Patents by Inventor Michael Downs

Michael Downs 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).

  • Patent number: 12253527
    Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods treating or preventing for age-related insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and related disorders. The method involves depleting fTreg cells with an anti-ST2 antibody to decrease age-related fTreg accumulation and restore insulin sensitivity, thereby treating age-related insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and related disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Sagar P. Bapat, Ye Zheng, Ronald Evans, Michael Downes, Annette R. Atkins, Ruth T. Yu
  • Publication number: 20250082781
    Abstract: Methods of lowering blood glucose and treating Type 2 diabetes in a subject by increasing expression or activity of phosphodiesterase 4D isoform 3 (PDE4D3) in adipocytes of the subject are described. In some instances, expression of PDE4D3 in adipocytes is increased by administering a vector that expresses PDE4D3 specifically in adipocytes, or via gene editing by introduction of a PDE4D3-encoding nucleic acid into adipocytes. Use of small molecule activators of PDE4D3 that are targeted to adipocytes is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Michael Downes, Annette R. Atkins, Gencer Sancar, Sihao Liu
  • Publication number: 20240417383
    Abstract: Provided herein are compounds and compositions useful in increasing PPAR? activity. The compounds and compositions provided herein are useful for the treatment of PPAR? related diseases (e.g., muscular diseases, vascular disease, demyelinating disease, and metabolic diseases).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Downes, Ronald M. Evans, Arthur Kluge, Bharat Lagu, Masanori Miura, Sunil Kumar Panigrahi, Michael Patane, Susanta Samajdar, Ramesh Senaiar, Taisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 12088883
    Abstract: A context-driven voice-control system and method for enabling users to control customer service activities related to live broadcast programming, recorded programming, streaming programming, and on-demand programming using vocal selection by the user. The context-driven voice-control system and method may also enable users to control one or more of account management activities using vocal selection by the user, authentication to authorize changes to their account using vocal selection by the user, and troubleshooting of equipment and system capabilities using vocal selection by the user. The context-driven voice-control system and method dynamically generates and presents a list of available control and support pathways to a user based on the user attributes and the voice control requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.
    Inventors: Raymond F. Watkins, III, Adam Porter, David Michael Downing, Chad Mullen, Jordan Oyler Nhem, Tanya Mazur
  • Patent number: 11981931
    Abstract: The invention generally features compositions comprising induced pluripotent stem cell progenitors (also termed reprogramming progenitor cells) and methods of isolating such cells. The invention also provides compositions comprising induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from such progenitor cells. Induced pluripotent stem cell progenitors generate iPSCs at high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald Evans, Michael Downes, Yasuyuki Kida, Teruhisa Kawamura, Zong Wei, Ruth T. Yu, Annette R. Atkins
  • Publication number: 20230373948
    Abstract: Provided herein are compounds and compositions useful in increasing PPAR? activity. The compounds and compositions provided herein are useful for the treatment of PPAR? related diseases (e.g., muscular diseases, vascular disease, demyelinating disease, and metabolic diseases).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Downes, Ronald M. Evans, Arthur Kluge, Bharat Lagu, Masanori Miura, Sunil Kumar Panigrahi, Michael Patane, Susanta Samajdar, Ramesh Senaiar, Taisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11760977
    Abstract: The invention features pancreatic islet and pancreatic organoids, and cell cultures and methods that are useful for the rapid and reliable generation of pancreatic islet and pancreatic islet organoids. The invention also features methods of treating pancreatic diseases and methods of identifying agents that are useful for treatment of pancreatic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and pancreatic cancer, using the pancreatic islet and pancreatic organoids of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
    Inventors: Ronald Evans, Michael Downes, Annette Atkins, Eiji Yoshihara, Ruth Yu
  • Patent number: 11685901
    Abstract: The invention features pancreatic islet and pancreatic organoids, and cell cultures and methods that are useful for the rapid and reliable generation of pancreatic islet and pancreatic islet organoids. The invention also features methods of treating pancreatic diseases and methods of identifying agents that are useful for treatment of pancreatic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and pancreatic cancer, using the pancreatic islet and pancreatic organoids of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald Evans, Michael Downes, Annette Atkins, Eiji Yoshihara, Ruth Yu
  • Publication number: 20230097335
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides FGF1 mutant proteins, which selectively bind to/activate FGFR1b. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules that encode such proteins, and vectors and cells that include such nucleic acids. Methods of using the disclosed FGF1 mutants to reduce blood glucose in a mammal and treat a metabolic disorder are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Michael Downes, Annette Atkins, Sihao Liu, Ruth T. Yu
  • Patent number: 11578052
    Abstract: Provided herein are compounds and compositions useful in increasing PPAR? activity. The compounds and compositions provided herein are useful for the treatment of PPAR? related diseases (e.g., muscular diseases, vascular disease, demyelinating disease, and metabolic diseases).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Mitobridge, Inc., The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Michael Downes, Ronald M. Evans, Arthur Kluge, Bharat Lagu, Masanori Miura, Sunil Kumar Panigrahi, Michael Patane, Susanta Samajdar, Ramesh Senaiar, Taisuke Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20230024808
    Abstract: A context-driven voice-control system and method for enabling users to control customer service activities related to live broadcast programming, recorded programming, streaming programming, and on-demand programming using vocal selection by the user. The context-driven voice-control system and method may also enable users to control one or more of account management activities using vocal selection by the user, authentication to authorize changes to their account using vocal selection by the user, and troubleshooting of equipment and system capabilities using vocal selection by the user. The context-driven voice-control system and method dynamically generates and presents a list of available control and support pathways to a user based on the user attributes and the voice control requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Raymond F. Watkins, III, Adam Porter, David Michael Downing, Chad Mullen, Jordan Oyler Nhem, Tanya Mazur
  • Patent number: 11542309
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides FGF1 mutant proteins, which selectively bind to/activate FGFR1b. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules that encode such proteins, and vectors and cells that include such nucleic acids. Methods of using the disclosed FGF1 mutants to reduce blood glucose in a mammal and treat a metabolic disorder are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Michael Downes, Annette Atkins, Sihao Liu, Ruth T. Yu
  • Patent number: 11511906
    Abstract: A kit enabling creation of a personal keepsake by at least one user and methods of using same. A first container is openable by a user, and a plurality of candles are enclosed in the first container. Each candle has a wick at one end and an opposite end having a base width. The kit further includes a second container which is openable by the user, and a plurality of tubes enclosed in the second container. Each tube has at least one end which is initially open and defines a chamber having a chamber width and a chamber length to receive a storage medium, the initially open end adapted to receive the base width of one of the candles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Downing
  • Publication number: 20220341100
    Abstract: There is disclosed a foundation system made up of panels for supporting a load bearing surface on underlying ground in use. Each foundation panel has a panel body having a peripheral edge, first and second opposing major surfaces spaced by a depth dimension of the panel body, and a plurality of internal walls upstanding in the depth dimension so as to define a plurality of cells within the panel. Each cell of the panel is open at one of the first and second major surface and closed at the other of the first and second major surfaces. Connection formations are provided at the peripheral edge of the panel body, where the connection formations comprise a neck portion and a head portion. The head portion is configured to engage with a corresponding connection formation of one or more adjacent panel in use to resist separation of the foundation panel from an adjacent panel in a direction within a plane of the first or second major surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Paul TAYLOR, Michael Downing, Geoffrey Whitcher
  • Patent number: 11474766
    Abstract: An example method includes maintaining, by a processing resource associated with a finisher communicatively coupled to a printer, an interpage delay table, the interpage delay table storing an interpage delay value for each of a plurality of page attribute combinations. The method further includes processing, by the finisher, a job based at least in part on a particular interpage delay value stored in the interpage delay table for an identified page attribute combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cristopher Royce Jansson, Elliott Michael Downing
  • Patent number: 11463774
    Abstract: A context-driven voice-control system and method for enabling users to control customer service activities related to live broadcast programming, recorded programming, streaming programming, and on-demand programming using vocal selection by the user. The context-driven voice-control system and method may also enable users to control one or more of account management activities using vocal selection by the user, authentication to authorize changes to their account using vocal selection by the user, and troubleshooting of equipment and system capabilities using vocal selection by the user. The context-driven voice-control system and method dynamically generates and presents a list of available control and support pathways to a user based on the user attributes and the voice control requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.
    Inventors: Raymond F. Watkins, III, Adam Porter, David Michael Downing, Chad Mullen, Jordan Oyler Nhem, Tanya Mazur
  • Patent number: 11440889
    Abstract: Novel compounds having a formula embodiments of a method of making the same, and of a composition comprising them are disclosed herein. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method of treating or preventing a metabolic disorder in a subject, comprising administering to a subject (e.g., via the gastrointestinal tract) a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the disclosed compounds, thereby activating FXR receptors in the intestines, and treating or preventing a metabolic disorder in the subject. Additionally disclosed are embodiments of a method of treating or preventing inflammation in an intestinal region of a subject, comprising administering to the subject (e.g., via the gastrointestinal tract) a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the disclosed compounds, thereby activating FXR receptors in the intestines, and thereby treating or preventing inflammation in the intestinal region of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, The University of Sydney
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Michael Downes, Annette Atkins, Sungsoon Fang, Jae Myoung Suh, Thomas J. Baiga, Ruth T. Yu, John F. W. Keana, Christopher Liddle
  • Patent number: 11428697
    Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods treating or preventing for age-related insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and related disorders. The method involves depleting fTreg cells with an anti-ST2 antibody to decrease age-related fTreg accumulation and restore insulin sensitivity, thereby treating age-related insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and related disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
    Inventors: Sagar P. Bapat, Ye Zheng, Ronald Evans, Michael Downes, Annette R. Atkins, Ruth T. Yu
  • Patent number: 11420934
    Abstract: Provided herein are compounds and compositions useful in increasing PPAR? activity. The compounds and compositions provided herein are useful for the treatment of PPAR? related diseases (e.g., muscular diseases, vascular disease, demyelinating disease, and metabolic diseases).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Mitobridge, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Michael Downes, Thomas J. Baiga, Joseph P. Noel, Emi Kanakubo Embler, Weiwei Fan, John F. W. Keana, Mark G. Bock, Authur F. Kluge, Mike A. Patane
  • Patent number: 11376264
    Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing blood glucose, which utilize an agent that increases the biological activity of a vitamin D receptor (VDR) (e.g., a VDR agonist), in combination with an antagonist of bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9). IN some examples, such methods treat type II diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Michael Downes, Zong Wei, Annette Atkins, Ruth T. Yu