Patents by Inventor Robert J. Schwartz

Robert J. Schwartz 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: 20230304007
    Abstract: Provided here are compositions and methods of preventing or treating a muscle disorder in a subject, such as muscle wasting, cachexia, sarcopenia and heart failure. The compositions include inhibitors targeting one or more of the H19X-encoded non-coding RNAs. The inhibitors can inhibit expression of one or more of the H19X-encoded non-coding RNAs or inhibit interaction between one or more of the H19X-encoded non-coding RNAs and their natural target mRNA. Also, provided are methods of preventing or treating a muscle disorder in a subject by inducing specific mutations to decrease levels of one or more of the H19X-encoded non-coding RNAs utilizing gene editing tools such as, but not limited to, integrases, CRISPR/Cas nucleases, TALAN nucleases, zinc finger Nucleases, triplex forming oligonucleotides, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Yu Liu, Robert J. Schwartz, Xiaopeng Shen, Rui Liang, Shreesti Shrestha
  • Publication number: 20230263771
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to anti-viral compounds suitable for use in blocking virus entry into cells. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of blocking virus entry into cells by associating the cells with at least one anti-viral compound of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the associating occurs in vitro. In some embodiments, the associating occurs in vivo in a subject through administration of the at least one anti-viral compound to the subject. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating or preventing a viral infection in a subject by administering to the subject at least one anti-viral compound of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the subject is a human being suffering from or vulnerable to the viral infection. In some embodiments, the virus includes a coronavirus, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Bradley K. McConnell, Arfaxad Reyes Alcaraz, John W. Craft, Robert J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11295387
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument that includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument, establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum positive growth rate, establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may receive a transfer of an amount of money, and establishing an agreement to allow at least a portion of the account balance to be transferred from one or more selected investments to one or more alternative investments in response to a triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Jacob M. Herschler, Daniel O. Kane, N. David Kuperstock, Robert Francis O'Donnell, Steven Lee Putterman, Dain Eric Runestad, Robert J. Schwartz, Nicholas Berardis, Jr., John L. Grucza, Michael Albert Guido, J. Scott Dunn
  • Publication number: 20210069294
    Abstract: Loss of cardiomyocytes underlies most causes of heart failure, and normal repair processes are inadequate to deal with extensive myocardial damage. The inventors have identified mutations of the N-terminus of serum respose factor (SRF)'s MADS box, termed STEMINs, that block cardiac differentiation, but also powerfully activate the stem cell marker genes Nanog and Octomer 4, as well as cyclins, which promotes adult myocyte replication. SRF Stemin mutations are not cardiac-specific, and also propel mammalian fibroblasts into a proliferative state. Thus, STEMINs may be useful for regeneration of all tissue and organ types, by activating partial pluripotency programs and enhancing repair by increased cell replication. Following withdrawal of STEMINs, the cells then return to normal cell identity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Robert J. SCHWARTZ, Dinakar IYER
  • Patent number: 10335449
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes peptide inhibitors of Rho-associtated-kinase (ROCK) and their use in treating disorders including heart failure, the leading cause of combined morbidity and mortality in the United States. An inhibitory polypeptide blocks ROCK1 activity in the presence of 1 mM ATP. The binding epitope on ROCK1 was mapped using chemical cross-linking to the Activation Loop, a novel locus identifying a new class of inhibitory drugs. The peptides described will be useful against a number of important diseases such as heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, arterial hypertension, glaucoma management, insulin resistance, kidney disease, hemolytic anemia, stroke, ischemia reperfusion injury, or acute myeloid leukemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Hua Zhang, John W. Craft, Scott Gilbertson, Kevin MacKenzie, Reza Abbasgholizadeh, Steven Bark, James M. Briggs, Robert Fox
  • Publication number: 20170296617
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes peptide inhibitors of Rho-associtated-kinase (ROCK) and their use in treating disorders including heart failure, the leading cause of combined morbidity and mortality in the United States. An inhibitory polypeptide blocks ROCK1 activity in the presence of 1 mM ATP. The binding epitope on ROCK1 was mapped using chemical cross-linking to the Activation Loop, a novel locus identifying a new class of inhibitory drugs. The peptides described will be useful against a number of important diseases such as heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, arterial hypertension, gluacoma management, insulin resistance, kidney disease, hemolytic anemia, stroke, ischemia reperfusion injury, or acute mycloid leukemia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Robert J. SCHWARTZ, Hua ZHANG, John W. CRAFT, Scott GILBERTSON, Kevin MACKENZIE, Reza ABBASGHOLIZADEH, Steven BARK, James M. BRIGGS, Robert FOX
  • Patent number: 9439924
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes the role for miR-322(424)/503 in the differentiation of cardiac precursor cells. Thus, the use of these molecules in the programming of resident stem/progenitor cells into cardiomyocytes, both in vitro and in vivo. Such methods find particular use in the treatment of patients post-myocardial infarction to prevent or limit scarring and to promote myocardial repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
    Inventors: Yu Liu, Robert J Schwartz, Xiaopeng Shen
  • Publication number: 20150290237
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes the role for miR-322(424)/503 in the differentiation of cardiac precursor cells. Thus, the use of these molecules in the programming of resident stem/progenitor cells into cardiomyocytes, both in vitro and in vivo. Such methods find particular use in the treatment of patients post-myocardial infarction to prevent or limit scarring and to promote myocardial repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
    Inventors: Yu LIU, Robert J SCHWARTZ, Xiaopeng SHEN
  • Patent number: 9109232
    Abstract: A method for modulating cell differentiation capabilities using heterologous gene expression. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for inducing a cardiac progenitor cell by delivering a reprogramming factor to the cell, wherein the reprogramming factor comprises ETS2 or a combination of ETS2 and Mesp1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: University of Houston, Texas Heart Institute, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Vladimir N. Potaman, Jose Francisco Islas
  • Publication number: 20140004604
    Abstract: A method for modulating cell differentiation capabilities using heterologous gene expression. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for inducing a cardiac progenitor cell by delivering a reprogramming factor to the cell, wherein the reprogramming factor comprises ETS2 or a combination of ETS2 and Mesp1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: University of Houston, The Texas A&M University System, Texas Heart Institute
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Vladimir N. Potaman, Jose Francisco Islas
  • Patent number: 8504460
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Jacob M. Herschler, Daniel O. Kane, N. David Kuperstock, Robert F. O'Donnell, Steven L. Putterman, Dain E. Runestad, Robert J. Schwartz, Nicholas Berardis, Jr., John L. Grucza, Michael A. Guido, J. Scott Dunn
  • Patent number: 8486701
    Abstract: A method for modulating cell differentiation capabilities using heterologous gene expression. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for inducing a cardiac progenitor cell by delivering a reprogramming factor to the cell, wherein the reprogramming factor comprises ETS2 or a combination of ETS2 and Mesp1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: University of Houston, Texas Heart Institute, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Vladimir N. Potaman, Jose Francisco Islas
  • Patent number: 8396774
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account and on a first periodic basis: determining a specified percentage of the value of the financial account, determine the greater of a particular limit and the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on a second periodic basis, and in response to a determination that the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on the second periodic basis is greater than the particular limit, stepping-up the particular limit to equal the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on the second periodic basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Jacob M. Herschler, Daniel O. Kane, N. David Kuperstock, Robert Francis O'Donnell, Steven Lee Putterman, Dain Eric Runestad, Robert J. Schwartz, Nicholas Berardis, Jr., John L. Grucza, Michael Albert Guido, J. Scott Dunn
  • Patent number: 8178504
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to compositions and methods useful for treating anemia and other effects that are commonly associated in cancer bearing animals. The invention is accomplished by delivering an effective amount of a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into a tissue of an animal and allowing expression of the encoded gene in the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert H. Carpenter, Douglas R. Kern, Robert J. Schwartz, Glen King, Kevin Hahn, Malcolm K. Brenner
  • Publication number: 20110223670
    Abstract: A method for modulating cell differentiation capabilities using heterologous gene expression. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for inducing a cardiac progenitor cell by delivering a reprogramming factor to the cell, wherein the reprogramming factor comprises ETS2 or a combination of ETS2 and Mesp1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicants: Texas Heart Institute, University of Houston, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Vladimir N. Potaman, Jose Francisco Islas
  • Publication number: 20110145169
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Jacob M. Herschler, Daniel O. Kane, N. David Kuperstock, Robert Francis O'Donnell, Steven Lee Putterman, Dain Eric Runestad, Robert J. Schwartz, Nicholas Berardis, JR., John L. Grucza, Michael Albert Guido, J. Scott Dunn
  • Patent number: 7960536
    Abstract: The invention concerns making and evaluating synthetic regulatory regions for controlling gene expression. The invention features a method for identifying transcription factor binding sites and a method for evaluating the regulatory functions of synthetic regulatory regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Genetronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Eric M. Eastman, Xuyang Li, Jeff Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 7895109
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Jacob M. Herschler, Daniel O. Kane, N. David Kuperstock, Robert Francis O'Donnell, Steven Lee Putterman, Dain Eric Runestad, Robert J. Schwartz, Nicholas Berardis, Jr., John L. Grucza, Michael Albert Guido, J. Scott Dunn
  • Publication number: 20100332365
    Abstract: A method for providing a financial instrument includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument based upon an initial deposit amount, wherein the financial instrument includes an account with an account balance that changes over time. The method further includes establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum growth rate for a defined period of time or until one or more defined events occur, whichever is sooner; and establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of a designated party, wherein the amount comprises a percentage of the protected value at the time of a particular event, provided that the amount may vary based upon withdrawals from the account in excess of a first particular limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Robert Francis O'Donnell, Marc Joseph Buzzelli, Robert Alan Fishbein, Jacob M. Herschler, Fiona Alexandra Jackman-Ward, Daniel O. Kane, N. David Kuperstock, Gary E. Phifer, III, Steven Lee Putterman, Polly Rae, Dain Eric Runestad, Robert J. Schwartz, Christopher Patrick Shecklev
  • Patent number: 7831496
    Abstract: A method for providing a financial instrument includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument based upon an initial deposit amount, wherein the financial instrument includes an account with an account balance that changes over time. The method further includes establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum growth rate for a defined period of time or until one or more defined events occur, whichever is sooner; and establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of a designated party, wherein the amount comprises a percentage of the protected value at the time of a particular event, provided that the amount may vary based upon withdrawals from the account in excess of a first particular limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Robert Francis O'Donnell, Marc Joseph Buzzelli, Robert Alan Fishbein, Jacob M. Herschler, Fiona Alexandra Jackman-Ward, Daniel O. Kane, N. David Kuperstock, Gary E. Phifer, III, Steven Lee Putterman, Polly Rae, Dain Eric Runestad, Robert J. Schwartz, Christopher Patrick Shecklev