Patents Assigned to Medical Research Council
  • Publication number: 20150224054
    Abstract: The present invention concerns nanoparticle formulations suitable for the delivery of one or more therapeutic agents, the formulations comprising: a cationic cholesterol derivative; a neutral phospholipid; cholesterol or a neutral cholesterol derivative; and a saturated fatty acid, PEGylated neutral derivative of phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicants: IMPERIAL INNOVATIONS LTD, MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
    Inventors: Jimmy Bell, Elizabeth Louise Thomas, Leigh Brody, Meliz Sahuri Arisoylu, Andrew Miller, Gary Frost
  • Patent number: 9096835
    Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA polymerases. In particular the invention relates to a method for the generation of DNA polymerases exhibiting a relaxed substrate specificity. Uses of mutant polymerases produced using the methods of the invention are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Philipp Holliger, Farid Ghadessy, Marc d'Abbadie
  • Patent number: 9089565
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for alleviating the inhibition of neurite outgrowth from a neurone, wherein said neurone comprises a Nogo receptor, said method comprising contacting said neurone with a composition capable of causing phosphorylation of a Nogo receptor, wherein said composition comprises protein kinase A or casein kinase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
    Inventor: Yoshinori Takei
  • Patent number: 9084757
    Abstract: This invention relates to an osteogenic device for the de novo induction of bone formation in a mammal. The device contains at least one transforming growth factor-?3 isoform and a retention matrix. The device is introduced by direct injection or surgical implantation into an area where de novo bone formation is desired and, once implanted, the retention matrix acts to retain the TGF-?3 isoform at its place of introduction and forms a scaffold for generated bone, the induction of which is promoted by the TGF-?3 isoform. The device may be used to induce bone growth where bone has been debrided in a surgical procedure and it may also be used to transform neoplastic primary and/or metastatic secondary masses into bone thus facilitating surgical debridement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG, RIPAMONTI, UGO BONE RESEARCH LABORATORY, FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA
    Inventor: Ugo Ripamonti
  • Patent number: 9074202
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of modulating Wnt signalling comprising modulating Trabid activity. Preferably modulating Trabid activity comprises inhibiting; Trabid activity. The invention also provides a method of reducing TCF transcription, said method comprising reducing Trabid activity. A method for identifying a-modulator of Trabid said method comprising; providing a Trabid substrate comprising a detectable moiety coupled to a tag moiety by ubiquitin; immobilizing first and second portions of said substrate; adding a candidate modulator to the first said portion; contacting first and second portions with Trabid; incubating to allow Trabid action, assaying cleavage of ubiquitin by separation of tag from detectable moiety, wherein separation of an amount of detectable moiety from said first portion which is different from the amount of detectable moiety separated from said second portion identifies said candidate as a modulator of Trabid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
    Inventors: Mariann Bienz, Felix Randow, Hoanh Tran, Thomas Schwarz-Romond
  • Publication number: 20150168409
    Abstract: Some embodiments are related to a method for determining if a subject has an increased likelihood of high grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophagal adenocarcinoma (EC). An exemplary method can include providing a sample from an AFI patch of the subject's esophagus, assaying the sample for (i) aneuploidy, and (ii) abnormal p53, and (iii) abnormal Cyclin A, wherein if the sample shows the presence of at least two of (i), (ii) and (iii), then the subject is determined as having an increased likelihood of high grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophagal adenocarcinoma (EC). The invention also relates to certain methods of medical treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicants: The University of Cambridge, Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Massimiliano Di Pietro, Rebecca Fitzgerald, Xinxue Liu
  • Publication number: 20150160220
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for aiding prediction of the likelihood of progression from Barrett's esophagus to high grade dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma in a subject, is disclosed. The method can include (a) providing an oesophagal sample from said subject (b) determining if said sample stains abnormally with Aspergillus oryzae lectin; (c) determining if there is a DNA content abnormality in said sample; and (d) determining if there is low grade dysplasia in said sample; wherein if (b) is abnormal and (c) is abnormal and low grade dysplasia is present, then an increased likelihood of progression is determined. The disclosed subject matter also relates to an apparatus, and to different uses of certain materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Rebecca Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Bird-Lieberman
  • Patent number: 9045505
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel NO donors which are targeted to the mitochondria. The NO donor compounds of the invention allow NO to be selectively provided to the mitochondria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: University of Otago, Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Robin Andrew James Smith, Michael Patrick Murphy
  • Patent number: 9029083
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: Medical Research Council, President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Andrew David Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
  • Patent number: 9028801
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of diagnosis of vCJD in a diagnostic sample of a valid body tissue taken from a human subject, which comprises detecting an increased concentration of a protein in the diagnostic sample, compared with a sample of a control human subject, the protein being: beta-actin (SwissProt Acc. No. P60709), apolipoprotein A-IV precursor (SwissProt Acc. No. P06727); haptoglobin beta-chain consisting of residues 162-406 (SwissProt Acc. No. P00738); haemoglobin beta chain (SwissProt Acc. No. P02023); or alpha-1-antitrypsin (SwissProt Acc. No. P01009); or a decreased concentration of a protein in the diagnostic sample, compared with a sample of a control, normal human subject, the protein being plasma protease (C1) inhibitor precursor (SwissProt Acc. No. P05155); complement component 1, s sub-component (SwissProt Acc. No. P09871); butyrylcholinesterase precursor (SwissProt Acc. No. P06276); complement component C4B (SwissProt Acc. No. P01028); lumican (SwissProt Acc. No.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: Electrophoretics Limited, Medical Research Council, University College London
    Inventors: Malcolm Andrew Ward, John Collinge, Graham Stuart Jackson, Emma McGregor, Nicola Louise Leeds, James Campbell, Jules Arthur Westbrook, Helen Louise Byers
  • Publication number: 20150105265
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for aiding assessment of the likelihood of dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma being present in a subject can include (a) providing an esophagal sample from said subject (b) determining the methylation status of (i) SLC22A18, (ii) PIGR, (iii) GJA12 and (iv) RIN2 in said sample wherein if 2 or more of said genes are methylated then an increased likelihood of presence of dysplasia or esophageal is determined. The invention also relates to apparatus for same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Rebecca Fitzgerald, Muhammad Alvi, Xinxue Liu
  • Publication number: 20150004622
    Abstract: The present invention, relates to the use of TFF3 in the diagnosis and detection of Barrett's Oesophagus using non-invasive, non-endoscopic methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: PIERRE LAO-SIRIEIX, REBECCA C. FITZGERALD
  • Patent number: 8916681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of an antagonist of kisspeptin in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a condition induced and/or worsened by kisspeptin activity in an individual. The invention also provides certain defined peptide molecules, which may act as an antagonist of kisspeptin, which are of use in treating a condition induced and/or worsened by kisspeptin activity in an individual. In addition, the invention provides methods of identifying and/or using antagonists of kisspeptin and/or the defined peptides, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Robert Peter Millar, Antonia Kathryn Roseweir
  • Publication number: 20140342992
    Abstract: The present invention discloses cell penetrating peptides (CPP or membrane translocating peptide) and their conjugates with cargo molecules. The peptides are useful as drug delivery systems, particularly as delivery vehicles for nucleotide-based theraputics, such as polynucleotides, oligonucleotides and peptide nucleic acids. A CPPs of the invention provides a balance between good cell entry efficency and low toxicity and comprises three contiguous domains: the central one being hydrophobic and the flanking ones consisting of arginine and aminohexanoic acid or beta-alanine residues. The hydrophobic domain contains a sequence selected from YQFLI, YRFLI, IQFLI and IRFLI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Michael John Gait, Andrey Alexandrovich Arzumanov, Amer F. Saleh, Matthew J.A. Wood, Corinne Betts, Taeyoung Koo
  • Publication number: 20140322204
    Abstract: Disclosed is polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an antibody binding site, the polypeptide being able to bind to HCV E2 samples representative of each of HCV genotypes 1-6, as well as polypeptides having such properties and uses of such polypeptides in detecting and treating HCV infection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Arvind PATEL, Jonathan Ball
  • Patent number: 8871444
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalizing genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Medical Research Council, President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Andrew David Griffiths, David A. Weitz, Darren R. Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
  • Patent number: 8865643
    Abstract: We describe an rspd(n/CRD) polypeptide, fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof for use in a method of treatment or prophylaxis of a disease. A method of treating an individual suffering from a disease or preventing the occurrence of a disease in an individual is also described, in which the method comprises administering to the individual a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an rspd (n/CRD) polypeptide, fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. Preferably, the rspd (n/CRD) polypeptide and nucleic acid comprise SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Howard Clark, Palaniyar Nadesalingam, Kenneth B. Reld, Peter Strong
  • Publication number: 20140302582
    Abstract: The invention provides a chimeric E2 enzyme comprising a Ubc domain fused to a heterologous ubiquitin binding domain (UBD). The chimeric enzymes of the invention may be useful in producing elevated levels of free polyubiquitin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
    Inventors: David Komander, Anja Bremm
  • Patent number: 8852589
    Abstract: The invention provides the antibody D9.2 and antibody molecules based on D9.2 which bind interleukin-17 receptor B. These may be useful in therapy, e.g. the treatment of asthma, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Andrew Neil James McKenzie, Daniel Neill
  • Publication number: 20140287528
    Abstract: The invention relates to A method of making a polypeptide comprising at least one N?-methyl-lysine at a specific site in said polypeptide, said method comprising (a) genetically directing the incorporation of R—N?-methyl-lysine into said polypeptide, wherein R comprises an auxiliary group; and (b) catalysing the removal of R from the polypeptide of (a). In particular the invention relates to such a method wherein genetically directing the incorporation of R—N?-methyl-lysine into said polypeptide comprises arranging for the translation of a RNA encoding said polypeptide, wherein said RNA comprises an amber codon, and wherein said translation is carried out in the presence of an amber tRNA charged with R—N?-methyl-lysine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
    Inventors: Jason Chin, Duy P. Nguyen