Abstract: There is provided a stromal antigen-presenting cell capable of antigen presentation in the context of MHC II. When stimulated with IFN? the stromal cell expresses B7-H1 and/or CD80. These stromal cells can be used to generate an immune response in an animal.
Abstract: A method of providing microelectromechanical structures (MEMS) that are compatible with silicon CMOS electronics is provided. The method provides for processing and manufacturing is steps limiting a maximum exposure of an integrated circuit upon which the MEMS is manufactured during MEMS manufacturing to below a temperature wherein CMOS circuitry is adversely affected, for example below 400° C., and sometimes to below 300° C. or 250° C., thereby allowing direct manufacturing of the MEMS devices onto electronic integrated circuits, such as Si CMOS circuits.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 22, 2008
Publication date:
June 25, 2009
Applicant:
The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
Inventors:
Frederic NABKI, Mourad EL-GAMAL, Tomas A. DUSATKO, Srikar VENGALLATORE
Abstract: The present invention describes a heteromultimeric proton-gated ion channel (herein called ASIC-2S.2) with distinctive properties. Compositions and methods are provided for producing and expressing functional ASIC-2S.2 channels, composed of ASIC2A and ASIC3 subunits. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding both ASIC2A and ASIC3 and host cells coexpressing both ASIC2A and ASIC3 subunits. Also provided herein are genetically engineered nucleic acids encoding chimeric proton-gated ion channels comprised of at least two different subunits, as well as expression vectors and host cells comprising said engineered nucleic acids. The invention also provides for the use of ASIC-2S.2, as well as agonists, antagonists or antibodies specifically binding ASIC-2S.2, in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases associated with expression of ASIC-2S.2.
Abstract: There is provided a method of measuring properties of a liquid contained in individual wells inside a multi-well array, the method comprising steps of providing capacitor electrodes in the multi-well array, the electrodes adapted to detect a capacitance value of each one of the individual wells without interference of neighboring wells, measuring a capacitance inside each one of the individual wells, and using the capacitance measurements to calculate at least one property of the liquid contained in each one of the individual wells. There is further provided an apparatus for measuring properties of a liquid contained in individual wells inside a multi-well array, and a method of controlling quality of liquid handling task that is repeated across a set of individual wells inside a multi-well array.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 1, 2006
Publication date:
June 11, 2009
Applicant:
McGill University
Inventors:
Raymond Waterbury, Daniel Seliskar, Robert Kearney, Eric Johnstone
Abstract: (?)-EGCG, the most abundant catechin, was found to be chemopreventive and anticancer agent. However, (?)-EGCG has at least one limitation: it gives poor bioavailability. This invention provides compounds of generally formula 10, wherein R1 is selected from the group of —H and C1 to C6 acyl group; R2, R3, and R4 are each independently selected from the group of —H, —OH, and C1 to C6 acyloxyl group; and at least one of R2, R3, or R4 is —H. The derivatives of (?)-EGCG that is at least as potent as (?)-EGCG. The carboxylate protected forms of (?)-EGCG and its derivatives are found to be more stable than the unprotected forms, which can be used as proteasome inhibitors to reduce tumor cell growth.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 19, 2004
Date of Patent:
June 9, 2009
Assignees:
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Wayne State University, University of South Florida, McGill University
Inventors:
Tak-Hang Chan, Wai-Har Lam, Larry Ming-Cheung Chow, Qing Ping Dou, Deborah Joyce Kuhn, Aslamuzzaman Kazi
Abstract: This invention relates to multipotent stem cells, purified from the peripheral tissue of mammals, and capable of differentiating into neural and non-neural cell types. These stem cells provide an accessible source for autologous transplantation into CNS, PNS, and other damaged tissues.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2002
Date of Patent:
June 9, 2009
Assignee:
McGill University
Inventors:
Jean Toma, Mahnaz Akhavan, Karl J. L. Fernandes, Mathieu Fortier, Freda Miller
Abstract: This invention relates to multipotent stem cells, purified from the peripheral tissue of mammals, and capable of differentiating into neural and non-neural cell types. These stem cells provide an accessible source for autologous transplantation into CNS, PNS, and other damaged tissues.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 5, 2008
Publication date:
June 4, 2009
Applicant:
McGill University
Inventors:
Jean Toma, Mahnaz Akhavan, Karl J. L. Fernandes, Mathieu Fortier, Freda Miller, Andrew Gloster
Abstract: Block copolymers labelled with molecular recognition units and comprising a hydrophobic block and a luminescent block are presented. A method of detecting biomolecules using such block copolymers is also presented. More specifically, the block copolymers of the present invention have the following Formula (I): wherein “A” is a hydrophobic block; “B” is a luminescent block; “C” is a hydrophilic block; “D” is a molecular recognition unit; “n” and “m” are integers ranging from 1 to 75; “x” is either 0 or an integer ranging from 1 to 75; and “Y” is either 0 or 1.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a anti-proliferative target for designing chemotherapeutic agents, which comprises a EIF4A protein having an amino acid sequence, as defined in claim 1.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 24, 2006
Publication date:
May 7, 2009
Applicant:
The Royal Institute for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
Inventors:
Jerry Pelletier, Marie-Eve Bordeleau, Lisa Lindqvist, Robert Francis, Rami Sukarieh, Junichi Tanaka
Abstract: The present invention relates to modified oligonucleotide therapeutic agents to selectively prevent gene transcription and expression in a sequence-specific manner. In particular, this invention relates to the selective inhibition of protein biosynthesis via antisense strategy using oligonucleotides constructed from arabinonucleotide or modified arabinonucleotide residues. More particularly this invention relates to the use of antisense oligonucleotides having arabinose sugars to hybridize to complementary RNA such as cellular messenger RNA, viral RNA, etc.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 13, 2007
Publication date:
April 23, 2009
Applicant:
McGill University
Inventors:
Masad J. Damha, Michael A. Parniak, Anne M. Noronha, Christopher Wilds, Gadi Borkow, Dominique Arion
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for non-Gaussian code-division-multiple-access signal transmission and reception. Input probability data indicative of a non-equiprobable channel input probability mass function are determined based on received channel data indicative of characteristics of a CDMA transmission channel. The input probability data are determined such that a transmission signal received after transmission has a non-Gaussian distribution. Upon receipt of input user data, a CDMA signal is generated by modulating the received user input data in dependence upon the input probability data and provided for transmission. After transmission a received transmission signal is first processed for determining second channel data and then for determining an estimate indicative of the user input data based on the second channel data.
Abstract: Disclosed is a pipelined iterative process and system. Data is received at an input port and is processed in a symbolwise fashion. Processing of each symbol is performed other than relying on completing the processing of an immediately preceding symbol such that operation of the system or process is independent of an order of the input symbols.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 14, 2008
Publication date:
April 16, 2009
Applicant:
The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
Inventors:
Warren J. GROSS, Shie MANNOR, Saeed SHARIFI TEHRANI
Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the analysis of the mechanical properties of materials. More particularly, the various embodiments of the present invention relates to systems and methods of deriving the static and dynamic mechanical properties of deformative materials, for example, but not limited to, biological surfaces. The systems and methods of the present invention can be used to derive and evaluate the mechanical properties of many biological surfaces and subsurfaces, including but not limited to the skin.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 2, 2008
Publication date:
March 19, 2009
Applicants:
Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Royal Institute for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
Inventors:
Stephen Sprigle, Linghua Kong, Qi Wang, Vincent Hayward, Jayme Caspall
Abstract: The invention relates to oligonucleotide agents that inhibit RNase H activity of a retroid virus reverse transcriptase and are useful for inhibiting retroid virus proliferation and preventing or treating a retroid virus infection.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 30, 2003
Date of Patent:
March 10, 2009
Assignee:
McGill University
Inventors:
Masad J. Damha, Rami N. Hannoush, Kyung-Lyum Min, Sandra Carriero
Abstract: This invention relates to multipotent stem cells, purified from the peripheral tissue of mammals, and capable of differentiating into neural and non-neural cell types. These stem cells provide an accessible source for autologous transplantation into CNS, PNS, and other damaged tissues.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 18, 2008
Publication date:
February 26, 2009
Applicant:
McGill University
Inventors:
Jean Toma, Mahnaz Akhavan, Karl J. L. Fernandes, Mathieu Fortier, Freda Miller
Abstract: The present invention relates to epilepsy. More particularly, the present invention relates to idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and to the identification of three genes mapping to chromosome 2, which show mutations in patients with epilepsy. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences, and protein sequences of these loci (SCNA) and to the use thereof to assess, diagnose, prognose or treat epilepsy, to predict an epileptic individual's response to medication and to identify agents which modulate the function of the SCNA. The invention also provides screening assays using SCN1A, SCN2A and/or SCN3A which can identify compounds which have therapeutic benefit for epilepsy and related neurological disorders.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 17, 2003
Date of Patent:
February 3, 2009
Assignee:
McGill University
Inventors:
Guy A. Rouleau, Ronald G. Lafrenière, Daniel Rochefort
Abstract: A method of providing an on-chip high-speed time domain digital analyzer for the characterization and analysis of signals within an integrated circuit is provided. The method involves processing the signal being characterized/analyzed in the digital domain irrespective of it's starting format. The approach performs a voltage-to-time conversion using predetermined voltage thresholds, applying a time amplification to the digital time information, measuring the amplified time difference between events and converting the amplified time difference as required by the characterization/analysis. The method allows the capture of very high-speed signals with high resolution without the requirements of complex and high-speed electronics. As such the on-chip high-speed time domain digital analyzer can function as an oscilloscope, pulse width analyzer, rise time analyzer and even logic analyzer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 31, 2007
Date of Patent:
January 6, 2009
Assignee:
McGill University
Inventors:
Gordon W. Roberts, Mouna Safi-Harab, Mourad Oulmane
Abstract: Oligonucleotide inhibitors that inhibit expression of a mammalian MBD2/DNA demethylase (MBD2/dMTase) are provided. The oligonucleotide inhibitors can be used to inhibit the growth or proliferation of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. The use of the oligonucleotide inhibitors in the treatment of cancer and methods of identifying potential target genes for cancer therapy or diagnosis using the oligonucleotide inhibitors are also provided.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a decoding method and system for stochastic decoding of linear block codes with parity check matrix. Each encoded sample of a set of encoded samples is converted into a corresponding probability. For each probability a corresponding probability message is the generated by encoding each probability as a sequence of digital symbols. Each probability message is then provided to a respective node of a logic circuitry for stochastic decoding. The logic circuitry represents a factor graph of the parity check matrix of the linear block code. Using the logic circuitry each probability message is processed for determining an estimated sequence of information symbols. If an equality node is in a hold state a chosen symbol is provided from a corresponding memory which is updated by storing output symbols from the equality node when the same is in a state other than a hold state.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 23, 2008
Publication date:
November 27, 2008
Applicant:
The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
Inventors:
Warren J. Gross, Shie Mannor, Saeed Sharifi Tehrani
Abstract: This invention provides for methods of immunizing mammals against tumors expressing a carcinoembryonic antigen using a carcinoembryonic immunogen modified to lack cellular immunosuppressive activity or CD1d binding. The invention further provides for use of a carcinoembryonic immunogen having a region recognized by antibody B9 or L12 modified to inactivate cellular immunosuppressive activity. Methods are also provided for modifying the immunogen by deleting, altering, mutating or truncating the immunosuppressive region. The invention also provides for enhancing cellular immunogenicity of an orally delivered immunogen by co-administration of an agent capable of inhibiting the immunosuppressive activity of carcinoembryonic antigen. Further methods are provided for creating a patient having a carcinoembryonic-antigen-family-member-expressing tumor by immunizing the patient with the carcinoembryonic-antigen-family-member lacking the immunosuppressive region.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2002
Date of Patent:
November 18, 2008
Assignees:
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, McGill University