Patents by Inventor David J. Whitby

David J. Whitby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Inhibitors of cell regulatory factors and methods for preventing or reducing scarring
    Publication number: 20030032591
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of a cell regulatory factor comprising contacting the cell regulatory factor with a purified polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises the cell regulatory factor binding domain of a protein and wherein the protein is characterized by a leucine-rich repeat of about 24 amino acids. In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the ability of decorin, a 40,000 dalton protein that usually carries a glycosaminoglycan chain, to bind TGF-&bgr;. The invention also provides a novel cell regulatory factor designated MRF. Also provided are methods of identifying, detecting and purifying cell regulatory factors and proteins which bind and affect the activity of cell regulatory factors. The present invention further relates to methods for the prevention or reduction of scarring by administering decorin or a functional equivalent of decorin to a wound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: The Burnham Institute
    Inventors: Erkki I. Ruoslahti, Michael T. Longaker, David J. Whitby, John R. Harper, Michael D. Pierschbacher, Wayne A. Border
  • Use of fibromodulin to prevent or reduce dermal scarring
    Patent number: 5654270
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of a cell regulatory factor which includes contacting the cell regulatory factor with a purified polypeptide, the polypeptide including the cell regulatory factor binding domain of a protein which is characterized by a leucine-rich repeat of about 24 amino acids. The present invention relates to the ability of decorin, a 40,000 dalton protein that usually carries a glycosaminoglycan chain, to bind TGF-.beta.. The invention also provides a novel cell regulatory factor designated MRF. Also provided are methods of identifying, detecting and purifying cell regulatory factors and proteins which bind and affect the activity of cell regulatory factors. The present invention further relates to methods for the prevention or reduction of scarring by administering decorin or a functional equivalent of decorin to a wound. The methods are particularly useful for dermal wounds resulting from burns, injuries or surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation
    Inventors: Erkki I. Ruoslahti, Michael T. Longaker, David J. Whitby