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128 available technologies

FEATURED TECHNOLOGY

Near-Infrared Dye with Large Stokes Shift for Simultaneous Multichannel in vivo Molecular Imaging

Fluorescent labels having near-infrared (NIR) emission wavelengths have the ability to penetrate tissue deeper than other emission wavelengths, providing enormous potential for non-invasive imaging applications. However, advancement of optical imaging (particularly NIR imaging) is hindered by the limitation of narrow Stokes shift of most infrared dyes currently available in the market. Vanderbilt researchers have developed a novel NIR dye (4-Sulfonir) for multichannel imaging that enables in vivo imaging of multiple targets due to its large Stokes shift. 4-Sulfonir with its unique large Stokes shift (~150 nm) and wide excitation spectrum could be used in parallel with other NIR dyes for imaging two molecular events simultaneously in one target.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY

On Chip Polarimetry for HTS

Using microfluidic technology developed by the Bornhop Lab at Vanderbilt, this invention enables the rapid determination of the optical activity of compounds and solutions. Due to the nature of this invention, it is possible to screen a multitude of samples in a high throughput manner in less time with less material and greater accuracy than the industry standards.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY

A Method for Regulating Glucokinase by Reaction With Nitric Oxide

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered a novel mechanism through which the insulin regulating enzyme glucokinase is regulated. This discovery provides a powerful way to screen for activators of glucokinase, which may lead to therapies for diabetes.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY

Human Choline Transporter cDNA

Vanderbilt researchers report the isolation and characterization of a human cDNA encoding the high affinity, hemicholinium-3 sensitive choline transporter. This transporter is expressed in cholinergic terminals, and it provides for transport into cholinergic terminals of choline, the precursor for acetylcholine biosynthesis. The cDNA, through HC-3 radio ligand binding assays or choline transport assays, allows for high-throughput screening of choline transporter directed agents or as a negative screen to insure specificity for nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-directed agents (as well as other pharmaceutics). The choline transporter in vivo is highly regulated, and the human choline transporter's regulation is poorly understood. Use of the cDNA may allow for the development of novel cholinergic therapeutics targeted at choline transporter modulation. Antibodies directed against the human choline transporter should be useful probes of human cholinergic neurons. Sequences in the human choline transporter cDNA should allow for the generation of transporter specific gene probes that can be queried by in situ hybridization, PCR analyses of transporter gene expression or gene chip approaches evaluating alterations in presynaptic cholinergic function.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY

Assay for Dopamine Neuron Viability Using C. Elegans

The loss of DA neurons is a major feature of Parkinson's disease and other neuro-generative disorders. Vanderbilt researchers have established an in vivo screen for DA neuron protective agents and genes using the nematode C. elegans. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in C. elegans DA neurons, researchers have established that the nematode is sensitive to the mammalian neurotoxins that target DA neurons in mammalian models, consistent with an environmentally triggered loss of DA neurons. They also demonstrate that agents that block the nematode DA transporter or genetic ablation of the DA transporters protect these DA neurons. Thus, researchers have established lines and conditions that can allow for the facile screening, in a high throughput format, for agents or genes that may protect DA neurons from exogenous or endogenous neurotoxin-induced cell death. The system should also be useful for identifying novel pathway controlling presynaptic DA neuron function with potential applications to Schizophrenia, ADHD and addiction, where altered DA signaling has been proposed.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY

Stable HERG Expressing Cells

Vanderbilt researchers have designed a cell line with stable expression of the human heart potassium channel, HERG. This cell line has robust and very consistent cell-to-cell HERG activity without detectable endogenous ionic currents, making it ideal to use in preclinical drug screening.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY

Human Monoclonal Antibodies to Infectious Diseases

Using human B cell hybridoma creation, and antibody engineering technologies, Dr. James E Crowe Jr.'s laboratory has developed an array of antibodies from full length human antibodies to Fab fragments and diabodies. Many of these antibodies are ready for a cooperate partner who can further develop these antibodies into biologic herapeutics. The table below is a sample of the antibodies they are currently researching and have available. In addition to these areas of research, Dr. Crowe is actively seeking collaborative opportunities to identify new interesting targets for future antibody engineering projects.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY

Assays to detect Cox-2 activity for determining treatment effectiveness for a variety of inflammatory and cancerous diseases

This invention identifies COX-2 metabolites as markers for a variety of inflammatory, neurodegenerative and cancerous diseases, and it provides a means for determining and monitoring levels of metabolites of COX-2 from patient samples. It may also be used to augment information from imaging and other diagnostic and disease progression monitoring modalities. In addition, the technology provides a means for testing activity of agonists or antagonists that can aid in the design of drugs that reduce effects of harmful prostaglandins with reduced side effects.

Mammalian Genes Involved in Infection

Bioprocess Technology for Synthesis of Chiral Compounds

Commercial routes to industrially important pharmaceutical and agrichemical compounds can often be developed more economically when separation of enantiomeric intermediates/ products is possible. Vanderbilt University seeks to license technologies, originally invented at DuPont, that allow such separations to be performed via novel biocatalysts. Vanderbilt's technology can be used for the production of chiral tertiary esters and/ or enantiomeric amides. In the case of the former class of compounds, our technology is somewhat unique in its ability to operate on carbonyl groups alpha to a tertiary center. See the following description for more information about the current status of this technology and the associated patent estate.

Olfactory Genes from the Malaria Mosquito

This technology facilitates the discovery and design of novel agents for either repelling or otherwise controlling insects that have important economic or medical significance. In particular, mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting a number of diseases, including malaria, West Nile, dengue and yellow fevers. The Zwiebel laboratory has identified human odorants and the protein receptors in mosquitoes that allow female mosquitoes to identify their hosts when they need blood to satisfy their reproductive needs. With funding from the Gates Foundation's Grand Challenge in Global Health initiative, the Zwiebel laboratory, along with collaborators at Yale, Wageningen University in the Netherlands, and researchers in Africa, developed biological and behavioral assays to screen and test numerous agents as potential repellants and attractants for the Anopholes gambiae mosquito.
These methods have been applied to include agricultural pests, disease vectors and nuisance insects (important for many tourist-based economies).

New Gene Involved in Male Fertility

It is estimated that approximately 30% of men have reduced fertility and 2% are totally infertile. Despite these large numbers relatively little is know about the molecular bases of male infertility. On the flip side of male infertility is the need for male contraception. Currently there are no reversible, convenient male contraceptives available. In order to develop male contraceptives and acquire a greater understanding of male fertility there is a need to develop animal models to study the molecular basis and pathways that regulate and control male fertility. Vanderbilt researchers have developed a model mouse system to study male fertility. There research focuses on the epididymus, which is the area that spermatozoa acquire the ability to move and fertilize. For this region to be functional tissue and cell specific gene regulation must occur. These investigators have discovered one such gene regulated within this area, mEP17. These researchers can fuse either mouse or human EP17 or just the regulatory regions of either EP17 to reporter genes and the resulting fusion can be used to screen for substances that regulate this gene and affect male fertility. This system becomes a powerful tool to identify drugs which affect this gene and be potential male contraceptives. In addition polypeptides generated to this gene may be used as vaccines for male contraceptives.

Method to Detect PDE Inhibitor Binding

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) is an enzyme which degrades cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in smooth muscle cells. The common known drug Viagra is similar in molecular structure to cGMP and acts as a competitive binding agent of PDE5. Thus in the presence of Viagra unbound cGMP levels increase which results in smooth muscle relaxation or vasodilation leading to an increased inflow of blood. Vanderbilt researchers have developed a method for assaying compounds which bind PDEs. Not only will this method be useful in identify other PDE inhibitors but due to the high affinity of this system this method could be used to identify and isolate PDEs from various crude tissue fractions.

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