Patents Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Patent number: 10527577
    Abstract: Improved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy assays are provided by electrodepositing metallic nanoparticles onto the working electrode for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The metallic nanoparticles provide improved assay sensitivity. Electrodeposition of the metallic nanoparticles firmly affixes them to the working electrode, thereby making it easier to clean the working electrode from one assay to the next assay without undesirably removing the metallic nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veteran Affairs (Washington DC)
    Inventors: Preetha Jothimuthu, Mohammed Inayathullah Nazir Ahmed, Wen A. Tian, Jayakumar Rajadas, Mark Nicolls, JooChuan Ang
  • Publication number: 20200000971
    Abstract: Tissue scaffolds for neural tissue growth have a plurality of microchannels disposed within a sheath. Each microchannel comprises a porous wall having a thickness of ?about 100 ?m that is formed from a biocompatible and biodegradable material comprising a polyester polymer. The polyester polymer may be polycaprolactone, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer, and combinations thereof. The tissue scaffolds have high open volume % enabling superior (linear and high fidelity) neural tissue growth, while minimizing inflammation near the site of implantation in vivo. In other aspects, methods of making such tissue scaffolds are provided. Such a method may include mixing a reduced particle size porogen with a polymeric precursor solution. The material is cast onto a template and then can be processed, including assembly in a sheath and removal of the porogen, to form a tissue scaffold having a plurality of porous microchannels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicants: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. SAKAMOTO, Dena SHAHRIARI, Mark H. TUSZYNSKI, Wendy CAMPANA, Yacov KOFFLER
  • Patent number: 10485438
    Abstract: A system and method to target a biological rhythm disorder include processing cardiac signals via a computing device to determine a shape in a region of tissue defined by a source associated with the biological rhythm disorder that migrates spatially on or within the shape, and identifying at least one portion of the tissue proximate to the shape to enable selective modification of the at least one portion of tissue in order to terminate or alter the biological rhythm disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Topera, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjiv M. Narayan, Carey Robert Briggs
  • Patent number: 10434319
    Abstract: An example system and method associated with identifying and treating a source of a heart rhythm disorder are disclosed. In accordance therewith, a spatial element associated with a region of the heart is selected. Progressive rotational activations or progressive focal activations are determined in relation to the selected spatial element over a period of time. The selecting and determining are repeated over multiple periods of time. A source parameter of rotation activations or focal activations is determined, wherein the source parameter indicates consistency of successive rotational activations or focal activations in relation to a portion of the region of the heart. The determining of a source parameter is repeated for multiple regions of the heart. Thereafter, representation of the source parameter is displayed for each of the multiple regions of the heart to identify a shape representing the source of the heart rhythm disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Topera, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjiv M. Narayan, Carey Robert Briggs, Ruchir Sehra
  • Publication number: 20190298802
    Abstract: Interferon-?-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) peptides, IP-10 peptide variants and in silico designed C—X—C chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) peptide agonists are described. The small peptides can be used for inhibiting pathological tissue remodeling and treating fibrosis in a subject, such as a subject with fibrosis of the heart, lung, liver, kidney or skin. The peptide agonists can also be used to treat cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Also described are in silico designed peptide antagonists that bind CXCR3 or ligands of CXCR3. These antagonist peptides block CXCR3 signaling by disrupting interaction of CXCR3 with its ligand. Antagonist peptides can be used, for example, to treat myocarditis and atherosclerosis. In additional embodiments agonists and antagonists of CXCR4 are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicants: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Tuskegee University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Cecelia C. Yates-Binder, Jesse Jaynes, Monte S. Willis, Richard J. Bodnar, Zariel I. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10426872
    Abstract: Tissue scaffolds for neural tissue growth have a plurality of microchannels disposed within a sheath. Each microchannel comprises a porous wall having a thickness of ?about 100 ?m that is formed from a biocompatible and biodegradable material comprising a polyester polymer. The polyester polymer may be polycaprolactone, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer, and combinations thereof. The tissue scaffolds have high open volume % enabling superior (linear and high fidelity) neural tissue growth, while minimizing inflammation near the site of implantation in vivo. In other aspects, methods of making such tissue scaffolds are provided. Such a method may include mixing a reduced particle size porogen with a polymeric precursor solution. The material is cast onto a template and then can be processed, including assembly in a sheath and removal of the porogen, to form a tissue scaffold having a plurality of porous microchannels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, The United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Sakamoto, Dena Shahriari, Mark H. Tuszynski, Wendy Campana, Yacov Koffler
  • Publication number: 20190263751
    Abstract: Provide herein are compounds with a general chemical structure of: Substituents R1 and R2 independently are H, Cl, F, Br, CH3, CF3, SH, —N(C1-3alkyl)2, —NHC(O)C1-3alkyl, or —NHC(O)C5-7cycloalkyl, substituent R3 is H or C1-3 alkyl and R4 is a bridged cycloalkene such as a bridged cyclohexene or a bridge-substituted cyclohexene. The compounds are therapeutics to treat a cancer, such as breast cancer, or metastatic cancers, to inhibit RUNX2 activity, such as protein expression, in a cancer cell and to increase survival of a subject with breast cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicants: University of Maryland, Baltimore, The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Antonino Passaniti, Alexander D. MacKerell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10370728
    Abstract: Described are probes and methods for detecting antibiotic susceptibility of a specimen. The method comprises contacting the specimen with an oligonucleotide probe that specifically hybridizes with a target nucleic acid sequence region of ribosomal RNA. The target sequence is at the junction between a pre-ribosomal RNA tail and mature ribosomal RNA of 23S or 16S rRNA. Performing the method in the presence and absence of an antibiotic permits detection of antibiotic susceptibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: David A. Haake, Colin Halford, Jane T. Babbitt, Bernard M. Churchill
  • Patent number: 10369150
    Abstract: A compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, having a structure of: wherein X is a divalent linking moiety; and R1-R10 are each individually H, optionally-substituted alkyl, optionally-substituted alkoxy, optionally-substituted aryl, optionally-substituted cycloalkyl, optionally-substituted heterocyclic, halogen, amino, or hydroxy, provided that at least one of R3 or R8 is an optionally-substituted alkyl, a substituted alkoxy, optionally-substituted aryl, optionally-substituted cycloalkyl, optionally-substituted heterocyclic, or halogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Beibei Chen, Rama K. Mallampalli
  • Patent number: 10358405
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to myricanol derivatives, therapeutic compositions, and methods for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular, neurodegenerative diseases associated with abnormal accumulation of protein tau.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: Chad Dickey, Umesh Jinwal, Laurent Calcul, Bill J. Baker, Matthew Lebar
  • Patent number: 10360672
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for analyzing images. An exemplary method can comprise receiving at least one image having one or more annotations indicating a feature. The method can comprise generating training images from the at least one image. Each training image can be based on a respective section of the at least one image. The training images can comprise positive images having the feature and negative images without the feature. The method can comprise generating a feature space based on the positive images and the negative images. The method can further comprise identifying the feature in one or more unclassified images based upon the feature space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: University of Iowa Research Foundation, The United States of America, as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Michael D. Abramoff, Mona K. Garvin, Hu Qiao
  • Patent number: 10357517
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of diagnosing or prognosing an epilepsy or epilepsy-related disorder. Also provided herein is a method of treating an epilepsy or epilepsy-related disorder. Further provided are non-epileptic and epileptic neural stem cells and cell cultures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: University of South Florida, The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel—PSG IV (024)
    Inventors: Cesario Venturina Borlongan, Carmelina Gemma, Fernando L. Vale
  • Patent number: 10357474
    Abstract: Plant extracts, compositions, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of making and using the same are provided herein. The compositions comprise ?-tocotrienol (GT3) and ?-tocotrienol (DT3) in ratios wherein the DT3 is predominate. The compositions are useful for radioprotection and radiomitigation in subjects in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: BIOVENTURES, LLC, UNIVERSIDAD TECNICA PARTICULAR DE LOJA, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: Cesar M. Compadre, Philip Breen, Nukhet Aykin-Burns, Martin Hauer-Jensen, Raul G. Enriquez, Sujay Kharade, Omar Malagon, Yadira Ordonez, Edgar Ojeda, Shraddha Thakkar, E. Nathalie Pineda, Darin Jones
  • Patent number: 10335365
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bladder cancer specific ligand peptides, comprising the amino acid sequence X1DGRX5GF (SEQ ID NO: 1), and methods of their use, e.g., for imaging detection for diagnosis of bladder, tumor localization to guide transurethral resection of bladder cancer, imaging detection of bladder cancer for follow-up after the initial treatment that can replace or complement costly cystoscopy, imaging detection of metastatic bladder cancer, and targeted therapy for superficial and metastatic bladder cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: The Regents ot the Univershy of California, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veteran Affairs (Washington DC)
    Inventors: Chong-Xian Pan, Hongyong Zhang, Kit S. Lam, Olulanu H. Aina
  • Patent number: 10329246
    Abstract: Provide herein are compounds with a general chemical structure of: Substituents R1 and R2 independently are H, Cl, F, Br, CH3, CF3, SH, —N(C1-3alkyl)2, —NHC(O)C1-3alkyl, or —NHC(O)C5-7cycloalkyl, substituent R3 is H or C1-3 alkyl and R4 is a bridged cycloalkene such as a bridged cyclohexene or a bridge-substituted cyclohexene. The compounds are therapeutics to treat a cancer, such as breast cancer, or metastatic cancers, to inhibit RUNX2 activity, such as protein expression, in a cancer cell and to increase survival of a subject with breast cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: University of Maryland, Baltimore, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Antonino Passaniti, MacKerell D. Alexander, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10322125
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to compounds and compositions for cartilage repair and methods related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of inducing cartilage growth and regeneration comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a compound disclosed herein to the subject or implanting a cartilage matrix comprising a compound disclosed herein in the subject. In certain embodiments, the compound is used locally such as injection at any desired site of cartilage formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignees: Emory University, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veteran Affairs
    Inventors: Scott D Boden, Sreedhara Sangadala
  • Patent number: 10316075
    Abstract: Recombinant polypeptides comprising a DR?1 domain, an antigenic peptide, and a linker sequence are disclosed. The linker sequence comprises a first glycine-serine spacer, a thrombin cleavage site and a second glycine-serine spacer. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant polypeptides, methods of treating inflammatory disease using said pharmaceutical compositions, and expression constructs comprising nucleic acids that encode the recombinant polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: Oregon Health & Science University, The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Arthur A. Vandenbark, Roberto Meza-Romero, Gil Benedek, Gregory G. Burrows
  • Patent number: 10307411
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting or treating chemotherapy-induced cognitive dysfunction comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of cotinine to a cancer patient experiencing chemotherapy-induced cognitive dysfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignees: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Valentina Echeverria Moran, Doreen Appunn
  • Patent number: 10292452
    Abstract: A rocker shoe has a lower rocker surface extending across the plantar surface of the shoe sole from the heel and terminating short of the toe. A rocker shoe construction kit has a rigid or substantially rigid rocker piece having an upper surface for securing over a major portion of a lower plantar surface of the sole of a shoe upper and a lower surface of predetermined rocker shape, a cushioning layer for securing over the lower surface of the rocker piece, and a layer of tread material configured for securing over the lower surface of the cushioning layer and any exposed portion of the plantar surface of a shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Sara R. Koehler, Charles J. Schultz, Eric A. Nickel
  • Patent number: 10286084
    Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant constructs, vectors and expression cassettes including a first promoter which is suitably a tRNA promoter operably connected to a first polynucleotide encoding a first single guide RNA and a second promoter operably connected to a second polynucleotide encoding a Cas9 polypeptide. The first single guide RNA includes a first portion complementary to a strand of a target sequence of a DNA virus and a second portion capable of interacting with the Cas9 polypeptide. Also provided are codon optimized Staphylococcus aureus derived Cas9 polynucleotides and polypeptides with nuclear localization signals and optionally an epitope tag. Also provided are constructs for production of sgRNAs including a tRNA. Methods of inhibiting viral replication, inhibiting expression of a target sequence from a virus or treating a viral infection or viral induced cancer using the compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: Duke University, Emory University, The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Bryan R. Cullen, E. Matthew Kennedy, Hal P. Bogerd, Anand Kornepati, Adam Mefferd, Raymond F. Schinazi