a vaccine candidate to prevent HCV infection. Efforts to study HCV, and to develop vaccines, have been impaired in part by the inability to produce sufficient quantities of high quality protein due to the complexity of the mature form of E2. The technology developed at Rutgers has overcome this and may provide the critical step towards developing a variety of therapeutic options including vaccines against HCV, peptide mimetics and possibly serve as a novel target for other therapeutic modalities.

Applications: Therapeutics, Prophylactics, Drug Discovery, Vaccines, Hepatitis C, Target, Peptide Mimetics

Advantages: The technology has produced protein capable of binding CD 81 receptors and reacting with patient sera. Importantly, it is highly functional as shown by its ability to decrease viral entry into cells, a requisite step toward HCV infection.

IP/Dev: Provisional patent filed. Methods are claimed to express functional E2 protein and the production of milligram quantities have been enabled.

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Microfluidics for Real-Time Immunoassay

2008-12-22T11:43:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Jeffrey D. Zahn, PhD

Department of Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 08-059

Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed a continuous flow immunoassay monitoring system that enables the capture and analysis of inflammatory protein indicators in real-time. Central to the technology is the ability to measure plasma cytokine and complement concentrations following medical procedures, including cardiac surgery. The technology consists of a microdialysis system to separate proteins from blood cells and microfluidic channels to segregate magnetic beads for eventual antigen measurement by sandwich immunoassays. The entire assay is on-chip. Use of the system to generate timely data on inflammatory processes may lead to lead to improved treatment and prophylaxis in critical and acute care settings. Further, this microfluidic immunoassay platform can be used to measure any protein biomarkers in a continuous fashion from a variety of biofluid sources (e.g. urine, saliva, blood, lymph, CSF etc.).

Applications: Therapeutics, Immunoassay, Microfluidics, Inflammation, Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Complement, Biomarkers

Advantages: Real-time data on inflammatory stresses during interventional surgery, 95-100% protein recovery, multiple time points, autonomous sample processing, miniaturized device using minimal amounts of samples and reagents, clinically relevant data in 5 minutes vs. hours/days using conventional methods.

IP/Dev: Provisional patents filed.

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Microfluidic Device for Continuous Blood Protein Microdialysis

2008-12-22T11:42:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Jeffrey D. Zahn, PhD

Department of Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 09-025

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed a novel microfluidic device capable of measuring protein concentration in the blood in near real-time. The device contains a porous membrane separating the blood flow layer from the perfusion flow layer and allows proteins to pass through while excluding interfering cells and platelets. The device can also be tailored and optimized for various analytes by using membranes of different pore sizes and materials, and by changing flow rates of blood and/or perfusate. The microfluidics device may find great utility in clinical care settings where near real-time diagnostics are needed.

Market Applications: Diagnostics, Microfluidics, Protein Analysis.

Advantages: real time diagnostics, compact design relevant for clinical settings, small sample volume, minimal reagent requirements, low production costs using replica molding techniques; optimizable, large pore size range from 15-800 nm,

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Cell Fate Parsing and Behavior Prediction Using High Content Imaging and Modeling

2008-12-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:
Prabhas V. Moghe, Ph.D.

Department of Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 09-023

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed an algorithm to predict the stem cell fates in response to various culturing conditions. The algorithm processes high content and high throughput images of cell in real-time and enables the identification of individual cells committed to distinct lineages as early as 24 hours after culturing. Additionally, end-users can vary culture conditions on a large scale to characterize cell response and rapidly converge on optimal differentiation parameters. This approach has the potential to accelerate the identification of distinct cells within a mixed population of cells and to predict

Market Applications: Stem Cells, Cell Culture, Differentiation

Advantages: high content, high throughput image analysis, very rapid determination of cell fate

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A provisional patent application has been filed.

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Novel Drug Target for Treating Neuropathic Pain

2008-12-07T05:14:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Lei Yu, PhD

Department of Genetics and Center of Alcohol Studies
Division of Life Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: 08-014

Invention Summary: A novel protein has been identified using a genetic screen in a rodent neuropathic pain model. This protein is present mainly in the nervous tissues, including the spinal cord and the brain, and expression levels increase in the spinal cords of rodents with neuropathic pain. Experiments aimed at blocking mRNA of the protein show decreased levels of the protein and a marked decrease in neuropathic pain scores. These data demonstrate a cause-effect relationship between the elevated level of this novel protein in the spinal cord and neuropathic pain. This protein is a promising drug target for treating neuropathic pain.

Applications: therapeutics, neuropathic pain, nerve damage, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, herniated disc.

Advantages: Novel target and mechanism of action for pain treatment.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A provisional patent application has been filed which includes methods for screening and treatment.

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Stem Cell Microencapsulation System to Maximize Differentiation

2008-12-07T05:13:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:

Martin L. Yarmush, Ph.D.

Department of Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 05-006

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed a versatile, alginate-poly-L-lysine microencapsulation system for stem cell cultivation. The alginate microenvironment supports embryonic stem (ES) cell proliferation and differentiation toward the hepatocyte lineage as indicated by significant increases in albumin and urea production. Additionally, the encapsulation system yields a relatively homogenous population, whose output function can be modulated by changing key encapsulation parameters. The materials and methods comprising the tissue culture microenvironment maximize embryonic stem cell differentiation as well as scale of production to increase differentiated cell yield.

Market Applications: Alginate, Polymers, Stem cells, Differentiation, Microencapsulation, Biosensors, ADME/Tox systems.

Advantages: The technology improves on previous differentiation techniques to utilize all stem cell types (both adult and embryonic) and can be modified to generate adult cell types from all three germ layers, while bypassing the need to induce differentiation with embryoid bodies. Key capsule parameters can be optimized, potentially providing discrete control over cell-lineage selection and establishment of cell types derived from all three germ layers. The system is reversible, allows for easy recovery of encapsulated stem cells and is amenable to the large scale bioprocessing. Further, the system allows for maintenance of mature cellular function upon completion of differentiation. The alginate polymer, and its derivates are widely known in the field and have been used clinically.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A patent application has been filed.

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Genes Conferring Resistance to Mycotoxin

2008-12-07T05:12:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:

Nilgun Tumer, Ph.D.

Department of Plant Biology and Pathology
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: 08-060

Invention Summary: The discovery includes a host of genes conferring resistance to fungal infection in plants. These genes are targets of the trichothene family of mycotoxins, which are known to cause DNA breakage, inhibit energy production, cause membrane damage and inhibit the cell cycle, leading to reductions in crop yield. Further, mycotoxin presence can persist and contaminate other grains to perpetuate various plant diseases such as Fusarium Head Blight and reduced deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation. These toxins represent a major threat to the food supply. The discovery of these genes may enable the development of novel approaches to prevent mycotoxins from contaminating starches, cereals, and other grains.

Market Applications: Plant Resistance, Food Supply, Mycotoxin, Targets, Fusarium Head Blight.

Advantages: Genes were discovered that conferred resistance by a variety of mechanisms including changes in toxin uptake, intracellular transport, translation, RNA metabolism, defense response signaling, and apoptosis. The majority were associated with the mitochondria.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed. IP claims compounds and methods of use.
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PEG Nanocarriers, Nanogels, and Synthesis Methods

2008-12-07T05:11:00.003-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Patrick J. Sinko, Ph.D.

Department of Pharmaceutics
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

Rutgers Technology #: 08-063

Invention Summary: A novel platform of PEG-only nanocarriers and nanogels has been developed by Rutgers scientists. The nanocarriers can be used from 100Da-100kDa and are capable of forming stable nanogels and nanogel aggregates in a variety of sizes from 20-30nm up to >1000nm. The carriers and gels have improved solubility over existing technologies and provide for enhanced loading of drug agents. Several methods have been developed to create and tailor a wide variety of polymers and copolymers utilizing an assortment of cross-linkers and functional groups to alter surface charge, charge density, hydrophobicity, cell and tissue interactions and trafficking. Collectively, the characteristics of this novel class of PEG-based nanocarriers, nanogels and nanogel aggregates enable delivery of agents requiring higher dosing and with solubility limitations, and provide for targeted delivery to the site of action.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Imaging, Drug Delivery, Polymer, PEG.

Advantages: Increased drug loading to overcome conjugation effects of lower potency drugs, enhanced local and minimized systemic delivery of drugs, improved solubility of drugs. PEG is non-immunogenic and generally regarded as safe.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed. IP claims compounds and synthesis methods.

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Beta-Endorphin Cell Therapy to Treat Cancer and Immune Diseases

2008-12-07T05:11:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Dipak Sarkar, Ph.D.

Department of Animal Sciences
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: 07-078

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed a novel method to create viable primary beta-endorphin neuronal cells. These cells activate natural killer cells, mediators of the innate immune response critical for defense against infectious diseases and possibly cancer. Increases in innate immunity by beta-endorphin cells may provide a unique approach to combat cancer, various immune diseases, and pathogenic infections.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Innate Immunity, Immunology, Infectious Diseases.

Advantages: Studies show the ability of the beta-endorphin cells to increase NK activity and maintain functionality in vivo. Initial pre-clinical models of prostate cancer demonstrate the potential for enhancing innate immunity to prevent cancer growth and progression.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent filed.

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Method for Rapid Differentiation of Stem Cells to Neurons

2008-12-07T05:09:00.003-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Prabhas V. Moghe, Ph.D.

Department of Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 08-066

Invention Summary: This technology consists of a novel human embryonic stems cell induction method to accelerate the rate of neuronal differentiation. The method utilizes a unique culture system that does not require murine embryonic fibroblast feeder cells and enables rapid differentiation of monolayer hES cultures into neurons. The method may provide a novel approach for culturing stem cells.

Market Applications: Stem Cells, Cell Culture, Differentiation

Advantages: The method does not require embryoid body structures, uses less growth factor supplementation and other reagents, and requires less labor and time.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A provisional patent application has been filed.

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Multifunctional Nanolipoblockers

2008-12-07T05:09:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Prabhas V. Moghe, Ph.D.

Department of Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 07-086

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed a novel platform of nanosized particles that bind scavenger receptors on inflammatory cells. The technology enables the reduction of risk of clot formation and limits plaque growth or rupture events. These are critically important to the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, and particularly for high risk patients with a history of thrombotic events. The particles function by inhibiting foam cell formation via blocking oxidized LDL uptake and delivering drugs that modulate cholesterol efflux. There is a wide variety of applications including the reduction of cholesterol and resultant inflammation, the reduction of plaque rupture that leads to heart attack or stroke, and the identification of vulnerable plaques.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Cholesterol, Drug Delivery, Stroke, Cardiology, Thrombosis, Myocardial Infarction, Stents.

Advantages: Reduce risk for patients with history of MI or stroke, site specific to arterial plaques, amenable to various modes of administration, biodegradable, inexpensive materials relative to standard of care.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: A patent application has been filed on the technology.

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Nanoscale Dendrimers for Intracellular Delivery of siRNA

2008-12-07T05:08:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Tamara Minko, Ph.D.

Department of Pharmaceutics
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

Rutgers Technology #: 08-053

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed novel, nanoscale, dendrimer-based complexes capable of efficient intracellular delivery of siRNA. The dendrimers form well-condensed spherical particles capable of encapsulating siRNAs and protecting them from degradation. Enhanced cellular uptake and homogeneous intracellular distribution of siRNA was visualized via confocal microscopy demonstrating distinct advantages over existing nucleic acid dendrimeric carriers. This technology may provide next generation siRNA delivery vehicles to improve the treatment of diseases currently limited by siRNA formulation approaches.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, siRNA, Drug Delivery, Polymers, Dendrimers.

Advantages: The delivery system has low cytotoxicity and enhances cellular internalization of siRNAs. The siRNAs are encapsulated for improved stability and decreased sensitivity to changes in pH.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed. IP claims compositions and methods for delivery of nucleic acids.

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Inhalation Delivery of Nucleic Acids for Lung Disease

2008-12-07T05:07:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Tamara Minko, Ph.D.

Department of Pharmaceutics
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

Rutgers Technology #: 08-052

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed novel, nanoscale, dendrimer-based complexes and polymer systems capable of efficient lung delivery of siRNA and other drugs. The well-condensed particles provide intra-organ and intracellular delivery in the lung and are retained for up to 3 days enabling long-term treatment potential for lung diseases. In vivo data demonstrate that the size of the particles allows them to remain in the lung and avoid being taken up into the systemic circulation. Further, the complexes encapsulate various forms of antisense oligonucleotides and protect them from degradation. This technology may provide a novel approach to deliver dendrimer- and polymer-encapsulated drugs (e.g., antibiotics, antisense oligos, siRNAs, etc.) to the lung for local treatment while avoiding toxicity and lower efficacy associated with systemic absorption.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, Drug Delivery, Polymer, Dendrimer, Inhalation.

Advantages: The delivery system has low cytotoxicity and enhances organ targeting and cellular internalization of drugs. Combination treatments are also amenable to this approach. The drugs are encapsulated for improved stability and decreased sensitivity to changes in pH.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed. IP claims compositions and methods for delivery of drugs.

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Methods to Diagnose and Differentiate Malignant Lesions via Enhanced MRI Techniques

2008-12-07T05:06:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor:

Anant Madabhushi, Ph.D.
Department of Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering

Rutgers Technology #: 08-049

Invention Summary: The invention consists of novel methods to monitor potentially cancerous lesions over time using a unique approach. As opposed to conventional methods measuring crude and simple changes in signal intensity of one point in a lesion, the Rutgers team devised a more comprehensive method to quantify the overall texture of the lesion. Using this approach, time course studies of malignant versus benign lesions can be markedly differentiated and enable radiologists and healthcare systems to perform and interpret breast MRI mammography with much higher accuracy and improve the decision making process for breast and other cancers.

Market Applications: Diagnostics, Breast Cancer, MRI.

Advantages: The technology has many clinical implications including improved lesion diagnosis and qualification. This includes providing greater accuracy of information about lesions when screening and during longitudinal follow-up of patients with clinically ambiguous lesions, and in monitoring cancer patients post-treatment. Collectively, the novel method enables more informed patient biopsy decisions.

Intellectual Property & Development
Status: Provisional patent filed.

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Method for Rapid Screening of Chromatin Regulating Compounds Using Specially Designed Plants

2008-12-07T05:05:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Eric Lam, Ph.D.

Department of Plant Sciences
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: 08-057

Invention Summary: Humans and plants share a subset of conserved chromatin modifiers. Rutgers scientists have developed a novel set of Arabidopsis plant lines that may have great utility for screening chemical regulators of epigenetic control. The investigators engineered luciferase reporters into various locations of the Arabidopsis genome to identify numerous endogenous epigenetic loci controlled through specific subsets of chromatin modifiers. The plant lines provide a novel approach to identify and discover drugs for man, and agrichemicals that can control plant processes such as flowering time.

Market Applications: Drug discovery, Arabidopsis, Chromatin, Agrichemicals

Advantages: high-throughput, inexpensive screening.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent filed.

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Anti-Cancer Drug with Lower Chemotoxicity

2008-12-07T05:04:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Longqin Hu, Ph.D.

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

Rutgers Technology #: 07-018

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have created an anticancer drug with improved activity and reduced side effects. The compound is a pro-drug that remains inactive throughout the body and is cleaved site-selectively within the tumor microenvironment by prostate-specific antigen, a naturally occurring enzyme found in prostate cancer. The cytotoxic drug is then free to enter to cell and exert is known mechanism of action to kill tumor cells. The cancer drug may have potential for anti-cancer applications.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, cancer, prostate cancer

Advantages: Tumor-site specific, minimized extratumoral activity, release of desired parent cytotoxic agent at tumor site without any chemical modification, novel synthetic methodology, selenocarboxylate/azide amidation, proven selectivity and activity.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: PCT pending. The applications covers compositions and methods of use. The researchers have developed novel selenocarboxylate/azide amidation chemistries to produce the drug as well as optimized linker technology to control drug release and optimization. Evaluation of the antiproliferative activity is in progress using a mouse xenograft model of advanced prostate cancer.

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Presentation: Improving Cancer Chemotherapy through the Design of Targeted Prodrugs of Known Anticancer Agents

Press Release

Gene Silencing Platform with U1 Adaptor Oligonucleotides

2008-12-07T05:02:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Samuel I. Gunderson, Ph.D.

Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
School of Arts and Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: 07-060

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed compositions of single-stranded oligonucleotides that inhibit RNA biosynthesis by a novel mechanism of action. This enables the development of highly efficient silencing agents that have shown unprecedented inhibitory levels in vitro.

The U1 adaptor consists of two parts, a target-gene binding domain and a U'1 domain that attracts and inhibits the cellular splicing apparatus. By combining both capabilities in the same molecule, the U1 adaptor can inhibit the pre-mRNA maturation step of polyA tail addition. Further, the domains of the oligonucleotide are independent so transcript binding and splicing inhibition can be independently optimized and adapted to a wide array of genes.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, prophylactics, research tools for gene function and validation

Advantages: The U1 adaptor enables very significant improvements over existing RNAi approaches. Compared to other technologies, the U1 adaptor technology has demonstrated up to 700-fold decrease gene expression. Further, the range of possible targets is very broad due to the mechanism of action in which inhibition occurs during the biosynthesis of mRNA at the near universal 3' end processing step. The U1 adaptor is more stable than current RNAi technology and utilizes standard formulation approaches.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending. Claims compositions and methods for modulating gene expression.

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U1 Adaptor. A new potent gene silencing technology

siRNA Injection into the Spinal Cord to Promote Functional Recovery After Injury

2008-12-07T05:01:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Martin Grumet, Ph.D.

Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Division of Life Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: 08-031

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have developed methods to deliver specific siRNAs directly to the injured spinal cord to promote recovery of walking function. Recent work has shown specific gene silencing on two genes demonstrating utility of the approach. Multiple or single siRNA delivery may have broad applicability to an array of spinal cord injuries in an acute care setting.

Market Applications: Treatment of cells in the CNS with ability to treat multiple targets

Advantages: The technology enables delivery of single or multiple siRNAs for treatment of injuries to the CNS and other disorders. Due to the catalytic nature of siRNA, they may be long acting and do not require viruses or other vectors for delivery. Diffusion of small siRNAs can be widespread allowing extensive delivery in the CNS. The methods do not require transduction vehicles (e.g., viruses or vectors) and take advantage of the siRNAs rapid diffusion through the tissue. Further, they are taken up by injured cells (neurons and glia), endothelium and macrophages/microglia.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending. In vivo experiments showing proof of concept and dosing of siRNA against two targets in the CNS.

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Novel, Small-Molecule Anti-Cancer Agent

2008-12-07T04:56:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Paul Falkowski, Ph.D.

Departments of Marine and Coastal Sciences and Geological Sciences
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: 07-020

Invention Summary: Rutgers scientists have discovered four new diterpenes found in marine organisms (specifically, soft coral). These molecules have the remarkable ability to induce apoptosis and may have clinical utility as chemotherapeutics. Transcriptional profiling in human breast cell lines shows that the pathway for inducing cell death is unique and occurs through the mTOR pathway. These molecules represent a novel class of potent anti-cancer agents.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, Apoptosis, Cancer, Oncology.

Advantages: Specific targeting and activation of the apoptotic pathway.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: PCT filed. The application covers compositions and methods of use. Four molecules have been discovered, structures identified by NMR and MS, and tested in bioassays with nanomolar efficacy. Others have been discovered and structures identified. A third group has been discovered. Efforts to synthesize diterpenes are underway

Printable PDF Brochure Novel, Small-Molecule Anti-Cancer Agent

Presentation: Discovery of Novel Drugs from Marine Organisms

Novel Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics and Bacterial Targets

2008-12-07T04:54:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Richard H. Ebright, Ph.D.

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
School of Arts and Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: Multiple technologies

Invention 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.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, drug discovery, drug design, bacterial infection, staphylococcus, streptococcus, tuberculosis, anthrax, plague.

Advantages: The antibiotics bind to sites distinct from rifamycin, and are thus not subject to either the toxicity limitations or the logistical and patient compliance challenges found in the long treatment regimens of other RNAP inhibitors. Additionally, multiple classes of agents can be developed to target the new sites.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patents are pending and provisionals filed. For the Switch Region target, two lead compounds have been identified and ten novel analogs have been synthesized. For the RNA-Exit-Channel target, two lead compounds have been prepared via fermentation. Further optimization has been performed on the compounds.

Printable PDF Brochure: Novel Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics and Bacterial Targets

Presentation: New Antibiotics discovery

Bio: Richard Ebright

Time Magazine: A New Class of Antibiotics Could Offer Hope Against TB

Methods and Compositions for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Schizophrenia

2008-12-07T04:53:00.001-08:00

Rutgers Inventor: Linda M. Brzustowicz, Ph.D.

Department of Genetics
Division of Life Sciences

Rutgers Technology #: 08-009

Invention Summary: The discovery is a novel protein, NOS1AP, which is overexpressed in the brain tissue of neuropsychiatric patients. This isoform is significantly overexpressed in post-mortem brain samples taken from both schizophrenic and bipolar patients. The increased expression is associated with genotype at three single-nucleotide polymorphisms previously identified as being in linkage disequilibrium with schizophrenia. The protein is a novel target for either drug discovery or diagnostics.

Market Applications: Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, CNS, Target, Drug Discovery.

Advantages: Novel protein highly expressed in CNS diseases.

Intellectual Property & Development Status: PCT (WO2006081350) published August 3, 2006. Claims use of NOS1AP as therapeutic and drug discovery tool.

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Dogwood Trees: Jersey Star (TM) Series

2008-10-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

Venus^®

Cornus x ‘KN30-8’
U.S. Plant Patent No.PP 16,309

Cornus x ‘KN-30-8’ Venus^® is an advanced generation interspecific hybrid involving germplasm of Cornus kousaand C. nuttallii. Plants of this hybrid are distinguished by their exceptionally large, white floral bracts, superior winter hardiness, good tolerance of drought conditions, and high resistance to the incitants of Powdery Mildew and Dogwood Anthracnose.

Venus grows very vigorously as a dense tree branched low to ground with upright branches which form a rounded head wider than tall. Heights of 5.48 meters and a spread of 6.55 meters have been reached in 20 years.

The original seedling (age 20 years) has been field tested for 18 years and has been completely winter-hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness MapZone 6a.

Hybridized by Dr. Elwin Orton in the Woody Ornamentals Breeding Program at Rutgers' Cook College and and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, the Venus^®dogwood is one of the end products of a schedule of interspecific hybridization of plants of Cornus kousa x C. nuttalliiinitiated in May, 1973. Cornus nuttallii is native to limited areas of the Pacific Northwest and Western United States.

With some plants reaching a height of 70 to 75 feet in areas of the Columbia River Gorge, C. nuttallii is the giant of the large bracted dogwoods. Due to the absence of any report that plants of C. kousa and C. nuttallii were cross fertile, the challenge was to produce interspecific hybrids that possess the desirable traits of both species and would grow well over a wide range of soil and climatic conditions.

Many different plants of C. kousa were hybridized with plants of C. nuttalli in 1973. A limited number of seeds were produced and they germinated in the spring of 1974. Most of the seedlings flowered after seven to nine years, and in 1983, a superior F1 seedling selection was hybridized with a plant of C. kousa ‘Rosea’. Subsequently, the “best” among the progeny from this cross was propagated and plants distributed to cooperators in New Jersey, Tennessee and Oregon for intensive evaluation.

A plant patent is pending under the cultivar name ‘KN30-8’ and the plants will be marketed under the trademark Venus^®.

Starlight^®

Cornus x ‘KN4-43’
U.S. Plant Patent No. PP 16,283

Cornus x ‘KN4-43’ Starlight^® is an advanced interspecific hybrid of Cornuskousa and C. nuttallii, which exhibits the vigorous nature and the floral display of large, white bracts of plants of C. nuttalliiand the dark, glossy green foliage and disease and insect resistance of plants of C.kousa.

Plants of this hybrid grow very vigorously and become erect, uniformly wide, and densely branched and foliaged. They have reached heights of over 8.8 meters tall and spreads of over 7 meters in diameter in 30 years. One-year liners of this hybrid propagated in Oregon by budding are nearly twice the size of one-year liners of C. kousa as the hybrid liners typically are 1.2 meters in height and are very stout.

Starlight^® hybrid plants are vegetatively hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Map Zone 6a (-5^o to -10^oF.) and exhibit good floral display in areas of USDA Plant Hardiness Map Zone 7a (+5^o to 0^o F.). No insect or disease problems have been observed during the twenty-eight years the original F1 interspecific hybrid seedling has been tested in the field.

This hybrid of Cornus kousa x C. nuttallii (‘KN4-43’, Starlight^®), along with ‘KN30-8’ Venus^®, are the first two cultivars of Rutgers University’s Jersey Star™ series of hybrid dogwood (C. kousa x C. nuttallii) to be released from the Woody Ornamentals breeding Program at Cook College and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Others will be released to the nursery industry soon.

Turfgrass

2008-10-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

The Center for Turfgrass Science was established at Rutgers University in 1991 by Reed Funk. Thirty-six faculty as well as other researchers and students are currently associated with the Center. Virtually all major producers, distributors and marketers of turfgrass in the U.S. rely on Rutgers for a significant portion of new cultivars, and Rutgers believes that more than half of all premium turfgrass seed sold in the U.S. originated at Rutgers.

Rutgers is using modern genetic engineering technologies to continue producing commercially important species. For additional information on Rutgers Turfgrass, please contact Dr. William Meyer, Professor of Plant Biology and Pathology and Director of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at Rutgers. Phone: (732) 932-9711; Email: wmeyer@aesop.rutgers.edu or; contact Dr. Stacy Bonos. Dept. of Plant Biology and Pathology; Phone: 732-932-9711 x297; Email:bonos@aesop.rutgers.edu

Asparagus

2008-10-10T17:07:00.000-07:00

Rutgers is one of the premier Asparagus breeders in the world and its Asparagus cultivars far out yield other varieties. Rutgers licenses the asparagus to farmers and growers internationally.

NJ 953 and NJ 977, new aspargus hybrids released by Rutgers during the last several years, are the first all-male hybrids for warm climate asparagus growing areas. The warm climate production regions account for more than 80% of the world-wide green asparagus seed market. Rutgers pionneered the all-male hybrids during the 1990s. These hybrids, including Giant and Knight, were limited to cool season growing regions. Since then, several other asparagus breeders and marketers have commercialized all-male hybrids for cool season areas, thus creating significant competition for the older Rugters hybrids.

However, NJ 953 and NJ 977, the latest generation of Rutgers all-male hybrids, have signficantly out- yielded leading green hybrids in extensive trials conducted in cool season growing regions. More importantly, these hybrids for the first time provide all-male genetics for warm climates giving Rugers a very strong position in these important markets.

The chief advantages of all-male asparagus, compared to dioecious varieties, are higher yields and sustained long-term production extending the productive life of an asparagus field. These advantages result from the fact that the seed of all-male hybrids does not produce female asparagus plants which utilize energy to produce seeds. The all-male plants also result in lower cultural expenses resulting from less weeding out of volunteer asparagus plants produced by the diocecous female plants. The combination of these factors result in significant increases in the per acre returns when the all-male Rutgers hybrids are planted.

Rutgers is also developing a line of all-male purple asparagus that will provide similar advantages mentioned above for green asparagus. The current low yields of existing purple aspargus varieties results in low returns to growers and has inhibited the deveopment of the purple asparagus markets in the United States, Europe and Japan. The Rutgers purple asparagus will also have siginficantly greater uniformity of color than the current purple varieteis, thus creating a more consistent and appealing product for asparagus marketers.

Vilmorin, a leading worldwide vegetable seed company, is the primary distributor for the new Rutgers hybrids. Vilmorin's marketing strategy involves an extensive array of grower based field trials throughout the asparagus growing world, intensive sales efforts and a product communication effort that all focus on the advantages confered by the all-male Rutgers genetics.

For additional information on our Asparagus seeds, contact Chris Fisher - Phone: (530) 756-0778 ; Email: fischer@ceresgroup.com

Fruit Trees

2008-10-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

	The Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Cream Ridge researches and develops new high-quality specimens of apple, apricot, nectarines, peach trees and small fruits, including brambles and strawberries, beach plums.
The center increases production efficiency and protects fruit crops against environmental and biological hazards, while decreasing production costs and pesticide use. For additional information contact: Christopher Izzo, Associate Director, Intellectual Property; Phone:(732)-932-0115 x3028; Email:izzo@ocltt.rutgers.edu

Holly: Red Beauty®

2008-10-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Ilex x 'Rutzan'
U.S. Plant Patent No. 14,750

This distinct holly tree variety combines dark glossy green foliage with an abundance of well displayed bright red berries. It becomes densely branched with a narrow conical form with very little or no pruning.

Rutzan is a new and distinct variety of evergreen holly distinguished in that it combines from three species (Ilex aquifolium, Ilex rugosa, and Ilex pernyi), desirable landscape and production traits which distinguish it from all other forms of Ilex.

Plants of this variety exhibit a moderate rate of growth, develop a densely branched narrow to moderately broad conical form of compact size, possess small to medium sized dark green spiny leaves, produce an abundance of bright red fruit well displayed on wood of the previous season's growth, and are outstanding for their exceptionally high level of winter hardiness.

The plants have an upright, rather narrow conical habit with nine-year field-grown plants attaining a size of 1.75 to 2.5 m in height and 1.5 m in width under conditions of minimal fertilization and minimal supplemental irrigation.

The plants bear annual abundant crops of beautiful red berries which are attractively displayed among the semi-glossy dark green, spiny leaves, which do not become lighter green when bearing a heavy crop of fruit as do the leaves of many varieties of Ilex. A plant in the mature phase (flowering) can be achieved in one year from a rooted cutting taken from a plant in the mature phase and the subsequent annual growth rate ranges from 20-30 cms for plants grown in full sun, varying as indicated depending on climatic conditions and soil type or type of artificial growing medium utilized and cultural practices such as fertilization and irrigation.

For additional information contact:
Christopher Izzo,
Associate Director, Intellectual Property;
Phone:(732)-932-0115 x3028;
Email: izzo@ocltt.rutgers.edu

New variants of reverse transcriptase enzyme from HIV to be used in high-throughput protein crystallography to enhance structure based drug design

2008-02-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

Professor Eddy Arnold and colleagues in the Centre for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers University, using a systematic protein engineering approach, have developed new variants of the reverse transcriptase (RT) from HIV for use in protein crystallography. These engineered proteins offer opportunities to carry out efficient and expeditious iterative cocrystallization experiments. Results from such experiments will facilitate drug design and lead optimization processes aimed at the discovery of novel drugs for the treatment of HIV infections.

Effective treatment of HIV infections is constantly threatened by the emergence of drugresistant viral strains. New drugs are needed for overcoming the effects of drug-resistance mutations. RT is a bifunctional enzyme with both polymerase and Rnase H activities. More than half of the current HIV drugs target RT polymerization and not one targets Rnase H. RT remains as an important target for new anti-AIDS drug development.

With an aim to facilitate the understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme RT and its interactions with inhibitors, new variants of HIV-1 RT have been developed for use in protein crystallography. The new RT constructs are expressed in large quantity and demonstrate both polymerase and Rnase H activity. Some of these engineered forms of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) crystallize in highly desirable forms. The crystals diffract X-rays to high resolution (better than 2 Å), thus enabling the determination of high precision structures of RT in enzyme-inhibitor complexes. The high resolution structures of RT, obtained using the construct developed by Prof. Eddy Arnold and his team, are ideal for structure-based design of new RT inhibitors target polymerase and/or Rnase H activities.

Patent Status: A Patent application covering this new invention is pending. The IP for this invention will include claims to composition of matter to the new variants of Reverse Transcriptase enzyme as well as use of these proteins in structural biology studies. A publication relating to this publication is scheduled to appear in Proceedings of National academy of Sciences in January, 2008.

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Dogwood Trees: Stellar (TM) Series

2008-01-31T13:58:00.000-08:00

Aurora^®

Cornus x ‘Rutban’
U.S. Plant Patent No. PP 7205

Plants of this hybrid are very vigorous and erect in habit but are uniformly quite wide from top to bottom. The period of floral display is quite similar to that of Celestial^® and Stellar Pink^®, and starts a few days after the floral display periods for Ruth Ellen^®, Stardust^® and Constellation^®

begin and five to seven days after the completion of the floral display periods of most plants of C. florida.

At the peak of floral display, the flower heads are so dense that very little of the foliage on the tree shows through. At the age of 19 years, the plants are about 20-25 feet tall and 19.5 feet wide.

The flower heads have large bracts that are velvety and heavily textured in appearance. The bracts are white and become creamy-white as they age. They are nearly rounded to obovate with a broad, tapering base and an acute tip. The margins of the basal one-third of adjacent bracts typically overlap.

Constellation^®

Cornus x ‘Rutcan’
U.S. Plant Patent No. PP 7210

Plants of this hybrid are erect in habit, are much more vigorous than typical plants of C. kousa, and do not exhibit the vase-shaped habit of young plants of C. kousa; that is, this hybrid is more fully branched low in the tree.

The floral display of this hybrid commences one day after that of Stardust^®, two days following that of

Ruth Ellen^® and about three days after the completion of the floral display periods of most plants of C. florida. Further comparison reveals that the floral display period for this hybrid begins about two to four days before that of Aurora^®, Celestial^®and Stellar Pink^®.

The floral display is quite spectacular even when viewed at a distance. The original seedling was 21-1/2 feet tall and 17 feet wide at the age of 19 years.

The white floral bracts are obovate with an acute tip. The bracts are well separated and adjacent bracts do not overlap at any point. Both the inner and outer (lower) bracts are significantly longer than are the floral bracts of Stardust^®.

Stellar Pink^®

Cornus x ‘Rutgan’
U.S. Plant Patent No. PP 7207

Plants of this hybrid are very vigorous and erect in habit and are more uniformly full in width than are plants of C. kousa. At the age of 19 years, the original seedling was 23.0 feet tall and 18.0 feet wide.

The flower heads have very attractive bracts that are pink in color. They are sessile and nearly rounded to obovate with a short, acute tip and tapered base. Typically, the margins of the basal one-third of adjacent bracts overlap.

The period of floral display is quite similar to that of Aurora^® and Celestial^®, and starts a few days after the floral display periods for Ruth Ellen^®, Stardust^® and Constellation^® begin and five to seven days after the completion of the floral display periods of most plants of C. florida. The nurserymen who have seen the tree in flower have been very enthusiastic about it.

Celestial^®

Cornus x ‘Rutdan’
U.S. Plant Patent No. PP 7204

Plants of this hybrid are vigorous and erect in habit, but exhibit a uniform spread rather than the vase-shape habit of a young plant of C. kousa. The period of floral display is quite similar to that of Aurora^® and Stellar Pink^®, and starts a few days after the floral display periods for

Ruth Ellen^®, Stardust^® and Constellation^® begin and five to seven days after the completion of the floral display periods of most plants of C.florida.

The bracts are white with a tinge of green and form a deep cup early in the season. and have a greenish tinge, but the bracts flatten out and become fully white in a few days. As the bracts age, they flatten out and become pure white. The bracts are well textured and nearly rounded to obovate with a short, acute tip and a base that is broadly tapered to the point of attachment. The margins of adjacent bracts often touch and may overlap slightly.

Cuttings from this original seedling have outgrown the original plant, which was 17-3/4 feet tall and 14-1/2 feet wide at 19 years.

Ruth Ellen^®

Cornus x ‘Rutlan’
U.S. Plant Patent No. PP 7732

Plants of this hybrid are similar to plants of C. florida as far as general outline of the plant is concerned; that is, the plants are low and spreading rather than upright. At 19 years of age, the original seedling was 18 feet tall, with a uniform spread of 23 feet, and densely branched closed to the ground.

(In general, all of our hybrids are more fully branched close to the ground than are plants of C. kousa and most plants of C.florida.)

The hybrid is a vigorous grower and at the peak of bloom, the tree is a brilliant white that tends to make you squint when you view the plant in full sun.

The period of floral display starts about one day after the completion of the floral display of most plants of C. florida.

Comparison to the other plants in the series reveals that the floral display period for this hybrid begins about one day before that of Stardust^®, two days before that of Constellation^®, and four to six days before that of Aurora^®, Celestial^® and Stellar Pink^®.

Stardust^®

Cornus x ‘Rutfan’
U.S. Plant Patent No. PP 7206

Plants of this hybrid are more nearly like plants of C. florida in general outline and horizontal shape. However, the plants are branched and heavily clothed with foliage right to the ground for the entire width of the plant. The parent seedling was 11 feet tall, with a uniform spread of 19 feet at 19 years.

Even when grass under the trees grew up through the branches to a height of 15-18 inches (which held the rain and dew and kept the foliage under conditions of high relative humidity for long periods of time), there was no evidence of infection by the fungus Discula.

The white floral bracts are obovate with an acute tip. The bracts are distinctly separate and do not overlap at any point. The bracts of Stardust^®are described as being the same (obovate) as those of Constellation^® but the bracts of Stardust^® are distinctly shorter than those of Constellation^®.

The floral display of this hybrid typically starts one day after that of Ruth Ellen^® and two days after the completion of the floral display periods of most plants of C. florida. Further comparison reveals that the floral display period for this hybrid begins about one day before that of Constellation^® and three to five days before that of Aurora^®, Celestial^® and Stellar Pink^®.

Elevation of Glutamate transporters in glia to treat SCI and pain

2007-02-23T11:02:00.000-08:00

Inventor: Bonnie Firestein, Ph.D.

Potential commercial use
Therapeutic agents for each one of these targets offer the potential to become a blockbuster ($1B+) drug.

Elevation of Glutamate transporters in glia to treat SCI and pain (Technology 06-117) - A Provisional Patent Application was filed 9/7/06.

Related Technologies:

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Automated Rodent Testing Apparatus

2007-02-23T10:04:00.000-08:00

We have developed a novel apparatus that makes possible the completely automated (no-human-handling) testing of rodents for all of the aspects of learning, memory and emotion that are the targets of pharmacological and genetic behavioral screening in laboratories and corporations all over the world. The apparatus is unique in allowing the subjects to introduce themselves into arbitrarily many different (virtual) testing contexts, with a different behavioral test conducted in each context. The apparatus brings together the home cage and test environments, eliminating the need to move the subjects between them for testing purposes. This allows subjects to be tested 24-hours per day, seven days per week, with a minimum of human oversight and intervention.

Benefits

Fully automated turn-key test environment for the 24/7 behavioral testing of rodents
Run a suite of different behavioral tests w/o handling the subject within or between tests
Run several different tests each day w/o handling subject within or between tests
Minimize human labor, subject stress, and variability in results due to handling
Maximize number of trials (data points) per day
Maximize throughput
Accurate estimation of critical parameters in modest amounts of time
Environments fit on a table top and may be racked [40"(L) x 20"(W) x 15"(H)
Automated on-line data analysis and visualization: see what's happening while the subject is running.
Automated email notices to experimenter of progress and problems in testing
Test for the achievement of benchmarks (e.g., acquisition of a conditioned response, parameter estimated to within specified limits) while the subject is running
Test behavior in many different virtual environments (psychological/behavioral contexts) in a single apparatus w/o handling the subject
Rich and varied test environment maximizes subject welfare and behavioral opportunities while it is being tested; better than home caging

Test for:

• Cue learning	• Place-time memory
• Context learning	• Matching
• Spatial learning	• Interval timing
• Temporal learning	• Circadian timing
• Effects of change in temporal	• Circadian function
or spatial context	• One-trial learning
• Working (short term) memory	• Multiple trial learning
• Appetitive conditioning	• Odometry (sense of distance) over
• Fear conditioning	arbitrarily long distances
• Avoidance learning	• Compass sense (sense of direction)
• Pavlovian (classical) conditioning	• Anxiety, fear of novel contexts
• Operant conditioning
• Recognition memory

The Technology
The behavior testing environment consists of a rodent tub, which functions as the nest. It communicates via a doored passage with a well damped rodent running wheel in form of an automobile tire (i.e. center open on both sides). The wheel also communicates via a doored passage with a standard rodent behavior testing chamber. All controlled by a computer, which monitors and records angular position of the wheel and opens and closes doors accordingly. The wheel functions as a virtual tunnel of potentially infinite extent in each of two opposed directions; when the animal turns the wheel away from 0 (i.e. nest position), the nest door closes. The computer program specifies arbitrarily many virtual locations along the "tunnel." Each virtual location is an angular position of wheel between -8 & +8 at which door to test box opens. Computer-specified contingencies within the test box depend on the virtual location (angular position of wheel) from which it is entered. The rodent lives 24/7 in the environment and obtains all of its food by performing tasks specified by the contingencies governing when each virtual location is accessible and what contingencies obtain in the test box when it is entered from that virtual location. Unidirectional brakes limit extent of possible virtual travel in each direction.

Our prototype environment is constructed mostly from off-the-shelf components from MedAssociates, with the key component, i.e. the wheel, of our own design. The wheel links an off-the-shelf nest tub to an off-the-shelf MedAssociates rodent test box in a novel way. This wheel ("tunnel") is the key to the system's versatility. The entire apparatus is controlled by MedPC™ software.

Our system generates lengthy time-stamped records of stimulus (environmental) and response (behavioral) events. The analysis of these records and the organization of the voluminous raw data and the even more voluminous results of analyses present many challenges. We have developed a suite of custom Matlab™ functions that greatly facilitates the construction of elaborate analyses and the coherent and safe organization of the raw data, the results of the analyses, and the computer code that links the results of the analyses to the raw data. We are now developing scripting software that integrates the MedPC™ software that runs the experiments with the Matlab™ software that does the analyses. The scripting software will allow the analyses to be conducted on-line, as the subject runs in the apparatus.

Research and Licensing
We would like to license the technology to a company in the business of providing behavioral testing equipment. We want also to partner with them in further developing the Matlab™ suite into a Behavior Analysis Toolbox. Our vision is that the package of hardware and software would be marketed to laboratories and companies engaged in the large scale behavioral testing of rodents as a fully automated behavior testing system, with a suite of testing routines, whose control would be already programmed (in MedPC™) or comparable software, and with the appropriate data analyses already programmed in Matlab™. The same system would also be widely used by basic behavioral researchers to increase their productivity, reduce their personnel costs, and facilitate their creation of novel tests and analyses.

Patent Information
"Endless Tunnel: Automated Rodent Runner," Patent Pending, Rutgers Docket 07-022.
Principal Investigator: Professor Charles R. Gallistel Ph.D.

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