Latest technologies from University of Chicago

NeuroSight ICP: AI-Assisted, Real-Time Forecasting of Intracranial Pressure Crises

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:56:48 GMT

SUMMARY NeuroSight ICP is a bedside-ready, AI-assisted forecasting system designed to predict intracranial pressure (ICP) crises roughly 30 minutes before onset using continuous neuro-monitoring data. It combines interpretable statistical modeling with Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-aware features to generate actionable risk scores and alerts that can be tuned to each unit’s tolerance for false alarms. The Unmet Need: Severe TBI care is often reactive, with clinicians waiting for ICP threshold breaches and dealing with noisy ICU telemetry and alarm fatigue. Severe traumatic brain injury ma...

Defined Live Biotherapeutic Compositions That Restore Depleted Gut Metabolites To Improve Outcomes In Liver Disease Patients

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:10:11 GMT

SUMMARY Patients with advanced liver disease, transplant recipients, and other critically ill populations frequently experience profound microbiome dysbiosis due to antibiotics and hospitalization. This dysbiosis is characterized by loss of microbial diversity, depletion of beneficial metabolites (e.g., butyrate, secondary bile acids), and overgrowth of pathogenic taxa, which correlates with bloodstream infections and increased mortality. Existing interventions (e.g., antibiotics, probiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation) lack precision, durability, standardization, or scalability....

Use Of Bacteriophages As Antimicrobial Agents Aagainst Klebsiella Pneumoniae

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:53:46 GMT

SUMMARY Klebsiella infections are a major and growing clinical threat, particularly in hospital-acquired and device-associated settings, where multidrug resistance severely limits antibiotic options. Existing antibiotics disrupt commensal microbiota, drive resistance, and often fail against carbapenem-resistant strains. There is a clear unmet need for pathogen-specific antibacterial strategies that are effective, durable, and compatible with modern clinical workflows. The disclosed technology uses genetically characterized, lytic bacteriophages (alone or in rationally designed combinatio...

A Microbial Consortia That Depresses Klebsiella Pneumoniae

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:41:57 GMT

SUMMARY Drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (particularly K. pneumoniae) are a growing cause of hospital-acquired infections, pneumonia, and antibiotic failure. Broad-spectrum antibiotics exacerbate dysbiosis and resistance, while fecal microbiota transplant lacks standardization, mechanistic clarity, and regulatory scalability. Existing probiotics poorly predictive, leaving a critical gap for precision, reproducible microbiome therapeutics that reliably clear resistant pathogens. The therapeutic microbiome consortia uses machine learning to design microbial communities with emergent p...

Optogenetic Protein Fusion for Precise And Low-Impact Actin Cytoskeleton Imaging In Cells

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:39:32 GMT

SUMMARY A light-sensitive version of LifeAct, a peptide used to label actin in cells, to reduce its harmful side effects by controlling its binding through light exposure, improving cell imaging and minimizing cytoskeletal disruptions The Unmet Need: Innovative solutions that can provide high-quality imaging while minimizing the side effects on cellular dynamics The study of the actin cytoskeleton is crucial in cell biology because it plays a significant role in various cellular processes, including cell motility, division, and intracellular transport. Researchers frequently use fluoresce...

COMT inhibitors for impulsive behaviors

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:15:46 GMT

SUMMARY Drug repurposing to use catechol-O-methyl-transferase inhibitors for treating impulse control disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and substance addictions The Unmet Need: New options for treating impulsive behavior disorders Impulse control disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and substance addictions are conditions that significantly impair the quality of life for millions of individuals worldwide. Current treatments often fall short due to their limited effectiveness, side effects, and the lack of FDA-approved drugs specifically targeting these behaviors. This ...

A Programmable Translational Activator Platform For Restoring Endogenous Protein Expression In Haploinsufficiency Disorders

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:32:21 GMT

SUMMARY The CIRTS-4GT3 platform is a compact, programmable system that uses guide RNAs and human protein domains to boost production of specific proteins in cells, offering a safe and targeted therapy for genetic disorders caused by insufficient protein levels The Unmet Need: Targeted interventions capable of precisely upregulating the translation of endogenous mRNAs Haploinsufficiency disorders, such as Dravet syndrome, occur when a single functional gene copy cannot produce enough protein for normal cellular function. This deficit leads to severe consequences, including developmental de...

Oral Systemically-Bioavailable Butyrate For Treating Inflammatory Diseases

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:36:40 GMT

SUMMARY Method to attach butyrate to amino acids, allowing it to bypass gut metabolism and enter the bloodstream, increasing its bioavailability and enabling effective treatment of inflammatory, immune, and neurological conditions throughout the body, including the brain The Unmet Need: Methods to use microbial metabolites as therapeutic agents Butyrate is a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid produced by microbial fermentation in the distal gut. It plays a crucial role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and acting as a primary energy source for colonocytes. Beyond the gut, buty...

Diagnostic Assays And Engineered Compositions For Detecting Angiotensin II Autoantibodies And Preventing Coronavirus Autoimmunity

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:53:36 GMT

SUMMARY Detection and monitoring of autoantibodies against Angiotensin II in COVID-19 patients, guiding diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine design to reduce blood pressure complications and prevent harmful autoimmune responses linked to the virus’s Spike protein The Unmet Need: Novel strategies to understand and mitigate the unpredictable cardiovascular and respiratory deterioration observed in viral infection hospitalized patients The management of severe viral infections, particularly SARS-CoV-2, represents a critical intersection between infectious disease immunology and ca...

Antibody-Polymer Conjugates For Engaging T Cells To Destroy Cancer Cells

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:29:29 GMT

SUMMARY An antibody linked to a polymer that connects T cells to cancer cells enabling broad cancer targeting and effective tumor cell killing without needing tumor-specific antigens The Unmet Need: Novel therapeutics to effectively direct immune response again tumors that might otherwise remain undetected Immuno-oncology has revolutionized cancer treatment by harnessing the patient's own immune system to combat malignancies. A critical focus within this field is the development of T cell engagers, which are therapeutics designed to physically connect a patient's cytotoxic T cells...

Nucleic Acid Enrichment And Sequencing Method For Detecting Off-Target Base Editing Events

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:47:30 GMT

SUMMARY Inrich-seq is a new method that selectively enriches and sequences inosine-containing DNA or RNA, enabling highly sensitive, genome-wide detection of off-target effects from adenine base editing in human cells The Unmet Need: Techniques need to rigorously evaluate and profile any unintended genetic modifications Adenine base editors (ABEs) represent a powerful class of genome editing tools designed to convert adenine to guanine in DNA. This precise genetic manipulation holds immense therapeutic potential for treating a wide array of genetic diseases. However, as with any genetic i...

Amphiregulin Screening And Inhibition Methods For Reducing Metastasis And Enhancing Radiotherapy Efficacy

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:56:50 GMT

SUMMARY Methods to improve radiotherapy by blocking the protein Amphiregulin (AREG), which helps tumors resist treatment and spread. Inhibiting AREG enhances anti-tumor effects and reduces metastasis, making radiotherapy more effective The Unmet Need: Methods to mitigate the underlying biological mechanisms that allow cancer cells to evade immune clearance during radiation treatment Radiotherapy is a foundational treatment for localized solid tumors, with its application increasingly expanding to address oligometastatic and widespread metastatic diseases. To maximize clinical outc...

A Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Platform For Improving Diagnosis And Treatment Of Neuroendocrine Tumors

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:28:44 GMT

SUMMARY Advanced imaging and targeted radiotherapy for neuroendocrine tumors, using DOTATATE-based agents for precise diagnosis and treatment, and enhancing therapy effectiveness by adding Fulvestrant as a radiosensitizer to further reduce tumor growth The Unmet Need: More effective neuroendocrine tumor treatments that can further improve patient outcomes Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent a diverse and increasingly diagnosed group of malignancies that originate from neuroendocrine cells and frequently express somatostatin receptors, particularly SSTR2. The advent of radiolabe...

A Biomarker Analysis Platform For Predicting Immunotherapy Response And Survival In Cancer Patients

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:17:54 GMT

SUMMARY A method using tumor sequencing data to measure membrane-localized neoantigens, helping predict which cancer patients will benefit from immunotherapy, even those with low tumor mutational burden, improving treatment selection and survival outcomes The Unmet Need: Improved biomarkers that more accurately reflect the biological mechanisms underlying effective anti-tumor immune responses Immunotherapy, particularly the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has revolutionized the treatment of various cancers by harnessing the body’s immune system to target and dest...

Mesenchymal Stem Cell And Exosome-Based Therapeutics For Restoring Ovarian Function In Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:58:07 GMT

SUMMARY Therapeutic strategy using human mesenchymal stem cells or their exosomes to restore ovarian function and fertility in premature ovarian insufficiency by promoting cell growth, reducing cell death, and enhancing blood vessel formation in the ovaries. The Unmet Need: Regenerative strategies with long-term safety and efficacy profiles for restoring ovarian structure and function Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is a condition characterized by the loss of normal ovarian function before the age of 40, leading to infertility, hormonal imbalances, and significant health consequence...

Nanoparticles Containing Multiple Cleavable Prodrugs For Cancer Therapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 17:05:48 GMT

SUMMARY Specially designed nanoparticles to deliver multiple cancer drugs at once, improving drug stability, targeting tumors more effectively, and reducing side effects by controlling and triggering drug release directly at the tumor site. The Unmet Need: Strategies to overcome drug degradation, off-target metabolism, and insufficient tumor penetration with synchronized delivery of multiple chemotherapeutic agents Cancer chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of cancer treatment, but its effectiveness is often limited by the inability to deliver multiple drugs simultaneously at optimal conce...

Small Molecule Therapeutics For Inhibiting Carotid Body Hypersensitivity To Treat Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:23:08 GMT

SUMMARY New compounds that inhibit an enzyme to reduce hydrogen sulfide in the carotid body, helping to normalize breathing and prevent sleep apnea by targeting the underlying cause of abnormal breathing during sleep The Unmet Need: Targeted, mechanism-based treatments that can restore stable breathing Sleep-related breathing disorders (SDB), such as sleep apnea, are prevalent conditions characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, affecting millions worldwide and leading to significant cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurocognitive complications. The underlying patho...

Lymphangiogenesis For Therapeutic Immunomodulation

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 07:42:46 GMT

SUMMARY A vaccine platform that uses engineered lymphangiogenesis factors and antigens to stimulate lymphatic endothelial cells, creating strong, long-lasting immune memory or tolerance with fewer side effects than traditional vaccines The Unmet Need: Targeted and durable immune modulation while minimizing systemic toxicity The field of vaccine development and immunotherapy is critical for combating infectious diseases, cancer, and immune-mediated disorders. Traditional vaccination strategies primarily focus on stimulating robust immune responses by targeting professional antigen-presenti...

Ligand-Directed Photo-Proximity Labeling Technology For Profiling And Detecting Cancer Biomarker Interactions In Live Cells

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:44:27 GMT

SUMMARY Light-activated chemical probes to label and identify proteins near cancer biomarkers on live cells and tissues, enabling detailed study of protein interactions and signaling pathways relevant to cancer diagnosis and progression The Unmet Need: Innovative tools that enable robust, selective, and temporally controlled profiling of protein interactions and biomarkers in live, unmodified cells and tissues The study of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and the identification of cell surface biomarkers are critical areas in molecular biology and biomedical research, particula...

A Gene-Modified T Cell Platform For Spatially Controlled Therapeutic Protein Delivery In Response To Radiation

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:14:00 GMT

SUMMARY Engineered T cells to release cancer-killing proteins only when activated by targeted radiation, enabling precise, localized tumor treatment while minimizing side effects and improving the effectiveness of CAR-T therapy for solid tumors The Unmet Need: Precise spatial and temporal delivery of potent immunomodulatory agents with the tumor microenvironment Cancer immunotherapy and radiation therapy are two cornerstone modalities in the treatment of malignancies, each with unique strengths and limitations. Immunotherapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, hav...

A Non-Hormonal Therapeutic Platform For Targeting M6A Regulators To Treat Uterine Fibroids

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:52:07 GMT

SUMMARY A non-hormonal therapeutic strategy for uterine fibroids targeting the upregulated m6A regulator METTL3 employing small molecule inhibitors thereby reducing fibroid cell proliferation and increasing apoptosis. The Unmet Need: Novel therapies that target fibroid growth without relying on hormonal manipulation Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors affecting the female reproductive system, with up to 80% of women developing them at some point in their lives. These growths, originating from the smooth muscle layer of the uterus, can lead to a range of debilitating...

Novel RNA Replicon Vector For Efficient Gene Delivery To The Skin

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:23:13 GMT

SUMMARY A Sindbis virus-based self-amplifying RNA vector has been engineered for long-lasting, safe gene expression in skin cells, aiming to treat genetic skin disorders like recessive X-linked ichthyosis by restoring missing genes with improved durability and reduced side effects. The Unmet Need: Gene delivery systems for high level-expression of therapeutic genes in skin cells Genetic skin disorders, such as recessive X-linked ichthyosis (RXLI), represent a significant clinical challenge due to their chronic nature and limited treatment options. RXLI, caused by mutations in the ...

Small Molecule Splicing Modulators For Reducing Aggregatable Prion Protein In Prion Diseases

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 07:59:50 GMT

SUMMARY First-in-class small molecules to change how the PRNP gene is spliced, reducing harmful prion levels and offering a new treatment approach for prion diseases The Unmet Need: Safe, effective, and deliverable therapies to reduce prion protein levels in the central nervous system Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), are a group of rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the accumulation of misfolded prion proteins in the brain. These diseases progress rapidly and are currently untreatable, leading to severe cognitive decline and ultimately...

A Next-Generation mRNA Vaccine Platform For Enhancing T-Cell Responses And Improving Antiviral And Antitumor Immunity

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:17:45 GMT

SUMMARY Next-generation mRNA vaccine platform uses a lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticle to boost stability, immune cell uptake, and T cell responses, leading to stronger and longer-lasting protection against viruses and cancer while maintaining strong antibody responses The Unmet Need: Intracellular delivery of mRNA to antigen-presenting cells while ensuring stability, controlled release, and effective lymph node targeting Current mRNA vaccine platforms predominantly utilize lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations to encapsulate and deliver mRNA. While these systems have demonstrated safety ...

A Computational And Therapeutic Platform For Identifying And Correcting Unproductive Splicing To Restore Gene Expression

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:13:36 GMT

SUMMARY Advanced computational tools to identify faulty RNA splicing events and design of antisense oligonucleotides to restore normal protein production in genetic diseases, especially those affecting the brain The Unmet Need: Analytical pipelines to uncover previously undescribed unproductive splicing events and new therapeutic targets Alternative splicing is a fundamental process in eukaryotic gene expression, enabling a single gene to produce multiple transcript isoforms and thereby increasing proteomic diversity. However, this process is tightly regulated, and disruptions can have si...

A Spatially Resolved Intracellular Photoproximity Profiling Technology For Mapping And Targeting Protein Interactions In Cancer

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:27:52 GMT

SUMMARY A matched pair of photoproximity probes coupled with quantitative proteomics which enable context-dependent mapping of protein complex topology inside cells including to map MYC interactomes across temporal, spatial and disease-relevant contexts The Unmet Need: The ability to map the membership within and dynamic remodeling of transcription factor centered protein complexes The study of protein-protein interactions and the mapping of protein complex topologies within live cells are central to understanding cellular regulation, disease mechanisms, and the identification o...

A Transcriptomic Signature Platform For Predicting Prognosis And Guiding Therapy In Ovarian Cancer Patients

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:44:14 GMT

SUMMARY A 10-gene signature based on glucocorticoid receptor activity to predict survival risk in high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients, helping identify those who may benefit from specific therapies and improving personalized treatment strategies The Unmet Need: Robust molecular profiling tools that can accurately reflect glucocorticoid receptor pathway activation to improve prognostic stratification High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGS OvCa) is the most lethal form of gynecological malignancy, accounting for the majority of ovarian cancer-related deaths. Despite advances ...

Glycan Proximity Sequencing (GPS) For Single-Cell Multi-omics Glycoproteomics

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:52:46 GMT

SUMMARY TL;DR: Glycan Proximity Sequencing (GPS) is a next-generation single-cell multi-omics assay that measures mRNA expression, extracellular protein abundance, global glycan motifs, and protein-specific glycoforms on individual cells. By combining lectin– and antibody–based proximity ligation with standard single-cell RNA sequencing workflows, GPS creates DNA barcodes that report not only which proteins and glycans are present, but which glycans decorate which proteins on each cell. The Unmet Need: A scalable, high-resolution platform capable of measuring gene expression, pro...

Topical Vitamin B1-Based Immunomodulation For Enhancing Skin Wound Healing And Anti-Tumor Responses

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:08:04 GMT

SUMMARY Skincare Vitamin B1 functions as a novel immunomodulator that reprograms skin dendritic cell efferocytosis and antigen presenting cell functions, leading to enhanced skin immunity for would healing and anti-tumor purpose The Unmet Need: Targeted therapies to bolster the skin’s natural defenses by enhancing functions of skin-resident immune cells The skin serves as the body’s largest organ and a vital barrier against environmental threats, including pathogens, toxins, and physical injuries. Integral to this protective function is the skin’s immune system...

PMO-Based RNA-Degrading Chimeras For Targeted Degradation Of α-Synuclein mRNA In Neurodegenerative Diseases

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:43:45 GMT

SUMMARY Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO)-based RNA-degrading chimeras reduce α-synuclein protein by degrading its messenger RNA preventing protein aggregation and propagation associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The Unmet Need: More potent and selective therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative α-synucleinopathies Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy are characterized by the abnormal accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein protein within neurons. These disorders, collecti...

Next-Generation Immunotherapy Platform With Engineered Collagen-Binding Cytokine Combinations

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:35:44 GMT

SUMMARY Combination engineered IL-7 and IL-12 proteins that target tumors by binding to collagen, boosting immune attack on cancer while reducing side effects and improving long-term protection, even in cancers resistant to standard treatments The Unmet Need: Combination therapies that improve antitumor effect without exacerbating the overall toxicity Cancer immunotherapy is a rapidly evolving field that seeks to harness the body’s immune system to recognize and eliminate malignant cells. Traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation often have significant side effects a...

RNA Methylation Depletion To Induce Transcriptional Repression For Effective Leukemia Treatment

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:41:22 GMT

SUMMARY A novel mechanism for 5-azacytidine-mediated depletion of RNA 5-methylcytosine on chromatin-associated RNA leading to global transcriptional repression through two epigenetic pathways enabling more precise and effective leukemia treatments The Unmet Need: Optimized 5-azacytidine therapeutic strategies and reliable biomarkers Epigenetic regulation, which involves chemical modifications to DNA and RNA that affect gene expression without altering the genetic code, has emerged as a critical field in understanding and treating cancers such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute...

Method to Integrate Diamond with Other Functional Materials for Quantum Technologies

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 06:55:07 GMT

SUMMARY Keywords: Quantum Information, Spin Coherence, Condensed Matter, Solid State Qubits This technology enables diamond to be integrated with other functional materials enabling the fabrication of diamond-based heterostructures, which are ideal hybrid systems for quantum networking and sensing. The Unmet Need: Scalable production of diamond heterostructures for quantum applications Diamond is a leading material platform in quantum information science with several landmark demonstrations in quantum sensing and quantum communication. However, these demonstrations rely on devices carved ...

Antibody-Based Cell Expansion Technology For Large-Scale And Safe Amplification Of Gamma Delta T Cells

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:15:55 GMT

SUMMARY Novel antibodies to rapidly and safely expand γδ T cells enabling large-scale production for cancer immunotherapies like γδ CAR-T cells, and potentially boosting these cells directly in patients The Unmet Need: Efficient large-scale expansion of γδ T cells with enhanced safety profile Gamma delta (γδ) T cells represent a unique and promising subset of immune cells within the broader field of immunotherapy, particularly for cancer treatment. Unlike conventional alpha-beta (αβ) T cells, γδ T cells posses...

Recoverable Non-Covalent Self-Assembling Catalysts for Hydrogen Peroxide Electrosynthesis

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:37:14 GMT

SUMMARY The invention centers on a scalable, sustainable, and selective method to electrochemically generate hydrogen peroxide under mild, neutral conditions. The Unmet Need: Method for producing hydrogen peroxide under mild conditions Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a globally essential chemical used in disinfection, water treatment, electronics, and chemical manufacturing. However, its current industrial production relies on the Dow-Huron process, which requires a highly alkaline environment. This method also results in a product with low purity requiring additional extraction and neutraliza...

New Reversible Uridine Modification Chemistry For Labeling and Functionalizing Native Nucleic Acids

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:47:40 GMT

SUMMARY A chemical process that enables reversible, covalent RNA modification-highly selective for uridine enabling diverse functional group attachment, facilitating nucleic acid labeling The Unmet Need: Reversible labeling of native RNA in a sequence-independent and membrane-selective manner The study of RNA is crucial for understanding fundamental biological processes, from gene expression regulation to disease mechanisms. Accurately probing RNA structure, function, and localization within complex cellular environments, including membrane-associated compartments, requires robust...

Prolactin Receptor Antibodies For Targeted Cancer Therapy And Diagnosis

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:26:55 GMT

SUMMARY Novel antibodies precisely targeting cancer cells by binding to the Prolactin Receptor (PRLR) to diagnose cancer, direct immune cells to destroy tumors, and inhibit cancer growth signals, without affecting healthy cells The Unmet Need: Novel antibodies to effectively modulate cancer cell receptor signaling with minimized off-target effects and unwanted immune activation Cancer remains a formidable global health challenge, necessitating the continuous development of innovative and effective treatment strategies. Traditional cancer therapies often face limitations, including severe ...

Probing Cellular Activity Via Charge-Sensitive Quantum Nanoprobes

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:07:56 GMT

SUMMARY Quantum nanoprobe system enables real-time probing of intracellular chemical environments and activity to advance biological and medical diagnostics The Unmet Need: Novel ways to probe cellular processes and improve biological sensing Understanding complex cellular processes in real-time at the single-cell level is crucial for advancements in biology and medical diagnostics. Current methods often lack the necessary sensitivity and specificity to monitor dynamic intracellular changes, such as those related to cellular activity and metabolic states. There is a significant need for n...

Peripherally Restricted Κ-Opioid Receptor Agonist Co-Formulation For Preventing Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:32:13 GMT

SUMMARY An opioid painkiller combined with a peripherally restricted κ-opioid receptor agonist stimulating the carotid body to prevent opioid-induced respiratory depression, enhancing breathing without affecting pain relief or causing central side effects The Unmet Need: Effective approaches to reducing opioid-induced respiratory depression without interfering with pain relief or introducing additional adverse effects Opioid medications are indispensable for managing severe pain, but their widespread use is complicated by a critical safety concern: opioid-induced respiratory depress...

Conformation-Specific Genetically Encodable Intrabodies for Spatially Modulating Protein Kinase Signaling

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:14:40 GMT

SUMMARY Genetically encoded synthetic antibody fragments, expressed intracellularly, to specifically bind the mTOR FKBP12-Rapamycin binding domain inhibiting mTORC1 and mTORC2 activity. Fused with localization signals, these tools enable precise, compartment-specific modulation of mTOR signaling for research and therapeutic exploration The Unmet Need: Modulation of mTOR signaling with spatial and temporal precision within defined subcellular locales mTOR signaling is a fundamental cellular pathway regulating diverse processes like cell growth, metabolism, and survival. Its dysregulation i...

Type I Interferons For Enhancing Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Efficacy

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:38:43 GMT

SUMMARY Method to enhance CAR T-cell efficacy by incorporating low-dose exogenous IFN-α2 into CD19-directed, CD28-costimulated CAR T cells post-transduction during manufacturing boosting cytolytic molecule expression, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxicity while minimizing apoptosis The Unmet Need: Enhanced CAR T-cell effector function through modulation of cytokine pathways Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a significant advancement in treating hematological malignancies, particularly for patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLB...

A High-Throughput, Label-Free Microfluidic System For Combinatorial Droplet Generation, Storage, And Analysis

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:57:17 GMT

SUMMARY A microfluidic platform consisting of a two-layer PDMS system that generates and stores combinatorial droplets, enabling high-throughput screening with an integrated label-free, image-based detection system for real-time quantification of droplet contents, differentiating hundreds of unique compositions on-chip The Unmet Need: Droplet microfluidic methods allowing scalability and real-time quantitative accuracy The field of microfluidics is crucial for advancing high-throughput screening and analysis in biological and chemical research. There is a pressing need for technolog...

Hydrogel Electrochemical Platform For Controlled Localized Hydrogen Delivery

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:36:26 GMT

SUMMARY A portable device that generates and stores molecular hydrogen within a hydrogel using electrodes to precisely deliver hydrogen locally to treat oxidative stress in skin diseases and ischemia-reperfusion injuries The Unmet Need: Precise and efficient methods to deliver molecular hydrogen to protect organs form reactive oxygen species damage Oxidative stress and inflammation are fundamental pathological processes contributing to a wide range of debilitating conditions, including chronic skin diseases like pressure ulcers and acute injuries such as ischemia-reperfusion. These proc...

A Wearable Bioelectronic Patch For Controlling Bacterial Pathogens Without Antibiotics

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:12:37 GMT

SUMMARY A wearable patch using an acidic hydrogel and low-voltage electricity to safely reduce harmful bacteria on skin. The bioelectric system sensitizes bacteria, then modulates their behavior to prevent infection without antibiotics or high-voltage damage The Unmet Need: Innovative strategies that can safely and locally modulate bacterial activity without compromising the surrounding tissue or contributing to resistance Bacterial infections on human skin present a persistent health challenge, necessitating effective and safe antimicrobial interventions. There is a critical demand for n...

Bioorthogonal Enzyme-Probe System For Spatially Specific Biomolecule Labeling

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:06:14 GMT

SUMMARY Novel proximity labeling technology utilizes a bioorthogonal protecting group, impervious to endogenous esterases, paired with evolved BS2 esterase mutants. The enzyme-mediated unmasking creates a reactive acid chloride intermediate that rapidly labels adjacent RNA, ensuring high specificity and sensitivity for biomolecule mapping within living cells. The Unmet Need: Techniques for mapping biomolecules within living cells with spatial specificity and signaling sensitivity Proximity labeling is a vital technique in cell biology, allowing researchers to map the spatial organization ...

Reversible Gene Editing System For Site-Specific Large DNA Integration And Excision

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:56:25 GMT

SUMMARY The Unmet Need: Methods for efficient, reversible integration and excision of large DNA Genome engineering is a rapidly advancing field with immense potential for synthetic biology and gene therapy. The ability to precisely modify DNA sequences within living cells is crucial for understanding gene function, correcting genetic defects, and developing novel therapeutic strategies. There is a significant need for technologies that enable the efficient, site-specific, and reversible integration and excision of large DNA sequences into mammalian genomes. Such capabilities are essential ...

Site-Directed RNA Editing Technology As A Novel Analgesic

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:37:30 GMT

SUMMARY Use of RNA editing to modify NaV1.7 sodium channels in nociceptors, making them permeable to Na+ and K+ ions reducing the excitability of these pain-signaling neurons, providing a reversible, selective, and potentially effective treatment for both acute and chronic pain The Unmet Need: Methods to precisely and selectively alter NaV channels' function to manage pain without extensive side effects Pain management, particularly for chronic and neuropathic pain, represents a significant challenge in medical treatment. Traditional pain therapies, including opioids, come with severe...

Ketone Carbonyl Atom Swap Platform For Drug Discovery And Lead Optimization

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:08:22 GMT

SUMMARY A two-step chemical process using a special reagent to swap a ketone's oxygen atom with a sulfur atom creating new compounds, particularly useful for making improved drugs The Unmet Need: Efficient strategies for achieving precise functional group modifications of bioactive compounds for novel drug development In the realm of synthetic chemistry, particularly for drug discovery and lead optimization, there is a continuous need for versatile methods to modify existing chemical structures. Incorporating different atoms, such as sulfur or nitrogen, into bioactive molecules can si...

CD200-Antigen Fusion Proteins For Myeloid-Targeted Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:19:12 GMT

SUMMARY CD200-antigen fusion proteins target myeloid cells to deliver inhibitory CD200R signals, enhancing antigen uptake and presentation while dampening inflammation to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance The Unmet Need: Antigen-specific therapies for tolerance induction with mitigated immune activation risk Antigen-specific immune tolerance therapies aim to selectively modulate undesired immune responses without broadly suppressing immunity. Conditions such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, and anti‐drug antibody formation cause tissue damage or loss of therapeutic efficacy. Conv...

Gene Splice-Switching Technology for Treating CACNA1A-Associated Neurological Diseases

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:36:43 GMT

SUMMARY This technology regulates the expression of the CACNA1A gene, which encodes a neuronal calcium channel subunit, by redirecting alternative splicing to treat related neurological diseases. This approach can potentially correct gene expression variations linked to disorders including episodic ataxia, migraines, epilepsy, autism, and spinocerebellar ataxia. The Unmet Need: Effective approaches in treating CACNA1A-associated diseases The field of alternative splicing and precision medicine is increasingly important in tackling genetic disorders. CACNA1A, encoding the pore-forming subu...

Context-Specific Cytosine Base Editors For Precise Single-Nucleotide DNA Editing

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:32:11 GMT

SUMMARY Engineered TadA deaminase via directed evolution to produce CRISPR cytosine base editors that precisely convert target cytosines to thymines in specific DNA contexts with high efficiency and minimal off-target effects The Unmet Need: Gene editing tools that exclusively acting on cytosine at levels comparable to naturally occurring deaminases reducing off-target effects Gene editing has revolutionized molecular biology and holds immense therapeutic promise. CRISPR-Cas systems enable programmable DNA targeting, and base editors fuse nucleotide deaminases to mediate direct conversion...

Engineered Mutator tRNAs For Correcting Missense Genetic Defects And Inducing Cancer Cell Death

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 13:22:33 GMT

SUMMARY Engineered tRNAs with altered anticodons and chemical modifications deliver the correct amino acid at mutated codons to restore protein function in genetic diseases or induce lethal mistranslation in cancer cells, supported by tissue-specific expression systems. Unmet Need: Existing treatments have largely focused on conditions caused by premature stop codons, leaving a gap in strategies that can specifically correct the amino acid substitution caused by missense mutations The translation process in cells relies on transfer RNAs to deliver specific amino acids in response to ...

Low-Input Methylation Sequencing For Profiling Epitranscriptomic Signatures And Early Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 06 May 2025 14:48:48 GMT

SUMMARY A method that analyzes cfRNA methylation in plasma to distinguish human RNA from microbiome RNA, accurately detecting colorectal cancer through specific methylation markers even in ultralow input samples. The Unmet Need: Effective biomarkers for early detection of colorectal cancer Current advancements in molecular diagnostics have emphasized non-invasive techniques, especially through the analysis of cell-free RNA circulating in blood plasma. This approach holds significant promise for early disease detection, as it leverages biological markers that are present even before clinic...

Antibody-Based Therapeutics For Inhibiting Growth Hormone Receptor Dimerization And Signaling

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 01 May 2025 11:54:15 GMT

SUMMARY Antibodies that block growth hormone signaling by binding the receptor or hormone to stop receptor pairing, based on high-affinity, defined sequences for therapeutic and research use. The Unmet Need: Effective therapeutic strategies that can precisely and sustainably inhibit growth hormone receptor-mediated signaling Growth hormone (GH) plays a central role in regulating growth, metabolism, and tissue repair through its high-affinity receptor on target cells. When GH binds its receptor, sequential engagement of two receptor sites induces dimerization and initiates intracellular si...

Synthetic Monoclonal Antibodies For Blocking Human Growth Hormone Receptor Signaling

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:54:24 GMT

SUMMARY Synthetic monoclonal antibodies using phage display to bind and block the human growth hormone receptor, potentially offering a more potent and specific treatment for conditions like acromegaly by inhibiting receptor activation and downstream signaling. The Unmet Need: Innovative approaches to develop fully-human, high-affinity inhibitors that can selectively block growth hormone receptor activation The field of endocrine therapy has long grappled with disorders caused by abnormal hormone signaling, such as acromegaly, where excessive levels of growth hormone lead to detrimental p...

Computerized Adaptive Testing System For Real-Time Multidimensional Fatigability Assessment

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 11:47:36 GMT

SUMMARY A computerized adaptive test using a bifactor model on tablet devices to measure fatigue relative to activity delivering personalized, real-time insights by integrating with electronic health records, helping clinicians make more informed care decisions. The Unmet Need: Multidimensional evaluation tools that accurately assess fatigue and activity in hospitalized older adults without requiring significant resources or mobility The field of healthcare assessment, particularly for hospitalized older adults, has long grappled with quantifying complex symptoms such as fatigue and its i...

Computational Framework For Unraveling Single-Cell Transcriptional Dynamics

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:23:18 GMT

SUMMARY Novel system using statistical topic modeling and a bursty transcriptional model to analyze spliced and unspliced RNA, revealing precise cell state transitions and dynamics in complex biological systems The Unmet Need: Accurate estimation and analysis of dynamic biological phenomena using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data Single-cell RNA sequencing has revolutionized our ability to understand complex biological systems by enabling researchers to study gene expression at an unprecedented resolution. This field has emerged from the growing need to decipher how individual c...

Algorithm And System For Accurate Breast Parenchymal Enhancement Calculation By Digital Lesion Removal

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:32:44 GMT

SUMMARY A method uses AI and clustering to remove lesions from breast MRI images, reconstructing clearer projection images for more accurate assessment of tissue enhancement and improved breast cancer risk evaluation. The Unmet Need: Automated techniques to accurately distinguish and isolate lesions from normal tissue in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, to reduce variability in breast cancer risk assessment and enhance diagnostic consistency In breast imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI plays a critical role in assessing tissue characteristics and guiding cancer risk evaluation. Backgrou...

AI-Based Ultrasound Analysis System For Automated Segmentation And Classification Of Adnexal Lesions

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 08:51:18 GMT

SUMMARY AI-driven system automatically segments adnexal masses in ultrasound images, distinguishes different tissue components, and extracts key features to accurately classify lesions as benign or malignant, improving clinical diagnosis and workflow efficiency The Unmet Need: Advanced solutions that improve the consistency and accuracy of diagnosing adnexal masses reducing operator dependency The field of medical imaging, particularly ultrasound-based assessment of adnexal masses, has long been recognized as critical for early detection and effective treatment planning in gynecologic onc...

AI Pipeline For Predicting Oral Cancer Progression

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:18:45 GMT

SUMMARY An AI-driven system analyzes histopathology images of oral lesions using deep learning, self-supervised learning, and attention methods to predict cancer progression risk with explainable and uncertainty-quantified outputs that inform treatment decisions. The Unmet Need: Automated and accurate malignancy prediction tools The field of digital pathology and cancer diagnostics is evolving to address the growing need for improved prognostic tools that can identify disease progression earlier. With chronic conditions like oral cancer, early detection of malignant transformation from pr...

Digital Proprioceptometer For Quantitatively Assessing Human Proprioceptive Performance

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:37:17 GMT

SUMMARY The Unmet Need: Precise evaluation and effective treatment planning for proprioception Proprioception is a critical aspect of human motor control and balance, traditionally evaluated during neurological and physical examinations. In these fields, there is a growing recognition that qualitative assessments alone may not capture the subtle variations in body position awareness necessary for diagnosing and treating motor impairments. The need for more rigorous and data-driven evaluations arises from the inherent complexity of human movement, where even minor deficits could significant...

Wearable Microelectromechanical Sensing System For Integrated Respiratory And Physiological Signal Monitoring

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:09:36 GMT

SUMMARY A wearable, wireless sensor that integrates flexible, capacitive, acoustic, and optical technologies to continuously monitor breathing, heart signals, and oxygen levels for accurate sleep apnea and respiratory condition diagnosis. The Unmet Need: Accurate, continuous monitoring of respiratory function in diagnosing disorders like sleep apnea In today’s healthcare landscape, accurate and continuous monitoring of respiratory function has become crucial as the prevalence of conditions like sleep apnea, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rises. The modern field of...

Layered Quantum Diamond Sensors for Selective Detection and Nanoscale Spectroscopy of Biomolecules

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:36:30 GMT

SUMMARY This technology is a layered device built on a diamond substrate that uses capture agents to trap specific biological or chemical targets while maintaining excellent nitrogen vacancy (NV) spin coherence enabling biological meaningful spectroscopy on intact biomolecules. The Unmet Need: Bio- and chemical sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity as well as robust signal integrity The modern technological landscape increasingly demands sensitive and selective systems for detecting low-concentration analytes across fields such as healthcare, environmental monitoring, and industria...

Core-shell Diamond Particle Systems for Improved Quantum Sensing

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:32:58 GMT

SUMMARY The invention uses core-shell nanoparticles with a diamond core and protective shell to create quantum sensors for biological sensing. The Unmet Need: Improved sensitivity for spin qubit sensors capable of probing the physical properties of biological systems with nanoscale spatial resolution The rapid advancement of nanotechnology and photonics has paved the way for innovative approaches in sensing and imaging applications, where precise control over material properties is critical. The field has long sought improved methodologies to enable reliable detection and accurate characte...

Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks For X-Ray Triggered Combination Cancer Therapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:31:41 GMT

SUMMARY A nanoscale metal-organic framework uses heavy metals to enhance X-ray absorption, triggering prodrug activation for precise cancer treatment by combining radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy with reduced systemic toxicity. The Unmet Need: Precise, on-demand release of chemotherapeutic and immunomodulatory agents at tumor sites with improved treatment efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity The field of targeted cancer treatment has seen significant advancements with the integration of multiple therapeutic modalities such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. C...

Small Molecule Therapeutics For Inducing Trained Innate Immunity And Enhanced Anti-Tumor Responses

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:52:04 GMT

SUMMARY Small molecule drugs developed to induce trained immunity in macrophage cells resulting in a heightened pro-inflammatory response without triggering a primary immune response The Unmet Need: Trained immunity induction that does not rely on pathogen-derived agents or endogenous molecules and without inducing a primary immune reaction The field of innate immunity and its modulation has gained significant attention for its potential to enhance the body’s defense mechanisms against infections and tumors. There is a critical need to develop approaches that safely produce a ...

Pan-Specific γ9δ2 T-Cell Antibodies For Activation And Targeted Cancer Immunotherapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:51:44 GMT

SUMMARY A panel of pan-specific Vγ9Vδ2 TCR-recognizing antibodies that allosterically trigger T-cell activation to engage and kill cancer cells, making it highly applicable for targeted cancer therapy. The Unmet Need: Strategy to safely and effectively harness Vγ9Vδ2 T cells for immunotherapeutic interventions The field of immunotherapy has increasingly focused on harnessing specialized T-cell subsets that bridge innate and adaptive immunity, offering a promising avenue for combating cancers and infectious diseases. Among these, the role of unconventional γ&d...

DMSO-Enhanced CO2 Capture and Conversion System for Efficient Syngas Production

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 08:23:03 GMT

SUMMARY A DMSO-based system uses an amine and salt to capture CO2 from industrial off-gas and electrochemically converts it into efficient syngas, offering improved performance over water-based methods. The Unmet Need: Effective carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and conversion from industrial emissions With intensifying climate change concerns and the increasing implementation of stringent environmental regulations, there is an urgent need for efficient, scalable technologies capable of capturing CO2 directly from industrial emissions. Traditional water-based approaches typically suffer from po...

One-Pot Organic-Inorganic Composite Synthesis For Durable Solid-State Battery Electrolytes

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 08:16:21 GMT

SUMMARY A one-pot method synthesizes a hybrid sulfide–polymer composite by crosslinking Li3PS4 with an organic polymer – yielding a flexible, durable electrolyte with excellent ionic conductivity for use in lithium metal batteries. The Unmet Need: Scalable strategies that effectively integrate organic and inorganic components to produce materials that maintain high ionic conductivity and offer improved mechanical resilience under the stresses encountered during battery operation Solid-state battery technology is advancing rapidly due to the growing need for safer, higher energy...

Deep Learning Uncertainty Quantification System For Reliable Cancer Histopathology Diagnosis

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:35:29 GMT

SUMMARY Deep learning and uncertainty estimation (via Monte Carlo dropout and cross-validation) to classify digital pathology images by confidence, improving reliability in cancer diagnostics and supporting effective clinical decision-making The Unmet Need: Framework for enhancing reliability of deep learning model predictions in clinical cancer diagnostics The field of digital histopathology has rapidly adopted deep learning to support diagnostic efforts, yet the inherent variability in whole-slide imaging and staining processes has exposed significant challenges. Many current methods la...

Deep Learning-Based Diagnostic System For Differentiating Thyroid Tumor Genetic And Histologic Profiles

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:40:17 GMT

SUMMARY A deep learning system analyzes high-resolution pathology images to predict thyroid tumor subtypes and gene expression patterns, helping distinguish less aggressive cancers from those requiring more intensive treatment The Unmet Need: Reliable mechanisms for identifying thyroid tumor subtypes to safely de-escalate therapy when appropriate The field of thyroid neoplasm diagnostics has long grappled with the inherent challenges of distinguishing between similar tumor subtypes using traditional histopathologic methods. The need for improved accuracy is underscored by the critical cli...

Dietary Supplement To Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:58:20 GMT

SUMMARY A method to utilize trans-vaccenic acid to enhance CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity through an innovated mechanism promoting T cell activation, infiltration, and survival while reducing exhaustion markers The Unmet Need: Effective immune modulation in the face of multifaceted resistance mechanisms The field of immunotherapy has rapidly evolved as a promising approach to cancer treatment, harnessing the body’s immune system to target and eliminate malignant cells. However, challenges remain in effectively activating the full spectrum of immune responses, particularly ...

Senolytic Therapeutics To Eliminate Senescent Cells And Enhance Aging And Cancer Treatments

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:11:49 GMT

SUMMARY Targeted approach to remove aging, disease-related, or chemotherapy/immunotherapy-induced senescent cells while sparing healthy cells The Unmet Need: Approaches to selectively eliminate senescent cells improving aging symptoms without damaging healthy cells or triggering excessive side effects Research in age-related diseases and cancer has increasingly highlighted the detrimental role of accumulated senescent cells. In both aging and therapeutic contexts, these cells contribute to tissue dysfunction and chronic inflammation, exacerbating conditions such as fibrosis, ath...

Fatty Acid Nutraceuticals For Enhancing Immune Development In Newborns And T Cell-Based Cancer Therapies

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:38:36 GMT

SUMMARY Nutraceutical approach using specific fatty acids naturally found in human breast milk incorporated into infant formula enhancing immune defense in both neonates and adults The Unmet Need: Solutions for effectively bridging maternal and infant health and immune development through diet The field of immune modulation and nutritional therapy has increasingly recognized that early-life immune development is critical for long-term health outcomes. Advances in immunology have highlighted the importance of proper immune cell activation during infancy, as well as the potential benefits o...

Ultrasoft Hydrogel Semiconductors for High-Performance Tissue-Integrated Bioelectronic Devices

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:33:39 GMT

SUMMARY This technology blends a polymer semiconductor with a hydrogel to create a tunable, biocompatible, ultrasoft network that combines efficient charge transport with tissue-like mechanical properties, which are ideal for a variety of bioelectronic devices and sensors. The Unmet Need: Biocompatible materials with high-performance electronic components In the field of bioelectronics and soft materials, there is a growing demand for technologies that can seamlessly bridge the gap between rigid electronic components and the soft, dynamic nature of biological tissue. This integration has lo...

Single-Step Method For Assembling Free-Standing Lipid Bilayers In Holey Grids For Cryo-EM Of Membrane Proteins

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:58:44 GMT

SUMMARY Simplified approach to assemble free-standing lipid bilayers with membrane proteins in holey carbon grids directly usable for cryo-EM with high resolution The Unmet Need: Novel technique to achieve high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy of membrane proteins while maintaining a native-like lipid environment The field of cryo-electron microscopy has become instrumental in understanding the structure-function relationships of membrane proteins, which are critical to many biological processes. Given the delicate nature of these proteins and their reliance on a native l...

Nanomedicine Delivery Platform For Precision Targeting Of Pancreatic β-Cells

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:05:58 GMT

SUMMARY A nano-scale system delivers mRNA precisely to pancreatic β-cells, targeting both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes preserving β-cell function and enhancing treatment specificity with minimal off-target effects The Unmet Need: A transformative development in the management of diabetes Advancements in biomedical research have increasingly focused on addressing conditions related to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, a critical factor in diabetes management. The field has long sought targeted therapies to preserve or restore β-cell function, given their central role in main...

A Biomarker Platform for Predicting Carboplatin Sensitivity and Enabling Targeted Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 03:45:06 GMT

SUMMARY The field of oncological diagnostics and therapeutics has long sought methods to refine treatment approaches for aggressive cancers. In conditions such as advanced high-grade ovarian cancer, there is a critical need for techniques that can accurately predict therapeutic responses and guide personalized treatment decisions. This is driven by the limitations of conventional treatments which often employ blanket strategies that may not account for the molecular diversity of tumors. The absence of reliable predictive indicators for chemotherapy efficacy and tailored immunotherapies unde...

Targeted Antisense Oligonucleotide Approach To Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) And Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 10:49:12 GMT

SUMMARY Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutic with a precise, targeted approach to the genetic underpinnings of C9ORF72-linked ALS and FTD The Unmet Need: Front-line disease modifying therapies for ALS and FTD The prevalence of ALS is increasing at a steady rate in line with population growth and despite the availability of several marketed drugs, all of them lack efficacy and only succeed in prolonging life by a moderate margin. Glutamate antagonists (riluzole) are used as the front-line backbone therapy but only provide a six-month improvement in prolonging a patient's life. F...

A Highly-Efficient Platform To Form Vesicular Polymer Nanoparticles For RNA And Protein Payload Delivery

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 10:34:52 GMT

SUMMARY Polymersomes are a type of nanoscale vesicle made from block copolymers and can encapsulate a variety of therapeutic agents including proteins and nucleic acids. These nanovesicles are assembled at room temperature and incorporate features such as permanently charged moieties for stability and mannosylation for targeted delivery. The Unmet Need: A versatile platform that can deliver both RNA and protein payloads in vivo Advancements in nanomedicine have allowed researchers to develop biomacromolecular therapies more efficiently and with greater precision, both considering small-in...

A Novel Antibody Drug Conjugate To Improve Cancer Therapy Efficacy

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:29:30 GMT

SUMMARY A novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with a lactate-responsive linker, enhancing therapeutic specificity by remaining stable in healthy tissues and releasing its therapeutic payload in high lactate tumor environments. Unmet need: A highly specific cancer drug that selectively activates in the tumor microenvironment, minimizing side effects and toxicity Lactate is elevated in the tumor microenvironment (produced by cancer cells), but not in surrounding healthy tissue. This concentration difference offers an opportunity to improve targeted drug delivery. ADCs are used to deliver...

Low-loss Niobium Josephson Junctions That Improve Quantum Device Performance

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 09:16:08 GMT

SUMMARY The invention introduces a method for fabricating low-loss niobium Josephson junctions which enhance quantum device performance by using niobium superconductors that are separated by an aluminum oxide barrier and are encapsulated with aluminum layers to prevent chemical diffusion and minimize loss. The Unmet Need: Superconducting logic circuits operating at high temperatures and high frequencies Superconducting Josephson junctions, formed by two primary superconductors separated by a thin (< 2 nm thick) barrier, have enabled a wide range of possibilities from superconducting logi...

In Vitro Assay To Select Optimal Small RNA Guides To Redirect ADAR (Adenosine Deaminase That Acts On RNA) Enzymes

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:31:45 GMT

SUMMARY A breakthrough method to systematically select for optimal small guide RNAs using an unbiased approach for improved accuracy and efficiency of all systems of site-directed RNA editing. The Unmet Need: In vitro assays that reliably predict guide RNA efficiency and specificity before in vivo application Over the last two decades, a new area of precision medicine has emerged that utilizes strategically designed oligonucleotides which hybridize to a target RNA and recruit endogenous enzymatic activities for the treatment of disease. For example, synthetic oligonucleotides have b...

Scalable Bioelectronic Production Of Extracellular Vesicles For Regenerative Medicine

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:54:46 GMT

SUMMARY Bioelectronic devices and methods for the electrical stimulation of cells and engineered tissue for the scalable production of extracellular vesicles for drug delivery and regenerative medicine. The Unmet Need: New techniques for mass production of extracellular vesicles Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important membrane-enclosed organelles that found in almost all biological fluids and produced by myriad cell types. EVs are highly varied in cargo, size, and profiles, enabling the diagnosis of various diseases through an analysis of a patient’s EV profile. EVs also work as ...

Multihydroxy-Propane Vesicle System and Method for Topical Delivery of mRNA

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:39:09 GMT

SUMMARY Groundbreaking advancement in the field of mRNA topical delivery systems, providing superior penetration, stability, and biocompatibility compared to existing solutions. It opens up new possibilities for both therapeutic and cosmetic applications, paving the way for more effective and user-friendly treatments. The unmet need: Strategy for stable non-immunogenic topical mRNA delivery RNA delivery is a rapidly evolving area within the broader domain of drug delivery systems. mRNA therapeutics have garnered significant interest due to their potential to instruct cells to produce spec...

Expanding CAR T Cells Using Venetoclax For Enhanced Cytolytic Activity Against Tumors

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:50:42 GMT

SUMMARY Expanding CAR T cells with venetoclax enhances their ability to target and kill CD19+ tumor cells, increases their effectiveness, and reduces exhaustion, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes for diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The Unmet Need: Methods to increase CAR T efficacy and reduce exhaustion Antigen Receptor T-cells (CAR T cells) have revolutionized the field of immunotherapy, showing significant promise in treating certain types of blood cancers, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). These engineered T-cells are designed to target and kill cancer cells ...

An Engineered Hypercompact CRISPR-Cas12f System with Boosted Gene-Editing Activity

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:21:33 GMT

SUMMARY The engineered hypercompact enAsCas12f system addresses CRISPR-Cas systems deliverability issues while offering enhanced gene-editing high specificity making it ideal for therapeutic applications using AAV delivery. The unmet Need: New CRISPR-systems with greater deliverability and higher gene editing capabilities CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins) systems have revolutionized genome engineering, offering the potential for targeted therapies for genetic disorders. The in vivo application of these systems hinges on s...

Programmed RNA Editing with an Evolved Bacterial Adenosine Deaminase

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:32:01 GMT

SUMMARY A novel platform, bacterial deaminase-enabled recoding of RNA (DECOR), utilizing an engineered bacterial adenosine deaminase to achieve programmable adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing on single-stranded RNA. The Unmet Need: Novel effector proteins for programmed RNA editing RNA editing has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for addressing genetic diseases. Unlike DNA editing, which permanently alters the genome, RNA editing offers a reversible and dose-dependent approach to modify cellular behavior by targeting RNA transcripts. This flexibility is particularly valuable...

Engineered Cytokine-Receptor System For Enhanced Cancer And Viral Infection Treatment

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 08:42:43 GMT

SUMMARY The technology enhances cytokine signaling and immune function, optimizing the antiviral and anti-cancer efficacy of Type III IFNs by adjusting cytokine-receptor interaction affinity and relative JAK geometry, providing an effective treatment for cancer and viral infections with reduced side effects. The unmet need: Due to limited efficacy and toxicity concerns, the use of therapeutic cytokines has been superseded or relegated to second-line therapy by advanced immunotherapeutics The field of cytokine signaling plays a crucial role in the regulation of immune responses, including ...

Engineered Flt3L Variants For Antigen Tolerance Induction

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 08:11:11 GMT

SUMMARY Engineered recombinant fusion of the dendritic cell growth factor Flt3L to serum albumin to modulate the antigen-presenting compartment and bias it toward tolerance particularly against therapeutic proteins. The Unmet Need: Novel technologies to modulate the immune system to induce tolerance against therapeutic proteins to improve treatment safety and efficacy. Protein-based therapeutics, including antibody, enzyme replacement, and gene therapies, hold immense promise for treating a wide range of diseases. These biologics offer targeted and effective treatment options. However, ...

Targeting the BRCA1 Pseudogene (BRCA1P1) to Inhibit Cancer Progression and Increase Therapy Responses

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 07:54:01 GMT

SUMMARY Compositions and methods to target long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) from the BRCA1 pseudogene in breast cancer cells to stimulate the body’s natural immune response, leading to increased cancer cell death and tumor suppression. The Unmet Need: Strategies to utilize endogenous RNAs to induce cancer cell death and antitumor responses Breast cancer remains a significant global health challenge, with ongoing efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms driving its progression and resistance to therapy. A critical area of research is the role of genetic and epigenetic factors in tu...

RNA-Guided Control Of Protein Secretion And Membrane Protein Expression

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 07:40:41 GMT

SUMMARY Innovative methods to engineer small nucleolar RNAs to target specific mRNAs to increase or decrease the secretion of desired proteins offering scalable solutions for disease treatment and advancing research capabilities. The Unmet Need: Non-protein agents to engineer the secretory pathway to boost biotherapeutic protein production Protein secretion is a fundamental biological process with significant implications for human health and disease. It plays a crucial role in various physiological functions, including cell signaling, immune response, and the production of hormones and e...

DeMaND (Decoding using Manifold Neural Dynamics)

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 09:54:58 GMT

SUMMARY This method enables high fidelity decoding of neural activity in an interpretable manner with a small training data set. The Unmet Need: Measuring neural activity in the brain with a strong signal to noise ratio Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMIs) are systems that use signals from the brain to control a computer, robotic arm, or other device. At the core of BMIs are algorithms (“decoders”) that translate signals from the brain into control signals that are used to control an external device. Using recorded neural activity for decoders is challenging because current...

An Innovative Cutaneous Gene Therapy Platform For Metabolic Disorders

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 13:45:12 GMT

SUMMARY The field of metabolic disease treatment has long been challenged by the need for precise, long-term regulation of critical hormones and proteins that manage glucose homeostasis and energy balance. Current therapeutic strategies for conditions such as obesity and diabetes struggle to provide a sustained and adjustable intervention, leaving patients with options that often require frequent dosing and invasive delivery methods. This creates an urgent demand for solutions that can deliver controllable, long-duration expression of therapeutic agents, ultimately enhancing treatment outco...

New Toolkit And Methods For Large-Scale Spatial Transcriptomics

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 13:09:32 GMT

SUMMARY Tools and methods to map the entire transcriptome with large-scale histology sections from whole animal or whole human organs with high resolution and sensitivity The Unmet Need: Research tools to measure whole-tissue gene expression across mammalian organs Immune cells are present in every organ of the body and every cell in the body carries immunological functions. To understand the rules of interdependency between immune cells and processes across multiple organs, it is crucial to study immune responses at the scale of the entire organism. Currently, there are a lack of...

A Chimeric Antigen Coreceptor System For Optimized Antigen Targeting

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:47:28 GMT

SUMMARY A novel chimeric antigen coreceptor system mimicking the CD4/CD8 and TCR interaction to enhance signaling for increased antigen sensitivity to treat B cell malignancies. The unmet need: Solutions for CAR therapy insufficient efficacy and clinical non-response/relapse CAR-T cells are T cells genetically engineered to express a scFv against a target antigen coupled to intracellular signaling domains borrowed from the endogenous TCR pathway. Since CARs recognize a chosen epitope, they provide an alternative, pMHC-independent pathway of T cell activation. Decreased expressi...

Antibody Blockade Method To Augment Hemolysis For Treatment Of Sepsis

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 20:29:36 GMT

SUMMARY Sepsis is a systemic response to infection and remains a leading cause of death in intensive care units worldwide while our understanding of the pathogenesis of sepsis across most tissues and organs of the body remains rudimentary. The disease is a global health issue in need of targeted therapies addressing the short- and long-term effects on the host. A myriad of cells and molecules has been linked to sepsis. Numerous studies have established immune and endothelial cells together with cytokines and the complement and coagulation systems as key cellular and molecular factors...

Point Of Care Monitoring Of Inflammatory Diseases

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 15:52:01 GMT

SUMMARY A quantitative method of calprotectin measurement from various biological samples to monitor disease severity, progression, and effectiveness of treatment interventions in inflammatory diseases. The Unmet Need: A simple and quantitative test for calprotectin detection in point-of-care or at-home settings Calprotectin, a metal ion-binding protein complex, plays a crucial role in the innate immune system and has gained prominence as a biomarker for various intestinal and systemic inflammatory and infectious diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and tuberculosis (TB). ...

Programmable And Hyperstable Engineered Synthetic Transcriptional Repressors

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 13:19:17 GMT

SUMMARY A class of functionally enhanced synthetic transcriptional factor antagonists to modulate the MYC/MAX transcriptional network by direct competition for DNA binding. The Unmet Need: Transcription factors remain largely untapped as pharmacologic targets due to the challenges in targeting protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions Transcription factors (TFs) regulate cellular state by binding specific DNA promoter and enhancer sequences, thereby recruiting transcriptional machinery to activate or repress gene expression. DNA binding is carried out by diverse DNA-binding...

Novel In Vivo Gene Editing System

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 07:27:02 GMT

SUMMARY A engineered OgeuIscB- ωRNA for efficient and precise genome editing with increased potency and specificity while more compact in size compared to other CRISPR-Cas systems. The Unmet Need: Method to increase the efficiency of the OgeuIscB-ωRNA genome-editing system OgeuIscB, an evolutioanary ancestor of Cas9, is an RNA (ωRNA)-guided endonuclease capable of generating double-stranded breaks on genomic DNA in mammalian cells. The combination of programmability and compact size renders the system highly attractive for in vivo gene-editing applications. However, the...

Novel Exosome-Based Drug Delivery For Targeting Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:51:39 GMT

SUMMARY A novel drug delivery system using exosomes derived from hippocampus neuron cells engineered to express the Fe65 protein targeting amyloid-β precursor protein to reduce amyloid plaques Alzheimer's disease. This system crosses the blood-brain barrier, enhances uptake by neuronal cells, and induces autophagy, improving cognition and reduce disease pathogenesis. The Unmet Need: Effective therapeutics and delivery systems to treat Alzheimer's Disease pathogenesis and progression Alzheimer's disease (AD) research focuses on understanding and developing treatments for t...

Diagnostic For Predicting Hospital-Acquired Infections And Identifying Causative Organisms

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 11:53:59 GMT

SUMMARY The technology is a fecal microbiome metabolite profile that can predict hospital-acquired infections and identify the causative organisms. This method efficiently measures specific chemical metabolites produced by bacteria in the stool microbiome. It provides actionable information for clinicians, guiding antibiotic treatment and identifying patients who might benefit from microbiome therapies, thus improving infection management and addressing drug-resistant infections. Unmet Need: Accurate, non-invasive diagnostic for predicting hospital-acquired infections Hospital-acquired in...

A Novel Class of Antibodies For The Development Of Universal Influenza Vaccines

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:36:22 GMT

SUMMARY Influenza viruses remain a global health problem, with antigenically drifting seasonal viruses and the constant risk of zoonotic influenza virus spillovers into humans. Antibodies against the major surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) are critical for providing protection against influenza virus infection. HA is divided into two domains: the globular head and the stalk. Most epitopes of the HA head are highly variable and rapidly mutate to circumvent host humoral immunity. In contrast, the HA stalk is relatively conserved within and across influenza subtypes. A...

Genetic Engineering Tools To Stimulate And Enhance The Production Of Select Compounds From Bacterial Species

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:09:59 GMT

SUMMARY Synthetic biology toolsets to genetically manipulate the microbiota, specifically non-model resident gut microbes, to alter gene expression and cellular function to produce therapeutic compounds. Unmet Need: Genetic engineering tools for gut microbes and the development of novel microbiome-based therapeutic and diagnostic systems The field of synthetic biology has seen significant advancements in recent years, particularly in the engineering of microbial species to produce compounds beneficial to human health. Genetic engineering applications have traditionally focused on model gu...

Prophylactic Strategy For C. Difficile Infection Prevention

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:06:30 GMT

SUMMARY This technology is a prevention method for those at risk of C. difficile infection using a mutated strain of C. difficile that reduces toxicity and competes with virulent strains, offering a safer alternative to antibiotics and fecal microbiome transplants by colonizing the colon and preventing infections. Unmet Need: Safe and effective alternatives to treat C. difficile infection without impacting the integrity of the gut microbiome Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobe that is the leading cause of nosocomial infection in U.S. adults. ...

Microbiome-Based Therapeutic For Enhancing Anti-Tumor Immunity In Cancer Treatment

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 10:16:06 GMT

SUMMARY Innovative therapeutic strategy leveraging commensal microbiota, specifically by oral administration of Bifidobacterium, to enhance anti-tumor immunity, potentially improving cancer treatment when combined with checkpoint inhibitors Unmet Need: Only 20-40% of patients respond to immunotherapy while a majority experience primary or acquired resistance to treatment The field of tumor immunology has focused significantly on understanding how the immune system can be harnessed to combat cancer. A key area of interest is the infiltration of T cells into solid tumors, which ha...

Novel Metabolite-Based Diagnostic Technology for Accurate Cavernous Angioma Identification and Risk Assessment

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:12:50 GMT

SUMMARY Newly identified plasma metabolites linked to cavernous angioma, a neurovascular disease, using machine learning and multi-omics data to improve diagnostic precision and offer new insights for developing specific biomarkers The problem: Lack of accurate cavernous angioma biomarkers to distinguish high-risk cases Neurovascular diseases such as cavernous angiomas (CAs) present significant challenges to the healthcare field, affecting approximately 0.5% of the population and potentially resulting in severe neurological complications. These conditions are characterized by abnormal blo...

RNA Editing Technology for Enhancing Tumor Immunogenicity and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 06:55:57 GMT

SUMMARY Novel RNA editing method to generate a multitude of neoantigens in tumor cells making the cells more recognizable by T cells and enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors The problem: Current approaches to further enhance the immunogenicity of tumors fail to counteract the mechanisms deployed by cancer cells to escape detection The field of cancer immunotherapy has focused significantly on the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) which target proteins like PD-1 and PD-L1 to enhance the immune system’s ability to detect and attack cancer cells. Desp...

Fully Synthetic Adjuvant Delivery System For Enhanced Tumor-Targeted Immunotherapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 06:11:44 GMT

SUMMARY A cancer vaccine that enhances immune response by directly binding adjuvants to tumor cells, avoiding targeting antibodies, and reducing related side effects The problem: Therapeutic vaccination has long been a promising avenue for cancer immunotherapy but is often limited by tumor heterogeneity with variation in the antigens present on cancer cell surfaces In recent years, immunotherapies have emerged as promising anti-cancer therapeutics, led by the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). ICIs have shown efficacy but only provide a significant survival benefit in a s...

Protein Engineering Strategy for Enhancing Healing Of Chronic Diabetic and Radiation-Induced Wounds

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 08:43:58 GMT

SUMMARY The problem: Chronic, non‐healing wounds have reached epidemic proportions and have a sustainable impact on both an individual’s quality of life and on healthcare costs as a whole The field of wound healing is of critical importance in medicine, addressing the urgent need for effective treatments for chronic, non-healing wounds. These wounds, which can result from conditions such as diabetes or radiation therapy, significantly affect patients' quality of life and represent a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Wound healing involves a complex, well-orchestrated ...

Exploiting Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC) Proteins For Immunotherapeutic Applications

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 07:47:59 GMT

SUMMARY Cell division is a fundamental biological process, ensured to be of high fidelity by the Chromosome Passenger Complex (CPC), a crucial protein complex involved in regulating various chromosomal and cytoskeletal activities. The CPC, composed of survivin, borealin, INCENP, and Aurora B kinase, governs essential cell division functions, including spindle and kinetochore assembly, error correction, and apoptosis regulation. This complex is immensely important in cancer research, as the dysregulation of cell division is a hallmark of cancer. The necessity for technologies that can dif...

Viral RNA Modification Technique To Create Attenuated Live Vaccines For Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Other NNS RNA Viruses

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 07:04:10 GMT

SUMMARY A method to attenuate RSV and other NNS RNA viruses by reducing m6A modifications on their RNA. This approach enhances genetic stability, ensures sufficient attenuation, triggers higher immune responses, retains high immunogenicity, and makes vaccine production feasible. The problem: A live attenuated vaccine is one of the most promising vaccine approaches for RSV. However, a major problem is that natural RSV infection does not induce long-lived protection. Non-segmented negative-sense (NNS) RNA viruses encompass a wide range of significant human, animal, and plant pathogens in fa...

Targeting TGFβ Signaling for Enhancing Cancer Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy Efficacy

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 06:38:54 GMT

SUMMARY The method leverages a negative regulator to inhibit TGFβ signaling in myeloid cells, potentially enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and immunotherapy in cancer treatment by reducing immune suppression. The problem: Radiation simultaneously induces biological effects on cancer cells and elicits an immune response. However, the immunogenic effects of radiotherapy are counterbalanced by immune suppressive effects and thereby contribute to treatment failure Cancer immunotherapy and radiotherapy are areas of intense research due to their potential to effectively treat variou...

Boosting Cancer Immunotherapy Or Radio-Immunotherapy For Enhanced Tumor Eradication

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 06:14:40 GMT

SUMMARY New cancer therapy to enhance the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy and radiation by blocking tumor-promoting signals from erythroid progenitor cells, which secrete artemin to advance cancer progression. This approach targets artemin and its signaling axis to improve treatment outcomes. The problem: Tumor cells exploit numerous signaling pathways to promote malignant progression including tumor-promoting signals from erythroid progenitor cells Cancer therapy has undergone significant advancements with the emergence of immunotherapies, particularly checkpoint inhibitor...

Programmable Translational-Activating RNA Therapeutic Platform Technology

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:45:40 GMT

SUMMARY Many human diseases arise from insufficient protein levels, often due to genetic mutations that result in haploinsufficiency or loss of protein function. Effectively treating these conditions necessitates therapeutic strategies capable of increasing the production of specific, vital proteins. There is a significant unmet need for programmable methods to upregulate protein expression, as the current therapeutic landscape often lacks precise and targeted approaches for restoring protein function. Existing gene expression modulation technologies predominantly focus on reducing prote...

Data-Driven Discovery Of Innate Immunomodulators Via Machine Learning-Guided High Throughput Screening

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 07:33:48 GMT

SUMMARY Novel machine learning-enable platform to guide in vitro experimental screening and discovery of small molecule immunomodulators to improve immune responses The unmet need: Platform to resolve unregulated immune potentiator enhancement and suppression of inflammatory and stimulatory responses The innate immune response is vital for the success of prophylactic vaccines and immunotherapies. Control of signaling in innate immune pathways can improve prophylactic vaccines by inhibiting unfavorable systemic inflammation and immunotherapies by enhancing immune stimulation. ...

Treatment Adherence Tracking For Sleep Apnea

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:56:47 GMT

SUMMARY A new mobile health tool for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using a novel CPAP adherence metric and enables tracking of lifestyle features to support behavior changes to optimize care The problem: Current methods to evaluate OSA treatment fail to adequately capture CPAP adherence Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by recurrent complete or partial upper airway obstruction resulting in reduced oxygen levels at night, sleep fragmentation, and poor sleep quality. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered the treatme...

Enhanced Nitrogen Vacancy Synthesis in Diamond: Minimizing Hydrogen Passivation

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 08:39:36 GMT

SUMMARY Keywords: Electron radiation effects, Ion implantation, Spectroscopy, Chemical vapor deposition, Optical fibers, Quantum information This method mitigates hydrogen passivation of nitrogen vacancy centers (NV centers) in diamond through vacuum annealing after plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, which leads to an increased yield from NV center synthesis. The Unmet Need: Low yield of nitrogen vacancy center based qubits The negatively charged NV center in diamond is a promising defect-based spin qubit for many quantum applications. Single NV centers, necessary for high-spatial...

Computational-Guided Spin Defect Systems

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:49:02 GMT

SUMMARY This method enables predictive growth of qubit host materials without the limitations of iterative measurements. The Unmet Need: Proper characterization of qubit host substrate and in-situ defect growth Quantum sensors based on electron spin qubits hold promise for a variety of applications ranging from the life sciences to fundamental materials physics. A major challenge limiting the deterministic and scalable production of single qubits is proper characterization of substrate and in-situ defect growth. The densities, dimensionalities, and localization required for highly coher...

Bioadhesive Polymer for Connecting Semiconductors to Wet Tissue

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:23:08 GMT

SUMMARY This method imparts bioadhesive properties onto polymeric semiconductors, which enables effective transductions of bio-signals from biological tissues to electronic devices. The Unmet Need: Conformable and stable integration of semiconductor-based biosensing surfaces with wet tissues Integrating biocompatible electronic devices with living biological tissues is emerging as a highly promising avenue for achieving the real-time measurement of biological signals with high spatiotemporal resolutions for health monitoring. An overarching goal for the development of bioelectronic devices...

Method for Controllable Strain Generation in Diamond Membranes

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:59:07 GMT

SUMMARY This method enables non-invasive, predictable and controllable strain generation in diamond membranes, while improving spin coherence and enabling microwave control. The Unmet Need: Scaling networking technologies in diamond Group-IV color centers in diamond are a leading material platform in quantum photonics. These color centers have risen to prominence in quantum networking and sensing applications due to their excellent optical coherence. This platform has been used in demonstrations of memory enhanced quantum key distribution, two qubit entanglement, and shaped single photon so...

Minimally Invasive System To Deliver, Retain Drugs In The Kidney

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:48:51 GMT

SUMMARY This device provides minimally invasive drug delivery and retention to the inside of the kidney The Unmet Need: This device provides minimally invasive drug delivery and retention to the inside of the kidney Administering and retaining drugs to the inside of the kidney is challenging for a few reasons: Access: normal human kidneys are situated high in the abdomen, making administering drug from the natural urine exit orifice, the urethra challenging Short transit time of urine in the kidney prevents adequate contact time between drugs and the inner lining of ...

Flexible, AI-Enabled Wearables for Precision Medicine

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 12:30:51 GMT

SUMMARY This technology enables on-body AI data analysis of data from skin-like wearable electronics for achieving human-integrated/mimetic intelligent systems. The Unmet Need: Data processing for precision medicine Precision medicine, the future landscape of healthcare, provides personalized diagnosis and treatment to individuals by taking into account the underlying differences in people’s genes, ages, health histories, and living environments. On the technological level, this futuristic vision for healthcare requires the development of two major capabilities:...

New Class of Biocompatible and Flexible Optoelectronic Devices For Next Generation Pacemakers

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 10:40:00 GMT

SUMMARY Electrode-based electrical stimulation underpins several clinical bioelectronic devices, including deep brain stimulators and cardiac pacemakers. Pacemaker therapy improves quality of life and reduces mortality rates. Despite significant advances, current pacemaker therapies are fraught with risks. With conventional endocardial pacing, complications mainly arise from the transvenous lead or subcutaneous generator pocket. Transvenous lead-related complications include venous obstruction, tricuspid regurgitation, and endocarditis, which are linked to a mortality rate of 12% to ...

Stretchable Light-Emitting Polymers

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:11:55 GMT

SUMMARY Electroluminescent (EL) devices represent one of the central components of multiple modern technologies. They offer unique functionality for information visualization, wireless signal/power transmission and medical therapies. After decades of development, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have become one of the most advanced EL technologies, particularly for the display industry, owing to advantages that include high efficiency, high brightness, low-voltage operation, low prices, large-area scalability and mechanical bendability. Recently, a growing desire to intimately i...

Method To Use Low-Dose Tocilizumab To Treat Sickle Cell Disease

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:57:18 GMT

SUMMARY Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare genetic disease that affects red blood cells, predominantly seen in African-American patients. Patients with SCD often have various complications, including acute chest syndrome (ACS), a life-threatening condition similar to pneumonia but unique to SCD. ACS is not entirely understood, and there are no curative treatments available. Recent data have suggested that increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a component of the inflammation in ACS. Specifically, it was found that IL-6 levels are elevated in the sputum of patients with ACS. Tocilizu...

A New Method of Isotope Enrichment and Separation: Preferential Embedding of Heavier Isotopes Into Ices

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:38:59 GMT

SUMMARY Isotope separation methods are key to numerous scientific and industrial processes. Nuclear power plants and weapons, for example, require fuels enriched in a select isotope. And isotopically pure or enriched samples are used in scientific research and medical procedures. Isotopes can be separated via fractional distillation, gaseous diffusion, and centrifugation. The process can also be driven by chemical, magnetic, and electrostatic methods. But these techniques are often energy intensive and require many sequential separation steps. Gaseous diffusion, distillation and gas ...

Novel Delivery Platform For Controlled Release Of Bacterial Metabolites To Modulate The Immune System

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 11:06:52 GMT

SUMMARY Conditioning of the immune system by the microbiome has received substantial attention for the scientific community in recent years. Microbial metabolites are being assessed as novel therapeutic tools for various diseases, including cancer and immune disorders. Butyrate is a key bacterial metabolite that plays an important and complex role in modulation of immunity and maintenance of epithelial barriers. Its translation to clinic is limited by poor bioavailability, pungent smell, and the need for high doses, and effective delivery strategies have yet to realize clinical poten...

Small Molecule Immunopotentiator Conjugates of NF-KB Activators as Adjuvants With Enhanced Efficacy And Reduced Toxicity

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:41:49 GMT

SUMMARY Imidazoquinolinone derivatives that activate Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 are small molecule immune potentiators (SMIPs) that have potent activity as vaccine adjuvants and as anti-tumor agents. However, these molecules have high bioavailability that results in unacceptable levels of systemic inflammation due to adjuvant toxicity greatly limiting their use. The faculty inventor developed an alternative to small molecule adjuvant formulation where a TLR7/8 activating imidazoquinolinone is covalently linked to a NF-κB potentiator – altering the response that the mole...

Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting RNA Modifying Enzymes to Modulate Drug Response and Overcome Drug Resistance

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 12:20:30 GMT

SUMMARY DNA hypomethylating agents have been widely used to treat various hematologic and non-hematologic malignancies. However, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that DNA methylation status does not correlate with clinical response to hypomethylating agents. Two RNA cytosine methyltransferases (RCMTs) NSUN1 and NSUN2 are responsible for catalyzing the majority of 5-methylcytosine in RNA (RNA:mC) and regulate chromatin structure, gene expression and organelle functions in human cells. NSUN1 and NSUN2 are correlated with a significant shorter survival in almost all cancer s...

Granulobot: a modular and morphable robotic platform

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 09:41:50 GMT

SUMMARY The development of autonomous and efficient agents that can adapt to a variety of environments and perform different functions by reconfiguring their body is one of the frontiers in the field of robotics. There is an increasing need for systems that offer multi-functional, self-assembling, highly compliant capabilities in concert with resilience and robustness. To this end, while traditional robotic design tends to distinguish and separate components dealing with sensing, actuation, computation, and communication, an alternative strategy distributes components that each integ...

A Potent Glioma Targeting CAR T-Cell With Minimal Off-Target Toxicity

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:27:20 GMT

SUMMARY IL13Ra2 is a cancer testis antigen that is expressed in 50-80% of glioblastoma cells, has no basal expression in the healthy tissue, and is correlated with poor patient prognosis. Problematically, all attempts to target this antigen therapeutically have been with IL13-mutant CAR-T cells that have significant off-target binding to closely related and ubiquitously expressed IL13Ra1. Using hybridoma technology, the inventors isolated an antibody that selectively binds to IL13Ra2 and has no off-target interactions with closely related ILRa1 as verified by cell binding experiments. Thus...

Antibody-Targeted Enzymatic Chemoprotection

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:00:29 GMT

SUMMARY Cytotoxic chemotherapy involves drugs that inhibit cellular division, killing or blocking the growth of cancer cells. However, chemotherapy blocks the growth of noncancerous cells, which causes an assortment of adverse side-effects, including hair loss, nausea/vomiting/abdominal, fatigue, bleeding, and risk of infection (immunosuppression). These side-effects can be crippling and life-threatening, which limits the dosage and intensity of chemotherapy regimens in practice. Consequently, the therapeutic window may be too narrow for effective and tolerable treatment....

Tunable High-Q Superconducting mm-Wave Cavities

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:52:38 GMT

SUMMARY Cavity and circuit quantum electrodynamics systems provide unprecedented control over photonic quantum states via coupling to strongly nonlinear single emitters. The millimeter (mm) wave frequency band is of great interest for quantum devices, as high-fidelity quantum emitters—such as Rydberg atoms, molecules, and silicon vacancies—exhibit resonances in these bands. High-Q resonators at these frequencies would give access to strong interactions between emitters and single photons, leading to rich and unexplored quantum phenomena at moderate temperatures. Prior eff...

A Controllable Synthesis Method Of Layered Oxides By Electrochemical Assisted Ion-Exchange

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 12 May 2023 14:11:39 GMT

SUMMARY Lithium-rich layered oxides are promising cathode materials with remarkable electrochemical performance that will revolutionize the electronics, transportation, battery, and grid energy storage industries. The ion-exchange process is a soft chemical synthesis route that is used to prepare new meta-stable materials, including layered oxides, as it separates and purifies crucial metals needed for battery materials science. However, the ion-exchange process lacks an aspect of control that is crucial in chemical composition and spatial distribution to maximize the number of ...

Engineered Multipurpose Antibody Module Platform

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 09 May 2023 07:09:27 GMT

SUMMARY Traditionally, antibodies were produced using animal immunization methodologies.1 While this approach is still in broad use, recombinant display technologies have now assumed the leading role in producing antibody‐based affinity reagents. A particularly powerful aspect of these engineered reagents is that other modules having myriad functions can be attached to them either chemically or through molecular fusions. However, these processes can be cumbersome and do not lend themselves to high throughput applications. Consequently, the faculty inventor developed a platform t...

Anti-CD73(NT5E) Antibodies Specific To The Tumor Microenvironment

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 08 May 2023 12:12:06 GMT

SUMMARY CD73 is an ectonucleotidase tethered by a glycosylphosphatidyl anchor to the extracellular side of many cell types. Along with NTPDase-1 CD39, CD73 is an important regulator of a cells inflammatory response. Cell death/stress triggers release of ATP which activates pro-inflammatory and immunostimulatory cell pathways. ATP concentrations are decreased through down-regulation by CD39 mediated hydrolysis into ADP and AMP. The CD73 dephosphorylates AMP to adenosine which stimulates anti-inflammatory and immunosupressive responses. Many cancerous tissues (e.g., breast, pancreas, prostat...

Point Of Care Technology For SARS-CoV-2 Detection and Neutralization

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 08 May 2023 10:22:49 GMT

SUMMARY SARS-CoV-2’s enters cells when the receptor binding domain (RBD) of its spike protein (S-protein) interacts with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In order to block this RBD-ACE2 interaction, clinicians need Point of Care (POC) assays to detect and neutralize the virus as early as possible. The faculty inventor has developed a modular POC viral detection assay with orders of magnitude greater signal-to-noise detection sensitivity and target specificity than ELISA tests. This same technology also shows potential as the basis for a new antiviral treatmen...

Nanovaccine That Activates The NLRP3 Inflammasome & Enhances Tumor Specific Activation Of Anti-Cancer Immunity

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:33:53 GMT

SUMMARY A major attention of vaccine adjuvant development has been focused on development of robust antibody-mediated protection against pathogens. However, such adjuvants have failed to elicit a robust T-cell mediated protection and are thus found to be less efficacious against diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, Ebola and Zika or in immunotherapy. Based on previous reports on the application of IL-1β in enhancing antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ responses, we envisioned that inflammasome-activating biomaterials that can produce IL-1β in-vivo can be potentially employed a...

Grace: A Data Scalable Real-Time Video Communication System

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:08:45 GMT

SUMMARY Real-time video communications are essential to the daily routine of users for online meetings, cloud gaming, and interactive virtual reality. Retransmitting data packets that are not compatible can lead to stuttering, poor quality, and user frustration. Current technologies, such as DVC and QRAM, share similar neural network video encoders to retransmit data packets but lack an achievable rate of data-scalable video coding. These error-resilient technologies use redundancy to handle packet loss which compromises quality and compression efficiency. Moreover, these systems are disor...

Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:15:00 GMT

SUMMARY The landscape of SARS-CoV-2 is experiencing a novel development of viral variants harboring mutations that can escape even the most highly potent antibodies against the receptor binding domain. These variants exhibit increased viral transmissibility and a partial evasion of immunity that is induced by natural infection and vaccination. Recent studies have found it critical to induce antibodies that target multiple distinct epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike to neutralize emerging variants of concern (VOCs) and avoid the probable generation of escape mutants that can evade antibo...

A New Genetic Medicine Strategy For Treating Neurological Disorders

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 10:27:03 GMT

SUMMARY Synaptic transmission and plasticity are fundamental to neuronal functions, and alterations of synaptic protein expression are direct causes of autism, intellectual disability (ID), and epilepsy. De novo loss-of-function (LoF) mutations in SYNGAP1, encoding the synaptic Ras GTPase-activating protein, are among the most prevalent causes of ID and autism spectrum disorders. Alternative splicing coupled with nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (AS-NMD) is a translation-dependent mechanism which promotes the degradation of mRNAs with premature translation-termination codons. Rece...

Identification of Structurally Novel BTK Mutations That Drive Resistance to BTK Inhibitors in CLL and Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 08:35:17 GMT

SUMMARY Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is among the most common types of cancer in the US consisting of a diverse group of lymphocytic malignancies. Most of these malignancies are B-cell of which chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of them. CLL is a demanding disease for patients and early treatment methods have not been effective. Treatment is only prescribed after the disease has progressed and bothersome symptoms appear. Ibrutinib (ibr) is a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that has demonstrated high response rates in relapsed/refractory CLL. However, many patients continue t...

New Antibiotics and Antibiotic Potentiators for Treating Staphylococcus Aureus Infections

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:11:50 GMT

SUMMARY Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections that affect nearly 30% of healthy adults. Staph infections can escalate in intensity if introduced to the bloodstream and can lead to sepsis or death. The current treatment of MRSA is partially effective through oxacillin therapy. To strengthen the effectiveness of oxacillin therapy the faculty inventor has identified inhibitors that specifically interfere with the cell wall stress response that controls the induction to the system. Thro...

Atomic Layer Chemical Pattern For Block Copolymer Assembly

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 09:38:31 GMT

SUMMARY Block copolymers can assemble into large-scale, dense, and regular nanoscale patterns, making block copolymer assembly a potential candidate for nanolithography. The assembly of block copolymers can be directed to follow a chemical pattern to generate a regular structure. Notwithstanding the success of existing approaches, current chemical patterning methods are limited by deterioration of wetting behavior, processing temperatures, and topological variation. These issues manifest in poorly assembled structures, which ultimately limits pattern transferability, scalabilit...

A System for Frailty Assessment, Frailty Mitigation, and Clinical Research

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 12:00:57 GMT

SUMMARY Frailty is a condition that often affects the elderly. It is characterized by increased susceptibility to physiologic stressors such as illness and major surgery. Screening for frailty in our thoracic surgery population indicates that nearly 70% of patients are frail or prefrail at the time they are referred to our outpatient clinic for possible surgery. Potential adverse outcomes after major surgery include a higher rate of complications and mortality, longer duration of hospital stay, more likely discharge to other–than-home, increased rates of readmissions, and higher cost...

A Method for Fast Adapting Similarity Searches Based on Variance Aware Quantization

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 09:25:10 GMT

SUMMARY With the explosive growth of high-dimensional data, approximate methods emerge as promising solutions for searching for similar data pairs. Quantization methods have gained prominence due to their low storage costs and fast query responses. These methods decompose data dimensions into subspaces and their performance critically depends on maintaining effective dictionaries per subspace. However, the lack of a solution to improve the runtime performance without sacrificing accuracy or limiting the possible configurations hinders the wide adoption of quantization methods. ...

Automatic Prediction of Cancer Recurrence through Machine Learning

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 09:20:43 GMT

SUMMARY Deep learning tools are becoming increasingly popular for histologic analyses and have been used to predict tumor biomarker status, clinical variables, tumor subtypes, and mutation status in a variety of cancers. Accurate prediction of recurrence risk for post-operative cancer recurrence is of significant clinical interest as it can be used to recommend adjuvant therapy for those highest risk individuals. The faculty trained a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) to identify patterns in digital images of standard hematoxylin and eosin stained diagnostic pathology slides from r...

Profitable Trading Strategies Devised Through Machine Learning

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 09:18:58 GMT

SUMMARY Sentimental analysis for financial forecasting has been impeded by the ultra-high dimensional challenge of numerically representing huge troves of text. Prior efforts circumvented this bottleneck by reusing word scoring devised for earlier studies, utilizing sentiment values imprecisely matched to context, significantly reducing the value of the results. The faculty inventor utilized machine learning to perform sentimental analysis of the archives and text feed of the Dow Jones Newswires over the past several decades. Words in these texts were scored positive, negative, or neutral...

Chicago Quant’em

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:21:01 GMT

SUMMARY Chicago Quant’em is an experiential card game that immerses players, beginner and advanced, in a world of quantum physics and qubits. The goal of the game is to use quantum concepts to collect, change, and arrange the cards into a winning hand to ultimately win the pot. Unique from other card games, quantum physics is built into the game mechanics to create a captivating learning and play experience. Understanding of superposition, entanglement, operations, and measurement is necessary to win. Learning these concepts are easy as quantum concepts are embedded into the rules of...

Targeted Nanotherapeutic Nucleotide Delivery For Preventing Arteriovenous Fistula Failure

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 09:39:56 GMT

SUMMARY Surgically created arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access means for treating terminal renal failure through hemodialysis. 60% of AVF’s fail as effective dialysis points due to vascular stenosis. This disturbed blood flow stimulates vascular inflammation by increasing the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and microRNA-92a (miR-92a) in endothelial cells leading to vascular and inflammation disorders. Peptide-targeted polyelectrolyte complex micelles designed to administer nanotherapeutics to vascular cells have been shown to reduce...

Novel Mycobacterial Small Molecules That Bind MR1 And Are Activating Or Antagonistic For MR1-Restricted T cells.

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:06:59 GMT

SUMMARY TB bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), is extremely slow growing compared to other bacteria and is naturally resistant to many of the powerful antibiotics that are effective against other bacterial infections. In recent years, multi-drug-resistant TB strains (MDR-TB) have arisen that are resistant to standard treatment and require extensive and costly treatment with new cocktails of potent, toxic drugs. Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAITs) are a non-classical T cell subset that recognize microbial-derived vitamin B metabolites in the context of ma...

New Platform For Targeted Immunomodulation And Vaccine Development

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:00:25 GMT

SUMMARY There have been significant research efforts to develop effective vaccines that elicit a strong and durable T cell response against intracellular pathogens and cancer. A popular strategy has been to enhance vaccination efficacy by targeting dendritic cells (DCs). For DCs, functional heterogeneity is critical in the complex process of initiating adaptive immune responses and with recent advances in single-cell immune profiles, research efforts have focused on parsing DC subpopulations to better understand the full spectrum of DC functionality. Researchers at UChicago identifi...

Next-Generation Activity-Based Radiotracer For In Vivo Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging And Therapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 09:40:11 GMT

SUMMARY Cancer cells show alterations in metabolism that support malignancy and disease progression. Prominent among these metabolic changes is elevations in neutral ether lipids (NELs). The lipid hydrolase neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase 1 (NCEH1), also known as AADACL1 or KIAA1363, has been shown to control the production of NELs in cancer cells. The consistent and dramatic upregulation of NCEH1 activity in multiple aggressive cancer cells suggests it is involved in or associated with general processes of tumor progression and that its activity may serve as a marker for ma...

Novel Small Molecules for the Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis and Asthma

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 10:10:01 GMT

SUMMARY Airway remodeling induced by asthma and fibrosis promotes reduced responsiveness to currently available therapies. As such, there is an urgent need for the development of novel treatments that target the underlying molecular mechanisms of tissue remodeling in asthma and fibrosis. The inventors discovered a novel class of organic molecule that blocks the pathogenic transition of fibroblasts to fibrosis inducing myofibroblasts. Furthermore, these organic molecules block the accumulation of smooth muscle contractile proteins and extracellular matrix in the lung, which are hallma...

Practical Architectures and Algorithms for Quantum Source Coding

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 13:38:55 GMT

SUMMARY Data compression done by classical source coding is a crucial element of modern digital infrastructure as it enables the efficient storage and transmission of images, audio files, and videos. Protocols for quantum source coding are increasingly useful to enable more efficient storage and transmission of quantum data among emerging quantum infrastructures. However, despite developments in quantum source coding schemes severe practical challenges have prevented their implementation. There are three prominent challenges that plague existing quantum source coding schemes Comp...

A Stretchable And Strain-Insensitive Pressure Sensor

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 08:17:39 GMT

SUMMARY Pressure sensors are essential to a vast array of applications, where they sense and measure pressure, and transmit information, which help ascertain the performance of a given device. In fact, the size for the global pressure sensor market was estimated to be $11.38 billion in 2019, and is expected to reach $24.84 billion by 2027 at the CAGR of 10.3% from 2020 to 2027. For the emerging field of soft electronics that has been rapidly developed for conformably interfacing with soft and dynamic human or robotic bodies, pressure sensing is a core function for a wide range of des...

Small Molecule Inhibitor Boosting The Efficacy Of Therapeutic Ionizing Radiation

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:03:32 GMT

SUMMARY Radiotherapy and immunotherapy are used to treat many cancer types, yet only 50% and 20% of patients respond, respectively. Resistance to therapy presents a large problem. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is commonly found in on RNA in eukaryotic cells. By binding to m6A sites, YTHDF2 (YTH N6-Methyladenosine RNA Binding Protein 2) modulates the translation efficiency of RNA transcripts, thereby leading to RNA degradation. YTHDF2 expression is induced by radiation and immunotherapy, and negatively correlates with patient survival (analysis from cancer database). The ...

New System for the Synthesis of Silicon-Based Materials for Biological Modulation

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:32:58 GMT

SUMMARY Pure silicon materials with strong photoelectrochemical properties are advantageous to biomodulations devices due to their excellent dielectric properties that are promising in many electrical transmission applications. Synthesis of such materials have previously been completed with dopant modulation but lack efficiency and fast production. This technology addresses prior shortcomings by utilizing microstructure engineering over dopant modulation to enable the fabrication of semiconductor heterojunctions. This new synthesis strategy of silicon-based photoelectrochemical mater...

Universal TaqMan-Based Detection System for RNA Quantification

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:24:14 GMT

SUMMARY Reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (qPCR) effectively quantifies coding and noncoding RNA expressions in cells and tissue samples. Among various RT-qPCR detection systems, SYBR Green-based system is most commonly used, although it often lacks desirable specificity; fluorescent probe-based qPCR (e.g., TaqMan) offers high sensitivity and specificity, but its utility is limited by high costs of probe synthesis. The current technology is a universal TaqMan-based detection system, that allows cost-effective analysis of coding and noncoding transcriptomics, with broad applications i...

Fast Flux Control of High-Q 3D Multimode Cavities

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 12:32:13 GMT

SUMMARY 3D microwave cavities are advantageous platforms for quantum computation due to their lengthy coherence times and fast control of quantum states when interfaced with superconducting qubits. Fast magnetic control of these cavities is crucial in tuning frequencies and interactions of superconducting qubits to efficiently manipulate quantum states. While fast local magnetic control has been realized for planar 2D architectures, the challenge remains in their 3D counterparts. Limitations posed by nonlocal magnetic field flux lines compromise coherence lifetimes and are not rapidly swit...

Bio-inspired Artificial Intelligence For Rapid Multi-Task Learning

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 14:27:18 GMT

SUMMARY Multi-task learning is a subfield of machine learning in which multiple tasks are simultaneously learned by a shared model. Biologically-inspired recurrent neural networks (RNNs), trained using backpropagation, can learn an impressive array of complex tasks, and offer the opportunity for detailed examination of network activity and circuit structure. Training RNNs using backpropagation is usually performed by treating all synapses as plastic, creating issues relating to learning speed and catastrophic forgetting (i.e., caused by applying different weights for different tasks to a ...

Model-Free Interferometry Enabled by Machine Learning

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 14:11:15 GMT

SUMMARY Atom interferometry is used in sensors designed to measure gravitational field, acceleration, and angular momentum and is of increasing importance to the emerging field of quantum communications, which shows great promise for fast, secure, and precise relay of information. Interpreting the results of an interferometer requires precise calibration and characterization, typically achieved using a mathematical model of the system under consideration; as such, precise mathematical models are required in order to correctly interpret the output of interferometer. Existing approaches th...

Novel Small Molecules For Treatment Of Breast and Ovarian Cancer

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 08:01:34 GMT

SUMMARY According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) approximately 10.2 million adults in the United States have osteoporosis, with an additional 43.4 million having low bone mass. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Because estrogen receptor-α (ERα) is expressed in ~70% of patients, therapeutic intervention by ERα-targeted endocrine therapies remains the leading strategy to prevent progression and/or metastasis in the adjuvant setting. However, the efficacy of these therapies will be diminished by the development of...

Co-intercalation-free Ether Solvent for Lithium Ion Batteries

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 12 May 2022 12:24:32 GMT

SUMMARY Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized portable electronics, but there remains room for improvement in energy density, electrochemical stability, and usable temperature window. An improvement in electrolytes can further such needs for the next-generation Li-ion battery. Current state of the art electrolytes are compositions based on ethylene carbonates, but these are limited by an operating temperature window of −20°C to 40°C and lack of compatibility for fast charging and different battery chemistries. The faculty inventor has identified a substitute...

A Micro-RNA Approach for the Treatment of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 6 (SCA6)

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 11 May 2022 06:28:57 GMT

SUMMARY Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is a rare, dominantly inherited disease that causes Purkinje cell degradation and results in: loss of coordination, tremors, and uncoordinated muscle movement. Current therapies only mitigate symptoms and do not address the underlying pathophysiology responsible for disease progression. It is known that individuals with SCA6 have an expanded PolyQ tract in the CACNA1A gene (Q4-Q17 to Q19-Q33), but it was previously inconclusive as to how this abnormality impacts translation of the gene to the product ion channel a1A. The inventors discovered tha...

FOXP3 Stapled Peptides to Deactivate Regulatory T Cells

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:04:58 GMT

SUMMARY Regulatory T cells (Tregs) modulate immune function by preventing autoreactive T cell responses, including those that would normally target cancer cells. Treg activity can significantly limit the efficacy of immunotherapies designed to stimulate CD8+ T cells, and therefore a strategy for reducing Treg activity as an aspect of immunotherapy is highly desirable. The FOXP3 transcription factor is selectively expressed in Tregs and is necessary for Treg function. The inventors have synthesized stapled alpha helix peptides that inhibit the FOXP3 homo and heterodimerization necessary to ...

Machine Learning-Based Prediction Of Viral Mutations From Genomic Sequences

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 07:35:38 GMT

SUMMARY There have been significant research efforts to develop machine learning and predictive analytics based tools to predict viral evolution which remains the main obstacle in the early detection of drug-resistant strains and facilitate the design of more efficient antiviral treatments. Machine learning and advanced algorithms have facilitated the study of structure-activity relationships, secondary and tertiary structure evolution prediction, and sequence error correction. This technology includes a software tool for predicting the dominant circulating strain of evolving pathogens l...

Electrically Tunable Quantum Platform Using Spin Defects In SiC Heterostructures

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 12:41:09 GMT

SUMMARY Integration of quantum spins into classical electronic devices has been a major challenge. However, the ability to do so would limit spectral noise and line width broadening of emissions from solid state devices, resulting in improved device performance. The divacancy in Silicon Carbide is a recently developed defect spin qubit displaying many attractive properties that could address these challenges. However, these defects have suffered from relatively broad optical lines, charge instability and relatively small Stark shifts. This invention addresses these issues through a semicond...

Prediction Of Coagulation Testing In Underfilled Patient Samples

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 08:49:31 GMT

SUMMARY The global market size for coagulation testing is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% and reach US$3.5 billion by 2027 from US$2.1 billion in year 2020. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) are the most frequently performed coagulation tests with estimated annual test volumes of 65.9 million and 45.6 million, respectively. The Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommends that blood samples used for coagulation testing have a 9:1 ratio of sample to anticoagulant. Those that are <90% filled are rejected since underfilled sa...

Tolerizing Agonist/Immunomodulator Loaded Liposomes for Long-Lived Immune Tolerance

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:45:05 GMT

SUMMARY A failure of central immune tolerance typically driven by autoantigen specific T regulatory (Treg) cells is the primary cause of many autoimmune diseases. This technology generates antigen specific immune tolerance for autoimmune or transplantation therapy via induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDC, PD-L1+, CD80- CD11c+)) which facilitate the differentiation of antigen specific Tregs. The invention is a liposome loaded with immunosuppressive drugs, toll-like-receptor (TLR) agonists, and any antigen of interest. This unique co-formulation of activating and inhi...

OSCA: A System For Efficient Construction Of Adenovirus Vectors

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 08:55:20 GMT

SUMMARY Adenoviruses (Ad) are a non-enveloped linear double-stranded DNA viruses with over 50 serotypes identified in humans. They have received significant attention as an in vitro and in vivo gene delivery vehicle due to their well-defined virology/biology, viral genetic stability, high gene transduction efficiency, and ability to be produced in a large scale. Ad-vectors are used as delivery vehicles to express transgenes, to express siRNAs for gene silencing, and/or CRISPR/Cas and designer nucleases systems for genome editing. Even though Ad-vectors offer many advantages as ...

SCALES: A System For Predicting Interaction And Function In Bacteria Using Co-Variation

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 08:25:27 GMT

SUMMARY The current understanding of how proteins interact to create collective functional groups (e.g., complexes, pathways, meta-pathways) is incomplete and difficult to elucidate. Therefore, the current methods used to characterize/identify the hierarchy of proteins in biology are based on an understanding of only a minimal number of cases/examples. Inventors at the University of Chicago have developed a technique to derive the emergent organization/nature of bacterial biology using a data-driven and unbiased procedure to analyze protein co-variations across a broad diversity of species...

Sulfur-Containing Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 13:09:07 GMT

SUMMARY Organic‐inorganic hybrid sulfur‐containing materials show promising properties for a variety of applications (e.g., superconductors, thermoelectrics, etc.). Efficient synthesis of such compounds—especially those containing dithiolene‐type ligands—has historically been challenging due to general instability of the constituent components. As such, prior demonstrations of dithiolene‐tin/silicon agents have been limited to use in the synthesis of molecular complexes. This invention addresses prior shortcomings by developing and synthesized dithiolene tin/silicon precursors ...

Drug Repurposing To Inhibit Nsp15 Endoribonuclease/NendU From SARS-CoV-2

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 12:49:55 GMT

SUMMARY There have been significant research efforts to develop various COVID-19 treatments. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus i.e. SARS-CoV-2, which has spread rapidly throughout the world and was declared a global pandemic by WHO in March 2020. Nsp15 is a nidoviral RNA uridylate-specific endoribonuclease (NendoU) carrying a C-terminal catalytic domain belonging to the EndoU family. Nsp15 enzyme is essential in coronavirus biology and there is a need for inhibiting Nsp15 activity to provide therapeutic interventions, particula...

Nanomaterial Based Intracellular Drug Delivery Of Therapeutic Peptides

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 12:19:36 GMT

SUMMARY Intracellular delivery involves introduction of small biomolecules, nucleic acids, proteins, synthetic nanomaterials and drugs into the cell. There is a lot of focus on targeted intracellular delivery for improved therapy of cancer and intracellular infections. Intracellular delivery of various drugs can sharply increase the efficiency of various treatment protocols. The inventors have developed polymersome nanoparticles to deliver cargo such as stapled peptides. The proof of concept particle is a CD19 Fab linked to the polymersome through a cysteine linker and the stapled p...

Development Of A Novel Anti-fibrotic (siRNA Talin2) That Reverses Existing Fibrosis

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 12:57:40 GMT

SUMMARY Fibrosis is involved in 45% of deaths in the United States, and no treatment exists to reverse the progression of the disease. Fibrosing diseases include pulmonary fibrosis, congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and end-stage kidney disease. Studies of myofibroblast differentiation have revealed the importance of properties of cell adhesion and how dysregulation of this process can lead to scar tissue formation and fibrosis in the lungs. The inventors found monocytes and fibroblasts cultured on soft surfaces cannot be differentiated into myofibroblasts, which are cells key to ...

A Biodegradable Packaging Material Made From Hybrid Hydrogel of Starch, Granular, Chitosan Fiber, and Polyacrylamide

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:42:00 GMT

SUMMARY Starch and chitosan are abundant, natural, complex polysaccharides. In plants, starch is the carbohydrate energy reserve. Chitosan is the de-acetylated form of chitin, a structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of arthropods. The invention is a new composite material that consists of starch granular, chitosan fiber, and polyacrylamide composited as a hybrid hydrogel with improved mechanical properties compared to starch or chitosan alone. Chitosan is miscible in a starch granular matrix. Chitosan, usually only able to be evenly dispersed in acid, has a unique...

Functionalized Molybdenum Disulfide Membranes For Water Filtration

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:17:40 GMT

SUMMARY The invention is a method to fabricate membranes made from exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) for improved separation performance and membrane stability. Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are undergoing widespread adoption in desalination applications as global water supplies are becoming increasingly stressed, forcing consumers to turn to more challenged water sources—brackish- and seawaters, for example—to meet demand. RO membranes require significant energy inputs to remove the salt entrained in these source waters, however, rendering the technology economical ...

Improved Photovoltaic Materials Based on Alpha-Substituted Perylene Diimide

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 09:33:22 GMT

SUMMARY Use of organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells are a developing energy technology which shows significant potential to become a cheap source of electric energy production even when compared to silicon-based solar cells. As compared to silicon solar cells, OPV cells weigh less since they can be constructed in thinner configurations, cost less to manufacture, exhibit a higher degree of flexibility/versatility, and their use/fabrication have a lower impact on the environment. These qualities make OPV cells good candidates for industrial applications in the textile, vehicle, ...

Hydrocarbon-Stapled Peptides To Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Viral Infection

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 09:15:13 GMT

SUMMARY The SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads by binding its spike protein to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) protein expressed at the cell surface of lungs, arteries, heart, kidney, and intestines. The inventors have developed 12 hydrocarbon stapled peptides that bind to the viral spike protein. Delivered by nanoparticles, these peptides mimic the human ACE2 receptor, which SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein binds to in order to enter the host cell. Their single and double-stapled hydrocarbon peptides maintain their secondary shape at a wide range of biologically r...

Functionalized Metal Carbides For Energy Storage

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:20:53 GMT

SUMMARY The invention is a novel synthetic approach for surface modification of two-dimensional (2D) metal carbides (MXenes) using molten inorganic salts. Surface modification of MXenes have been hypothesized to affect material aspects ranging from structural properties to electron transport but—prior to this invention—no experimental method existed to modify surface functionalization of MXenes in a controlled manner. This invention enables unprecedented atomic‐level control over the surface-group functionalization of MXenes with demonstrated synthesis of more than twenty ...

Improved Electrochemical Li Extraction From Seawater And Other Dilute Li Sources Using Mixed Li An Na Layered Oxides

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 13:18:05 GMT

SUMMARY Use of Li in electric vehicle batteries, portable electronic devices, and stationary energy storage applications has expanded significantly in recent years, and this growth is expected to continue to increase. The primary commercial technology used to recover Li is its extraction from concentrated brine water (83% of the market). This technology utilizes solar energy in arid climates to evaporate water taking up to 12-18 months to complete, followed by a multi-step chemical treatment process and precipitation of Li2CO3. This time consuming/multi-step process has limited ...

Lamellar Iron Sulfides with Embedded Cations for Electrical Energy Storage

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:34:20 GMT

SUMMARY Electrodes in supercapacitor devices (computers, electric/fossil fuel burning vehicles, and renewable energy storage) and electrodes in lithium (Li) and sodium (Na) batteries (portable electronic devices, grid energy storage applications, and electric vehicles) can all benefit from improvements in their ability to store/produce energy/charge in a more efficient and sustainable manner. Various electrode materials have been investigated to improve upon supercapacitor and Li/Na battery performance, including pyrite and other iron sulfide (FeS) based materials (e.g., mackinawite, smythi...

Ergonomic Arm Board For Transradial Approach Catherization Procedures

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 12:21:35 GMT

SUMMARY Cardiac catherization, or angiography, is a procedure used to gain access to a patient's arterial system, and is used to treat and diagnose many heart conditions. While the transfermoral (through groin) approach has been more prevalent, the transradial (through wrist) approach (TRA) is gaining popularity due to lower complication rates. Hesitation to adopt TRA for most cases may stem from a lack of familiarity with patient positioning, catheter manipulation, ergonomics, and other factors. There is currently no uniform approach for setting up or performing...

Nanotraps for the containment and clearance of SARS-CoV-2

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 07:18:45 GMT

SUMMARY Inventors devised a nanomedicine termed “Nanotraps” that can completely capture and eliminate SARS-CoV-2 by triggering macrophages to engulf and clear the virus without becoming infected. Ex vivo lung perfusion system. Zero toxicity was found in mice as evidenced by histological analysis of heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney, as well as blood chemistry and blood cell counts. The Nanotraps have the potential to be formulated into a nasal spray or inhaler for easy administration and direct delivery to the respiratory system, as an oral or ocular liquid, or subcutaneo...

Machine Learning for Early Detection of Hypoxic‑Ischemic Brain Injury After Cardiac Arrest

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 08:15:13 GMT

SUMMARY Despite the many advances in the field of resuscitation post cardiac arrest, hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) leaves many survivors with severe neurological disability. Patients who remain comatose at 24–72 h or more after resuscitation undergo neuroprognostication, aimed to detect signs of HIBI and predict projected long-term neurological function. Establishing whether a patient who survived a cardiac arrest has suffered HIBI shortly after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) can be of paramount importance for informing families and identifying patients who may...

Monolithic (Binder Free) Carbon-Based Bioelectronic Devices for Biomodulation and Electroceutical Applications

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 10:26:45 GMT

SUMMARY The global electroceuticals market is expected to reach $25+ billion by 2021. Modern biolectronics with multi-scale structures are used extensively for drug delivery, biosensing, and biological modulations. However, macroscopic bioelectronic devices are usually rigid and mechanically invasive to cells and tissues. Therefore, nanostructuring of the bioelectronics surfaces represents a promising way to improve the performance of these devices. Electrode surface coating with carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, is widely used to reduce the ...

Tumor-Specific Cancer Vaccine Adjuvant Formulation

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 10:57:43 GMT

SUMMARY Many cancer vaccines fail due to insufficient CD8+ T cell targeting. To save patient lives, oncologists need tumor-specific vaccines that increase CD8+ T cell response. The inventors developed and validated an intra-tumoral vaccine adjuvant for muringe melanoma. They used a p(ManTLR7) glyco-polymer to chemically link to tumor cell binding moieties (i.e., (f(ab)2, fAb, scFv, etc.). Their adjuvant conjugation Anti-p(Man-TLR7) augmented tissue localization and biodistribution. Anti-p(Man-TLR7) builds on earlier use of p(Man-TLR7) as a priming agent for strong CD8+ T...

Novel Material for Skin Wound Closure and Scar Prevention

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 07:11:04 GMT

SUMMARY Burn injuries are among the most devastating of all injuries and are the fourth most common type of trauma worldwide. In the United States, there are 1.1 million burn injuries which require medical attention each year. These injuries often result in significant scarring having a negative impact on the individual and the skin loses some functionality as well. Therefore, there is an urgent need for improved therapies to treat these injuries. The inventors have developed a method to overcome scarring via inhibiting collagen synthesis by blocking transforming growt...

SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibodies Against Spike and Internal Proteins for Therapeutics and Diagnostics

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:01:49 GMT

SUMMARY As of February 2021, there have been over 107 million cases and over 2 million deaths caused worldwide by the novel virus SARS-CoV-2. Few vaccination and treatment approaches are currently in use with many in development. The inventors isolated antibodies specific to spike and internal proteins of SARS-CoV-2 from a unique cohort of COVID-19 patients. The antibodies target non-overlapping epitopes and most afford neutralization activity. The product is a panel of over 100 antibodies that bind various SARS-CoV-2 proteins and can be used in both therapeutic and diagnostic application...

Human Brain-Inspired Algorithm for Neural Network “Memory”

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:54:28 GMT

SUMMARY Catastrophic forgetting or interference is the inability of an artificial neural network (ANN) to learn multiple sequential tasks without a degradation in the accuracy of a previously learned task. When an ANN learns a new task, it disrupts connection weights that were important for solving a previous task. Current solutions are limited in the extent to which they boost sequential task accuracy or require high computational overhead. Synaptic stabilization weighs the importance of each synapse to determine which to override when learning a new task and context dependent gating uses...

A Platform for Developing High-Affinity Selective Binding Proteins to Short and Flexible Peptide Motifs

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 18:50:54 GMT

SUMMARY Short and flexible peptide motifs such as GPCRs and histone tails are attractive targets for therapeutic development, but the generation of traditional antibodies against these targets remains a challenge because of unfavorable binding kinetics. The inventors developed a novel affinity reagent scaffold particularly applicable to binding short and flexible peptide motifs consisting of a first capture domain that facilitates specific protein-protein interaction between the probe and target and a second enhancer domain that enhances the affinity to the target. The two connected domain...

Wearable Microphone Jammer

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:12:09 GMT

SUMMARY With the increased prevalence of smart devices that monitor speech, such as Alexa and Google Assistant, microphone jamming has become an area of increasing consumer interest. However, current jammers require users to point the jammer in the direction of the microphone, which limits their utility since the location of a smart device is not always known. UChicago inventors have created a wearable device that jams microphones at any angle within the wearer's vicinity. The jammer prototype is circular bracelet of ultrasonic transducers that emit signals that are silent to th...

UV Disinfecting System to Facilitate N95 Respirator Re-Use

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 14:10:36 GMT

SUMMARY Currently there are several solutions under consideration for disinfecting N95 respirators for re-use, with UV-C as the preferred solution because of ease of deployment and widespread applicability. Problematically, present UV-C disinfection solutions are limited by shadowing, which prevents exposure of the masks to the required effective dose of UV irradiation. The inventors utilized UV-C light field modeling and extensive test measurements to develop a proprietary arrangement of lamps for disinfecting. The configuration eliminates shadowing, allowing for full irradiation and disi...

Novel Nano-Formulation For Multi-TLR Agonists To Boost Immune Responses Against Solid Tumors

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 10:54:12 GMT

SUMMARY Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are considered promising alternatives for the estimated 50 – 75% of all cancer patients who are non-responsive to checkpoint inhibitors, and immune activation is enhanced upon stimulation of two distinct TLRs. However, the use of multiple TLR agonists as an effective therapeutic strategy is presently limited by the tendency of these agonists to diffuse systemically. Their distinct PK/PD profiles and different diffusion rates hinder local efficacy and increase toxicity. Nano-encapsulation of TLR agonists has been explored for local immune acti...

Nanopatterned Silicone Substrate for Stabilizing Chiral Hematic Liquid Crystals in Single Crystal Blue Phase

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 15:58:37 GMT

SUMMARY Blue phase liquid crystalline structures are highly desirable for applications such as electro-optical devices (e.g. display screens) because of light reflection that includes wavelengths not possible with other crystals and fast optical response rates as compared to current materials. However, widespread application of these materials is limited by narrow temperature range and poor texture. The inventors used molecular simulations to design homeotropic patterning on a planar silicone substrate that can seed and anchor chiral hematic liquid crystals into a specified con...

Small Molecule Metabolism Potentiators That Activate NRF2-Mediated Cytoprotective Transcriptional Programs

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:09:59 GMT

SUMMARY The KEAP1-NRF2 pathway is implicated in a wide range of diseases and as such, is a highly sought-after drug target. Problematically, past therapeutic approaches failed due to safety and toxicity of electrophilic NRF2 activators. The inventors developed a novel strategy to indirectly activate NRF2 using a non-covalent metabolism modulating approach. This indirect activation approach can achieve the same therapeutic effects, while potentially alleviating safety and toxicity concerns of covalent inhibitors. The invention is a series of small molecules that induce the initiation...

Thermonobodies: A Novel Thermostable FN3 Binding Protein Scaffold

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 07:06:21 GMT

SUMMARY Monobodies are synthetic binding proteins based off a human fibronectin type 3 (FN3) scaffold that have demonstrated their utility in applications such as the modification of enzyme specificity and therapeutics for topologically challenging targets. Thermostability limits shelf life, oral bioavailability in therapeutic applications, and high temperature industrial reaction engineering applications. “TherMonobodies” are Monobodies engineered from a hyperthermophillic archaeon FN3 scaffold with further structural modifications to boost thermostability over the origi...

A Metal Organic Framework (MOF) Containing Nitrogen Donor Ligands For Highly Efficient Catalysis of Organic Reactions

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 12:17:01 GMT

SUMMARY Pyridyl moieties are highly useful in catalytic applications because of their robust redox stability, metallic coordination versatility, and functionalization ease. However, their application is limited due to poor solubility and susceptibility to degradation. As such, catalysts that address these limitations would have a high utility in a wide range of organic reactions. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have previously been shown to mitigate some of the disadvantages of solid-state catalysts, but have only been applied in limited applications, and never with nitrogen donating moiet...

Library E: Highly Optimized Recombinant Antibody Phage-Display Library

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:40:05 GMT

SUMMARY Using recombinant antibody libraries for drug development has numerous advantages over animal immunization including: faster production times, favorable expression, and not being limited by antigen immunogenicity. However, this approach is limited by the significant effort and resources required to generate such a library. The inventors developed a novel 10^10 member recombinant phage displayed antibody library (library E) based on the highly stable 4D5 scaffold. The library was designed to have biased diversity in the complementary determining regions (CDR) H3 and L3 based off agg...

Process for the Low Cost and Non-Toxic Isolation of Cellulose Nanofibers from Grass Biomass

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 13:54:24 GMT

SUMMARY Cellulose nanofibers are a class of nanocellulose that are favored in materials applications because of their desirable chemical, mechanical, and environmental properties. However, the isolation of these materials from biomass remains a challenge because of toxic chemicals and high-energy specialized machines required. The inventors have developed a new process to isolate cellulose nanofibers from the well characterized grass biomass source miscanthus X. Giganteas. The process uses cheap, non-toxic chemicals, does not require any mechanical treatment, and produces materials with en...

Peripheral Blood-Based Proteinomic Test for The Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 11:18:35 GMT

SUMMARY The current clinical standards for diagnosing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) include lung biopsies and radiographic examination, which cannot reliably discriminate between IPF patients and those with similarly presenting lung diseases. The inventors used a multianalyte protein system to assay levels of 49 plasma proteins in a cohort of 74 IPF patients and 53 control patients. The inventors demonstrated that relative levels of the proteins: MMP7, IGFBP1, and TNFRSF1A can be used to delineate between IPF patients, healthy patients, and patients with similarly presenting lu...

A Versatile and High-throughput Assay for the Directed Evolution of Reverse Transcriptases to Profile Epigenetic Modifications With NGS

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 10:06:22 GMT

SUMMARY Engineered reverse transcriptases (RTs) to profile epigenetic modifications have numerous advantages over traditional antibody enrichment methods including: single base pair resolution, lower sample quantities needed, and lower noise and background interference. Problematically, current RT engineering strategies are cumbersome, low throughput, and cannot be versatilely applied to multiple types of epigenetic modifications. The inventors developed a fluorescence-based assay in which a mutation at a specific base pair in an RNA transcript results in the induction of fluorescence. By ...

A Telescoping Catheter System for Angiography of the Left Internal Mammary Artery From a Right Transradial Approach

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 15:01:09 GMT

SUMMARY Pedicled left internal mammary artery (LIMA) bypass grafts are performed in over 90% of coronary artery bypass graft surgeries. The grafted vasculature potentially requires future angiographic surveillance or catheterization, with the right transradial approach being the safest and most ergonomically favored vascular access approach. Despite this, there is currently no uniform and efficient method to complete the catheterization of the LIMA using this safer and favored approach due to tortuosity, opposing angles, and loss of torque response. The invention is a catheter system for t...

Controllable Composition Ternary Group III-V Alloy Quantum Dots and Synthesis Methods

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 07:55:09 GMT

SUMMARY Group III-V quantum dots (QDs) are useful for applications such as photovoltaics and display technologies because of their direct band gaps and favorable electronic properties. The bandgaps of these types of semiconductors can be precisely tuned by adjusting the composition of the ternary alloys. As an alternative to traditional epitaxial QDs, solution processed colloidal QDs can provide a simpler, lower-cost manufacturing process for bottom-up assembly of electronic and optical devices. Precise tuning of alloy composition of colloidal QDs has however been a challenge. The i...

A Urine Sample Elisa Assay for the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Children

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:38:21 GMT

SUMMARY Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in 2-3% of children and pre-disposes those impacted to various health ailments including cardiovascular, metabolic, behavioral, and cognitive problems. The current standard for diagnosis is a sleep study which is expensive and labor intensive, thereby delaying patient diagnosis and access to treatment. The inventors developed a liquid chromatography and tandem mass-spectroscopy approach that allows for the deep interrogation of low abundance proteins. They used this approach to screen urine samples age 2-12 of children both with (N=14) and witho...

Q11: a Highly Homogeneous Multivalent and Single-component Vaccine Adjuvating Platform

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 12:57:48 GMT

SUMMARY There is a limited choice in clinically approved adjuvants for vaccine development. Current solutions are themselves immunogenic, causing injection site swelling and reactions. The inventors developed a 15 amino acid peptide adjuvant (Q11) that forms a highly homogeneous network of laterally assembled beta sheet fivers in aqueous solution. When tested in the absence of vaccine antigen, Q11 does not elicit an immune response. The invention is a novel peptide-based vaccine adjuvant platform where the antigen is conjugated to Q11, forming a single-component antigen-adjuvant vaccine. ...

Small Molecules That Improve Post-cardiac Arrest Outcomes by Protecting Against Mitochondrial Damage

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 12:40:11 GMT

SUMMARY Post-CPR cardiogenic shock is associated with hemodynamic instability and poor neurological outcomes. The pathophysiology is unknown and current treatment approaches merely restore basal cardiac function and do not protect against longer term damage. The inventors demonstrated that the main mechanism leading to post-CPR cardiogenic shock is myocardial stunning, which is specifically caused by mitochondrial damage. This mitochondrial damage is perpetuated by decreased electron transport chain complex I function, and the associated formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ...

Novel Use of a Bet Bromodomain Protein Inhibitor (JQ1) for the Treatment of Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 11:56:04 GMT

SUMMARY Embryonic and fetal hemoglobin have a higher affinity for oxygen than their adult counterpart, and as such, gene editing techniques to revert red blood cells to produce infant or fetal hemoglobin are being explored for the treatment of sickle cell anemia. Problematically, these techniques require the use of toxic and side-effect ridden chemotherapy to deplete unmodified red blood cells. It is known that transcription factor binding (GATA1) induces the forced looping responsible for the shift in red blood cell production of infant and fetal hemoglobin to adult hemoglobin and t...

Residual Bubble Control to Boost Ablative Ultrasound Efficacy

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:07:50 GMT

SUMMARY Residual bubble clouds decrease the therapeutic efficacy of ablative ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound pulses can be used to destroy residual bubbles, however constructive interference limits simultaneous imaging and monitoring. The inventors developed a method to use plane wave B-mode imaging for the simultaneous generation of bubble deleting pulses and real time imaging of residual bubble clouds. The product is a software package for the simultaneous real-time monitoring and deletion of residual bubbles during ablative ultrasound procedures. The software is compatible with a wide r...

A Primary 3D Culture Model for the High Throughput Ex-vivo Modeling of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 11:59:49 GMT

SUMMARY Current high throughput screens for ovarian cancer drug discovery use monolayer cell culture on plastic, and problematically cannot accurately model the cross communication between the cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment that occur in vivo. The lack of effective models for ovarian cancer drug screening is responsible for the high attrition rate from screen hits to potent in vivo drug leads. The inventors developed a heterotypic, 3D organotypic culture system that enables evaluation of adhesion, migration, invasion, and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells in the context of...

A High Throughput Microfluidic Chip With Precise Environmental Control for Cell and Organoid Culture

invention@uchicago.edu — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 11:46:15 GMT

SUMMARY Microfluidic chips are useful in applications such as drug discovery assays because of their ability to replicate dynamic cellular environments in a high-throughput and automatable fashion. Despite this, currently available chips are limited by experimental variation, inability to track single cell behavior, and the requirement to custom design a unique chip for each set of experiments. The inventors developed a novel microfluidic technology that uses passive diffusion for nutrient and ligand delivery to the cultured cells. This enables delivery of a wide range of dynamic sig...

A Sensitive and High Throughput Method for the Rapid Quantification of Radiation Induced DNA Damage

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 15:19:54 GMT

SUMMARY Current high throughput assays to quantify radiation induced DNA damage are limited by low sensitivity and cannot reliably detect radiation induced damage lower than 10Gy (J/Kg), despite the fact that doses as low as 0.5Gy can confer elevated cancer risk. Improved assays are highly desirable to triage patients exposed to radiation, since increased cancer risk can be conferred even without the onset of symptoms. DNA damage caused by radiation is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) that oxidize DNA nitrogenous bases, resulting in base mispairings and ultimately oncogenic mutati...

Surgical Mallet for Simultaneous Positioning and Imaging of Biopsy Needles

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 14:39:18 GMT

SUMMARY Surgical biopsy needles are traditionally inserted by hand or with a mallet and the positioning of the needle is then verified and adjusted using periodic X-ray or CT imaging. However, imaging cannot be done through the surgical mallet or surgeon’s hand, which means the needle must be positioned blindly. This blind needle positioning prolongs procedure times and increases patient and provider exposure to radiation. The inventors developed a novel surgical mallet design with a mallet head center that is translucent to X-Ray imaging. This allows for biopsy needles to simu...

A Highly Efficient Spatial and Temporal Method for Isotopic Separation

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 12:38:06 GMT

SUMMARY Present isotope separation methods utilize laser beams, centrifugation, and diffusion to exploit subtle differences in physical properties. However, these methods are relatively inefficient and require multiple successive steps to achieve desired enrichment. The angle at which molecules elastically scatter from a crystalline surface is dependent on both the velocity and angle of the incident beam. Based on this, the inventors devised an isotopic separation scheme in which a supersonic beam with a specific velocity and velocity distribution is directed at a crystalline substance. Th...

Potentiating the Microbiome for the Prevention of Enteric Bacterial Infection in Livestock

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 13:30:46 GMT

SUMMARY Approximately 1/5 of antibiotic resistant infections in humans can be traced back to food and animals. The incidence of these infections is perpetuated by the widespread prophylactic use of antibiotics on farms. As such, there is an urgent need for alternative methods of preventing bacterial infection in livestock. It was previously assumed that differences in susceptibility of animals to enteric infection was caused by differences in adaptive and innate immunity. The inventors discovered that in addition to traditional immunity, the bacteria Clostridiales protect the host from exo...

Novel Compounds for the Potentiation of Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus Aureus

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 11:51:23 GMT

SUMMARY Currently there is no available vaccine for the prophylaxis of S. Aureus mediated infections such as MRSA, and antibiotics such as beta lactams and oxacillin are most commonly used for treatment. However, widespread and repeated use of these antibiotics is promoting treatment resistant infection. The autoregulated VraSR operon is conserved among all S. Aureus strains and mediates a cell wall stress response implicated in antibiotic resistance. The inventors developed a reporter assay for VraSR-mediated transcription and screened the antimicrobial focused 13,840 member Life Chemical...

siRNA/shRNA Therapy for the Sensitization of Treatment-resistant Solid Tumors to Chemo and Radiation Therapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 14:40:25 GMT

SUMMARY Adjuvant radiation therapy post-surgery remains largely ineffective, with just 5% of patients showing a survival benefit. Small molecule JAK inhibitors have shown efficacy in the clinic at treating these patients, yet problematically this approach is plagued by off-target toxicities and eventual development of treatment resistance. The inventors used an siRNA screen of 89 different genes downstream of the JAK/STAT pathway in 14 different cancer cell lines to identify specific genes responsible for radiation resistance in tumors. They identified a panel of interferon (IFN)-stimulate...

Wide-field Super-resolution Imaging With Femtosecond Time Resolution

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 13:52:23 GMT

SUMMARY Optical imaging techniques are limited by diffraction or acquisition time, making imaging through solid materials at the molecular level particularly challenging. As such, current spectroscopy approaches are significantly limited in the resolution of the images captured. The inventors developed a novel optical resonance imaging technique that uses two laser pulses to excite the subject, and a third laser pulse stimulates optical emission. Tilting the third pulse creates time delays between the top and bottom of the pulse, resulting in the pulse interacting with different lateral sp...

Rad51 Inhibitors for Sensitization to Chemotherapy and Radiation

invention@uchicago.edu — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 06:47:50 GMT

SUMMARY The Rad51 enzyme is over-expressed in many cancers and promotes chemotherapy and radiation resistance by facilitating the homologous recombination necessary for DNA lesion repair. Current therapies that target RAD51 are plagued by significant off-target effects and toxicity. Current RAD51 inhibitors block the enzyme’s role in oncogenic homologous recombination, but problematically also inhibit the enzyme from binding and stabilizing single stranded DNA (ssDNA) during replication. The inventors developed a novel class of RAD51 inhibitors that inhibit homologous recombina...

Single-shot UV-Vis Multidimensional Spectrophotometer

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 11:25:41 GMT

SUMMARY Current UV-Vis protocols require long acquisition times which prevents the acquisition of data on electron dynamics. This in turn limits the resolution with which UV-Vis can be used for certain applications such as contaminant identification. The inventors developed a technology called Gradient-Assisted Photon Echo Spectroscopy (GRAPE), which acquires the entire 2D spectrum in a single laser shot using only conventional optics. The invention is a new UV-Vis instrument that acquires information on sample electron dynamics and therefore provides an additional “fing...

BACH1 Pathway Metastasis Signature for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 09:30:47 GMT

SUMMARY Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients are a clinically underserved group, with fewer therapy options available compared to other breast cancer patients and poorer survival statistics. Current breast cancer diagnostics are limited in resolution with TNBC patients, and as such, clinicians need additional tools to evaluate them. The inventors identified 30 genes that are downstream of the metastasis regulator, BACH1. These genes can stratify patients with the most lethal forms of TNBC. The invention is a prognostic gene signature for predicting relapse free survival in TNBC b...

Silicon Nanomaterials for Neuronal Cell Activation

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 12:54:47 GMT

SUMMARY Silicon is highly desirable for biomedical device applications because of its thermal and mechanical properties, as well as its biocompatibility. However, its practical application is presently limited by a lack of deformability and degradability. The inventors developed a novel amorphous silicon material that retains all the advantageous properties of silicon and is also deformable and degradable. The material is amenable to medical device nanotechnology applications such as tissue engineering for muscle and neuron growth and tissue specific electrical stimulation. The product is...

Therapeutic Exosomes for Multiple Sclerosis and Other Demyelinating Diseases

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 12:29:27 GMT

SUMMARY Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is caused by degradation of the protective myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Current MS therapies only stop the progression of this demyelination and do not promote the repair of the myelin sheath, which significantly limits their efficacy. The invention is a novel method for generating exosome-based therapies for the treatment of demyelinating disease, including MS. The inventors demonstrated that exosomes derived from dendritic cells can cross the blood brain barrier when delivered intranasally, relieve oxidative stres...

Engineered Protein G for Creating Multivalent, Bispecific Recombinant Antibody Affinity Reagents

invention@uchicago.edu — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 12:19:03 GMT

SUMMARY Antibody fragments such as Fabs have demonstrated their utility as research tools, diagnostics, and in therapeutic applications. However, the monovalent nature of Fabs and lack of avidity is particularly limiting for binding antigens at low concentration. The inventors engineered protein G to have higher affinity and specificity for Fabs as compared to native protein G and protein A. The engineered protein G variant also binds Fabs in a pH dependent fashion. The product is an engineered variant of protein G (eProtein G) that can be covalently tethered together and complexed ...

A Neural Network to Quantify in Situ Adaptive Immunity in Autoimmune Disorders

invention@uchicago.edu — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 18:22:36 GMT

SUMMARY Presently, the use of single cell methods such as RNA sequencing can identify rare inflammatory cellular populations that can be used for the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders. However, the scope of current technologies is limited in that they do not convey information on the architecture of the cellular inflammation and the organization of inflammatory cellular networks. The inventors developed a deep convolutional neural network that can analyze stained confocal microscopy images to determine immune cell proximity and shape, which are in turn revealing of a patient’s autoim...

Immune Modulatory Small Molecules for the Treatment of Sepsis and Autoimmune Diseases

invention@uchicago.edu — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 12:59:42 GMT

SUMMARY Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is an important cytokine that activates cell death programs in response to acute inflammation. TNFα inhibitors are currently used to treat a multitude of autoimmune diseases, but problematically they also inhibit beneficial TNFα functions such as combating infections and cancer surveillance. Therefore, inhibitors that selectively target TNFα-induced cytotoxicity while preserving desirable TNFα-mediated functions are needed. The inventors discovered that cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic doses of TNFα utilize different...

Novel Aqueous Chemical Stabilization Method for Proteins Based on the Diels-alder Reaction

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:53:00 GMT

SUMMARY Stabilization of therapeutic proteins and peptides is often necessary to improve pharmacokinetic properties and reduce proteolysis in vivo. However, pre-existing stabilization strategies require expensive catalysts or harsh reagents that prevent preservation of certain sterically challenging protein structures. The inventors found that the Diels-Alder reaction, when performed aqueously or in solid phase, can stabilize turn and loop peptides by macrocyclization. The invention is a method of stabilizing peptides through carbon-carbon bonds that works on sterically challenging struct...

A Surgical Stent for Impermeable Anastomoses

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:37 GMT

SUMMARY Anastomotic leak is a serious complication of gastrointestinal surgery, with consequences ranging from benign to life threatening. Treatment is costly and exposes patients to additional pain and risk. Current common anastomotic approaches include hand suturing and stapling, but there is a potential to reduce leak rates with a next-generation surgical approach. It is known that certain gut microbes can disrupt anastomotic healing by adhering to collagen left exposed by sutured and stapled anastomoses. The inventor developed a novel anastomotic technique that both mechanically minimi...

Computational Method to Design Simultaneous Radiation Treatment of Multiple Metastatic Lesions

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:30 GMT

SUMMARY Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SART) is the precise delivery of concentrated radiation beams to a tumor from different angles. Due to the cross interaction between beams, SART is rarely able to be applied in the simultaneous treatment of multiple metastatic lesions, despite the potential benefit to patients who have significant tumor burden at several sites. The investigators developed an algorithm that scores individual SART beam angles by the ratio of radiation dose delivered to the target tumor as compared to the surrounding healthy tissue. Beam angles that do not targ...

Neurophysiological Biomarker for Early ALS Detection

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:27 GMT

SUMMARY Presently, physicians rely on a costly and invasive battery of tests for diagnosing ALS. Early detection of ALS can improve patient survival and quality of life as well as promote access to investigational new drugs, and thus such a diagnostic is highly desirable. Lack of upper motor neural control is a hallmark of ALS. Intermuscular coherence quantifies the extent to which co-activated muscle groups are actuated at the same frequency of motor neuron impulse. The investigators showed it provides an objective metric of whether upper motor neural control of muscles is normal or aberr...

Method for Predicting Patient Prognosis and Tumor Biology From Genetic Analysis of Lymph Node Metastases

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:19 GMT

SUMMARY Lymph node metastases are a commonly occurring cancer pathology that in some patients indicate the disease spreading to distant organs, and in other patients indicate disease evolution to a more aggressive state predisposed to relapse. Current approaches to stratify patients based on these metastases focus on comparing the metastases to the primary tumor, rather than distinct molecular subtyping of the metastases themselves. This approach fails to effectively stratify and identify patients in need of more aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy. The investigators measured mRNA expression ...

Silicon Mesh for the Remote Modulation of Organ Electrical Activity

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:14 GMT

SUMMARY Electric organ stimulation has shown promise in the clinic for treating aberrant neurological and cardiac activity. Problematically, this approach is limited by the high risk associated with surgical or gene editing approaches to implant these stimulation systems. The inventors engineered a specifically doped silicone wire network on a flexible polymeric scaffold that can passively contour and adhere to an organ. The photoelectric properties of silicone material allow for organ activity to be modulated upon irradiation of sub-UV light through the material. The invention is a silic...

CAR T-Cells That Recognize Cancer-specific Glycopeptides Across Multiple Cancer Types

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:13 GMT

SUMMARY The development of cancer immunotherapies is limited by a lack of targetable tumor antigens. Most currently targeted antigens have basal expression in healthy tissue, which results in potentially life threatening off-target effects. Moreover, targeting a single antigen alone can lead to the development of therapeutic resistance. A COSMC loss-of-function mutation occurs in 1-3% of all cancer cases and results in the truncated glycosylation of serine and threonine amino acid residues in the tumor tissue but not in the surrounding healthy tissue. The investigators isolated an scFv tha...

A Low Dose, Multi-drug Cocktail for the Treatment of Metastatic and Resistant Breast Cancers

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:11 GMT

SUMMARY An estimated 20-30% of breast cancer patients suffer from metastatic recurrence, which can be perpetuated by an overreliance on high doses of a single drug during initial treatment. In addition to promoting recurrence, ths treatment approach can also reduce drug sensitivity during relapse. The Raf kinase inhibitor protein, RKIP, has previously been shown to block metastasis, but its in vivo kinase targets were unknown. The investigators used a combined mass spectroscopy and genomic approach to identify a RKIP-regulated network of target kinases involved in a metastatic signaling ca...

Clinical Risk Stratification (CRS) for Colorectal Cancer Metastases

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:03 GMT

SUMMARY Metastases are the leading cause of death in solid state tumor patients and as such are commonly viewed as widespread and incurable. Despite this, an estimated 40-60% of patients only develop limited metastases that are amenable to surgical resection and chemotherapy. Therefore, a molecular basis for metastasis classification would have high clinical utility in better informing patient treatment plans and predicting outcomes. The inventors used algorithmic analysis of miRNA and mRNA networks in 93 colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases to classify metastatic disease into ...

Doped Silicon Nanowires for the Selective Modulation of Single-cells

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:00 GMT

SUMMARY Electric stimulation of organs with implantable devices has demonstrated clinical utility for the treatment of a variety of diseases such as cardiac arrythmia. However, use of these technologies remains high risk, requiring either surgical implantation or permanent gene editing. The inventors synthesized silicon nanowires that are doped with gold catalyst that when irradiated with cell penetrating sub-UV light, initiate a specific cellular response in excitable cells. The wires are targeted to a specific cell population by attenuating wire surface functionalization, can be delivere...

Broadly Neutralizing Neuraminidase Antibodies for Prophylactic and Therapeutic Treatment of Influenza

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:42:58 GMT

SUMMARY One of the weaknesses of current influenza vaccines is seasonable variability in efficacy, which is predominantly caused by escape mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) antigen, the main target of the vaccine-induced immune response. Only 1-2% of vaccine-induced antibodies target the neuraminidase (NA) antigen, despite this antigen being less susceptible to mutation and more conserved between viral strains. The inventors isolated 15 antibodies specific to influenza NA from 12 donors to characterize the immune response against this viral antigen. They found that these antibodies neutr...

Method of Growth Factor Delivery for Accelerated Wound Healing

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:42:43 GMT

SUMMARY Appearance of ulcers and slow wound healing are a hallmark symptom of several autoimmune disorders including type II diabetes. Current treatment approaches rely on antiquated bandaging, however bulkiness and inconvenience often result in low patient compliance. Growth factor-based therapies have demonstrated promise in clinical trials, but the high dosing required confers a dramatic increase in cancer risk. The inventors pinpointed the specific domains of the extracellular matrix protein, laminin, that promiscuously bind to multiple types of growth factors with high affinity. They ...

Simultaneous Acquisition of Myocyte Oxygen Usage and Cardiac Strain Data in a Single MRI Scan

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:42:40 GMT

SUMMARY Abnormal myocardial oxygen usage can predict heart attack or heart transplant rejection before the onset of clinical symptoms. However, there are currently no robust and reliable methods for globally measuring myocardial oxygen use and tissue strain despite the capability of this diagnostic tool to offer patients earlier access to lifesaving care. The inventors have developed an MRI method to quantify global myocardial oxygen usage and tissue strain based on differences in transient magnetic susceptibility between oxygenated and non-oxygenated hemoglobin. The method allows for the...

A Prognostic Gene Signature for Predicting Chemotherapy Sensitivity and Patient Survival in ER-negative Breast Cancer

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:42:24 GMT

SUMMARY ER-negative (ER-) breast cancers make up 20% of all breast cancer diagnosis. However, no gene signature exists for predicting drug sensitivity and prognosis. Therefore, the clinical standard remains treating patients with generic chemotherapy despite possible drug resistance. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) regulates many genes that contribute to tumor viability, aggressiveness, and recurrence suggesting that a network of GR target genes would be a better indicator of GR activity in TNBC than GR expression alone. The inventors analyzed 462 potential GR-modulated genes to identify a ne...

Depalmitoylation Chemical Probes

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:42:16 GMT

SUMMARY Protein palmitoylation is a post translational modification of cystine protein residues, the dysregulation of which is implicated in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancers, and Huntington’s. Despite the importance of palmitoylation, the regulation of the enzymes that control it is poorly understood. The inventors designed an enzyme substrate analogue probe that can monitor the activity of protein depalmitoylases, the enzymes that catalyze palmitoylation. The probe fluoresces upon enzyme modification. The invention is a fluorescence assay that can monitor the activ...

Activity-responsive Split RNA Polymerase Platform for Biosensors and Gene Therapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:41:58 GMT

SUMMARY An understanding of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is critical to uncovering new disease pathophysiology and for developing small molecule and antibody treatments. Problematically, current approaches to assay PPIs are limited by sensitivity, signal to noise ratio, and the need to carefully optimize the assay for each new application. The inventors engineered a new class of PPI sensor, activity-responsive split RNA polymerase (AR), which is a split RNA polymerase/protein fusion. When the fused proteins interact in close proximity, the RNA polymerase fully assembles to produce a...

Injectable Calcium Phosphate Amorphous Nanoparticle Pastes for Orthopedic Applications

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:41:38 GMT

SUMMARY Calcium phosphates have chemical similarity to bones and teeth, and as such, these compounds are highly desired for orthopedic and dental implant applications. However, current formulations have limited bioavailability and compressive strength, which limits the clinical utility of these materials. The inventors developed a method to synthesize polymer stabilized calcium phosphate nanoparticles. The synthesis protocol yields amorphous nanoparticles, which have improved bioavailability and compressive strength over alternatively synthesized nanoparticles. The product is a polymer st...

Method for the in Vitro Generation of Trabecular Bone

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:41:33 GMT

SUMMARY Trabecular (Cancellous) bone is a porous bone found in the spine and hip and is desirable for bone grafting because of its osteogenic properties. Given the difficulty of harvesting bone from the hip and spine, a method for the in vitro generation of trabecular bone is highly desired but all prior attempts have failed. The investigators discovered that when the Clnc3 gene is knocked out in osteoblasts, the resulting cells produce bone in the trabecular pattern with a mineral density high enough for grafting applications. The product is a method for generating trabecular bone in a b...

Enhanced Vaccine Efficiency via an Antigen Targeting, Immune Stimulating Co-polymer

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:41:31 GMT

SUMMARY Vaccine efficacy is limited due to the inability to deliver in-tact antigens to antigen presenting (APC) dendritic cells (DCs) while simultaneously activating the cells in a non-toxic fashion. Adjuvants have been used in an attempt to overcome the issues of vaccine efficacy, however they are poorly soluble which results in limited immunological activity. The inventors developed a co-polymer, p(Man-TLR), composed of (1) a novel TLR7 agonist for DC activation and (2) mannose for targeting antigen to DC surface receptors. Any antigen can be functionalized with the copolymer, ultimatel...

Self-assembling Nanofibril Particles for Controlled Release of IV and SUBQ Therapeutics

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:41:25 GMT

SUMMARY Clinically approved methods for the controlled release of oral therapies have demonstrated their efficacy in reducing required dosage, administration frequency, and side effects, thereby boosting patient compliance. Despite these successes, no solution is available for the controlled release of intravenously and subcutaneously administered therapies. The inventors synthesized copolymers composed of hydrophilic PEG and hydrophobic oligo(ethyl sulfide) (OES) blocks which self-assemble in aqueous solution to form two or three dimensional high aspect ratio nanofibril structures. Drug c...

Genetic Signature to Predict NAC Efficacy in Treating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:41:19 GMT

SUMMARY N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is commonly used to break down mucous and lessen lung function decline but has traditionally shown low efficacy in treating patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The only two FDA approved drugs to treat IPF have severe side effects, meaning there is an urgent need to find alternative treatment options. The inventors identified two genes, TOLLIP and MUC5B, that play an important role in protecting the lungs from an autoimmune response. They investigated whether mutations in these specific genes were related to patient response to NAC therapy. The...

Novel Platform for Allosterically Modifying Enzyme Specificty

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:41:10 GMT

SUMMARY Fine tuning enzyme specificity is desired for industrial catalysis. Enzymes lacking structural characterization or favorable recombinant expression are not amenable to traditional directed evolution or de novo design approaches. “Monobodies” are synthetic binding proteins based off a human FN3 scaffold. When Monobodies bind allosterically near the enzyme active site, they can block undesired side reactions, thereby fine-tuning enzyme specificity. This platform for specificity enhancer generation uses a yeast or phage displayed Monobody library that can be biopanned aga...

A Combined Therapy and Imaging Beam Dose Algorithm for Optimal Image-guided Radiation Therapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:40:49 GMT

SUMMARY kV radiation dose for imaging tumors is useful for direct monitoring and real-time organ tracking without relying on high-risk surgical implants. However, the utility of this approach is limited by concerns of radiation overdose associated with exposing patients to an additional radiation source other than the MV treatment dose. The inventors developed an algorithm that accounts for the kV radiation beam dose for imaging of a patient’s tumor as part of the MV treatment dose. This reduces the excess exposure of patients to separate radiation sources for imaging and treatment a...

Synergistic Combination of Immunologic Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:40:18 GMT

SUMMARY Current immunotherapy approaches often focus on targeting a single immune checkpoint or suppressive pathway, which can be insufficient given the redundancy and adaptability of tumor-mediated immune evasion. Tumors can compensate for the blockade of one pathway by upregulating alternative suppressive mechanisms, leading to limited efficacy and the persistence of disease. Additionally, single-agent therapies may not adequately address the metabolic suppression exerted by enzymes such as indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), nor the suppressive influence of regulatory T cells and other i...

Novel Small Molecule Treatment for Staphylococcus Aureus SSTI Infections

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:39:18 GMT

SUMMARY Staphylococcus aureus infects 50,000 patients and kills 20,000 annually in the United States alone. With widespread antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need for alternative mechanisms of targeting S. aureus infection. One way the pathogen mediates its virulence is by secreting the pore-forming cytotoxin α-hemolysin, which causes skin and soft tissue infections. This mechanism is not targeted by current therapeutic approaches. The inventors found that ADAM10 dismantles the structural framework of the epithelium, allowing α-hemolysin to exert its pathogenic activit...

IRDS: Predictive 7-gene Signature for Breast Cancer Therapy

invention@uchicago.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:37:26 GMT

SUMMARY After surgical removal of breast cancer tumors, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy have an absolute survival benefit of just 5-10%. Currently approved breast cancer diagnostics do not predict patient responses to these treatment options, despite the capability of such a diagnostic to avoid unnecessarily exposing patients to toxic side effects. From 52 differentially expressed genes, the investigators found 7 genes that successfully predict patient overall survival in response to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The 7 genes are IFN stimulated and mediate cellular response...