Patents by Inventor Avrum Spira

Avrum Spira 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).

  • Publication number: 20170226591
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to prognostic and diagnostic methods to assess lung disease risk caused by airway pollutants by analyzing expression of one or more genes belonging to the airway transcriptome provided herein. Based on the finding of a so called “field defect” affecting the airways, the invention further provides a minimally invasive sample procurement method in combination with the gene expression-based tools for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases of the lung, particularly diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira
  • Patent number: 9677138
    Abstract: A novel set of 98 genes expressed in the respiratory tract epithelium that serve as biomarkers for measuring chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) activity are provided. Methods of classifying the (COPD) status of a subject are provided. Systems for expression-based classification of COPD disease status are provided. Methods of treating COPD are also provided, among other things.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY, THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CANCER AGENCY BRANCH
    Inventors: Katrina Steiling, Avrum Spira, Marc Lenberg, Stephen Lam
  • Publication number: 20170152563
    Abstract: The invention described herein relates to methods of treating emphysema and COPD with a GHK tripeptide. The invention further relates to methods of determining the state of the lungs using biomarkers described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicants: TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Avrum Spira, Marc Lenburg, Joshua Campbell, Julie Erin Zeskind Gil, Dimitri Petchkovski, James Cameron Hogg
  • Patent number: 9585930
    Abstract: The invention described herein relates to methods of treating emphysema and COPD with a GHK tripeptide. The invention further relates to methods of determining the state of the lungs using biomarkers described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: Trustees of Boston University, The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Avrum Spira, Marc Lenburg, Joshua Campbell, Dimitri Petchkovski, Darryl Andrew Knight, James Cameron Hogg, Julie Erin Zeskind Gil
  • Publication number: 20150354008
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis with bronchoscopy. The methods of the invention provide far superior detection accuracy for lung cancer when compared to any other currently available method for lung cancer diagnostic or prognosis. The invention also provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of other lung diseases, particularly in individuals who are exposed to air pollutants, such as cigarette or cigar smoke, smog, asbestos and the like air contaminants or pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira, Jennifer E. Beane-Ebel, Marc E. Lenburg
  • Publication number: 20150240306
    Abstract: A novel set of 98 genes expressed in the respiratory tract epithelium that serve as biomarkers for measuring chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) activity are provided. Methods of classifying the (COPD) status of a subject are provided. Systems for expression-based classification of COPD disease status are provided. Methods of treating COPD are also provided, among other things.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Katrina Steiling, Avrum Spira, Marc Lenberg, Stephen Lam
  • Publication number: 20150232945
    Abstract: The invention provides the identification of oncogenic pathways activated in cytologically normal airway cells of individuals having or at risk of having lung disease, as well as specific gene expression patterns (biomarkers) associated with pathway activation. These biomarkers and pathways may provide prognostic and/or diagnostic indicators in lung disease, e.g., lung cancer. Additionally, these pathways and biomarkers may provide therapeutic targets for the treatment of lung disease, as well as markers for the assessment of treatment efficacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira, Adam Gustafson, Andrea Bild
  • Publication number: 20140199411
    Abstract: The invention described herein relates to methods of treating emphysema and COPD with a GHK tripeptide. The invention further relates to methods of determining the state of the lungs using biomarkers described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicants: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Avrum Spira, Marc Lenburg, Joshua Campbell, Dimitri Petchkovski, Darryl Andrew Knight, James Cameron Hogg, Julie Erin Zeskind Gil
  • Publication number: 20130023437
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis with bronchoscopy. The methods of the invention provide far superior detection accuracy for lung cancer when compared to any other currently available method for lung cancer diagnostic or prognosis. The invention also provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of other lung diseases, particularly in individuals who are exposed to air pollutants, such as cigarette or cigar smoke, smog, asbestos and the like air contaminants or pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira, Jennifer E. Beane, Marc E. Lenburg
  • Publication number: 20120322673
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a scraping instrument for collection of a biological sample, and a non-invasive method for obtaining nucleic acid from buccal mucosa epithelial cells using the scraping instrument. Such nucleic acid can be used for example for gene expression profiling, including to assess lung disease risk associated with airway pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira
  • Publication number: 20120190567
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis from a nasal epithelial cell sample. The methods of the invention provide far less invasive method with a superior detection accuracy for lung cancer when compared to any other currently available method for lung cancer diagnostic or prognosis. The invention also provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of other lung diseases, such as lung cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira, Jeffrey S. Berman, Anthony W. O'Regan
  • Publication number: 20120041686
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis with bronchoscopy. The methods of the invention provide far superior detection accuracy for lung cancer when compared to any other currently available method for lung cancer diagnostic or prognosis. The invention also provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of other lung diseases, particularly in individuals who are exposed to air pollutants, such as cigarette or cigar smoke, smog, asbestos and the like air contaminants or pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: JEROME S. BRODY, AVRUM SPIRA, JENNIFER E. BEANE, MARC E. LENBURG
  • Publication number: 20110217717
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis from a nasal epithelial cell sample. The methods of the invention provide far less invasive method with a superior detection accuracy for lung cancer when compared to any other currently available method for lung cancer diagnostic or prognosis. The invention also provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of other lung diseases, such as lung cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira, Jeffrey S. Berman, Anthony W. O'Regan
  • Publication number: 20110190150
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a scraping instrument for collection of a biological sample, and a non-invasive method for obtaining nucleic acid from buccal mucosa epithelial cells using the scraping instrument. Such nucleic acid can be used for example for gene expression profiling, including to assess lung disease risk associated with airway pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: JEROME S. BRODY, AVRUM SPIRA
  • Publication number: 20100055689
    Abstract: Described herein are multifactorial methods for detecting, diagnosing or aiding in the diagnosis of lung disorders or disease, e.g., lung cancer. The methods disclosed utilize multiple diagnostic paradigms, for example, to improve diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and/or positive predictive value over each of the paradigms alone. For example, a clinicogenomic model is disclosed for lung cancer diagnosis which combines clinical factors and gene expression, particularly a sensitive and specific gene expression biomarker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Avrum Spira, Marc E. Lenburg, Jennifer E. Beane-Ebel, Daniel Rippy
  • Publication number: 20100035244
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis with bronchoscopy. The methods of the invention provide far superior detection accuracy for lung cancer when compared to any other currently available method for lung cancer diagnostic or prognosis. The invention also provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of other lung diseases, particularly in individuals who are exposed to air pollutants, such as cigarette or cigar smoke, smog, asbestos and the like air contaminants or pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira
  • Publication number: 20090311692
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a scraping instrument for collection of a biological sample, and a non-invasive method for obtaining nucleic acid from buccal mucosa epithelial cells using the scraping instrument. Such nucleic acid can be used for example for gene expression profiling, including to assess lung disease risk associated with airway pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira
  • Publication number: 20090186951
    Abstract: The invention provides the identification of oncogenic pathways activated in cytologically normal airway cells of individuals having or at risk of having lung disease, as well as specific gene expression patterns (biomarkers) associated with pathway activation. These biomarkers and pathways may provide prognostic and/or diagnostic indicators in lung disease, e.g., lung cancer. Additionally, these pathways and biomarkers may provide therapeutic targets for the treatment of lung disease, as well as markers for the assessment of treatment efficacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira, Adam Gustafson, Andrea Bild
  • Publication number: 20090061454
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis from a nasal epithelial cell sample. The methods of the invention provide far less invasive method with a superior detection accuracy for lung cancer when compared to any other currently available method for lung cancer diagnostic or prognosis. The invention also provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of other lung diseases, such as lung cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Jerome S. Brody, Avrum Spira, Jeffrey S. Berman, Anthony W. O'Regan
  • Publication number: 20070148650
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a scraping instrument for collection of a biological sample, and a non-invasive method for obtaining nucleic acid from buccal mucosa epithelial cells using the scraping instrument. Such nucleic acid can be used for example for gene expression profiling, including to assess lung disease risk associated with airway pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Jerome Brody, Avrum Spira