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On January 26th, TTC hosted a webinar entitled "Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA Virus Using a Novel Improved RT-qPCR Method that Increases Detection Sensitivity and Improves Safety" to highlight a novel Covid-19 diagnostic technology from the National Eye Institute. NEI is seeking partners for collaboration and licensing to accelerate technology development and clinical impact.

If you are interested in learning more, including requesting a copy of the presentation, please reach out to Dr. Joseph Conrad, NCI TTC.

Technology Overview

DNA or RNA-based diagnostic tests for infectious diseases are critical in modern medicine. In particular, the current gold standard for COVID-19 detection is testing SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA by quantitative reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). The current clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 involves collection of a patient’s sample with a nasopharyngeal swab or saliva, storage of the sample during transport, extraction of RNA, and detection assay (RT-qPCR). National Eye Institute (NEI) researchers developed a simple preparation method using a chelating resin, which eliminates the RNA extraction step and shortens the overall testing time. Viral detection is similar to the current method with RNA extraction using patient samples. Furthermore, the initial sample heating step inactivates SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, thus improving workflow safety and eliminating the need for a BSL-2 facility. This fast RNA preparation and detection method can be used for a variety of sample types, is safe for clinical staff, and is suitable for standard clinical collection and high-volume testing for both DNA and RNA.

View the technology abstract.

Technology Competitive Advantages

• Eliminates the RNA extraction step from RT-qPCR
• Improves safety and ease-of-use
• Increases test sensitivity
• Reduces testing time and cost

Why attend?

• Assess co-development and/or licensing interest in this technology
• Interact with the inventor, ask questions, and provide feedback
• Learn how to partner with the NCI

Who Should Attend?

• Business development professionals
• Drug development professionals
• Biotech/pharma/academia researchers
• Investors and entrepreneurs

Interested in learning more?

Please contact Dr. Joseph Conrad, NCI TTC

TTC technology opportunity webinar on Tuesday, September 28 from 11:00 am - noon, EST. 

Thank you for attending the webinar. Attendees heard from the NCI’s Dr. Mitchell Ho about a potential therapeutic treatment for COVID-19, "Single Domain Antibodies Targeting SARS-CoV2 for Treating Covid-19." There are few therapeutics available for COVID-19 patients that directly target the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, which infects hosts via its spike (S) protein. The S protein contains a receptor binding domain (RBD) that binds to an angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor on human cells to facilitate viral entry and infection. Dr. Ho’s lab isolated three lead nanobodies, 7A3, 1B5, and 2F7, which were found to be highly effective at blocking RBD-ACE2 binding interactions. This nanobody panel has the potential to block the binding of the S-protein to the ACE2 receptor, thereby preventing SARS-CoV-2 virus from binding to and entering a host cells to cause COVID-19 infection.  

Why attend?

• Assess co-developing and/or licensing this technology
• Interact with the inventor, ask questions and provide feedback
• Learn the advantages of partnering with the NCI

Who should attend?

• Business development professionals
• Drug development professionals
• Biotech/pharma/academic researchers
• Investors and entrepreneurs

About the featured technology

This technology is pre-clinical with identified lead compounds. It is patent pending and available for licensing or co-development. 

Interested in learning more?

Please contact us NCITechTransfer@mail.nih.gov

Thank you for attending the technology opportunity webinar on July 13, 2021.

If you would like to learn more about this technology, including requesting a copy of the presentation, please reach out to reach out to Dr. Joseph Conrad, NCI TTC

Attendees heard from the NCI’s Dr. Genoveffa Franchini about a new HIV vaccine with the potential to prevent HIV infection and treat HIV.  The effectiveness of the new vaccine results from deletion of the V1 region from gp120, enhancing the immune system’s ability to see and better target the virus’ gp120 V2 region. The NCI is seeking a collaboration partner for the NCI Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for this vaccine and/or a licensing partner to bring the vaccine to market. Dr. Franchini will also discuss two other NCI technologies that further enhance the vaccine’s effectiveness:

• Improved HIV Vaccines Through Ras Activation
• Enhanced Immunogenicity Against HIV-1 Using a DNA-prime Poxvirus Vaccination

About the vaccine:

This new vaccine’s effectiveness in macaques results from deletion of the V1 region from gp120, enhancing the immune system’s ability to see and better target the virus’ gp120 V2 region. The NCI is planning a Phase 1 clinical study on this vaccine at the NIH Clinical Center in late 2022.  

What an HIV Vaccine could mean for patients - potential new standard of care

Since 1985, the FDA approved 57 HIV therapeutics in seven HIV drug classes.  The current standard of care for treating HIV infection is a daily oral treatment with antiretroviral therapeutics, which are often combined with three other HIV medications selected from at least two different HIV drug classes. 

An HIV vaccine would completely change the current way HIV infections are addressed.  For uninfected individuals, the HIV vaccine would protect them from contracting the disease. For infected individuals, it would substantially improve their quality of life by:

     • Providing a potential cure, rather than treating symptoms 
     • Eliminating the virus, rather than suppressing it
     • Providing a prime/boost treatment regimen for a finite amount of time, rather than lifelong daily dosing 

Contact us if you are interested in learning more about this technology: ncitechtransfer@mail.nih.gov

The FLC, a Congressionally mandated organization that educates, promotes, and facilitates federal technology transfer, announced its selection of NCI’s Annual Technology Showcase for its 2021 State and Local Economic Development Award. The FLC State and Local Economic Development Award recognizes successful initiatives that involve partnership between state or local economic development groups and federal laboratories for economic benefit.

The Technology Showcase is an annual event created to provide scientists from NCI and the Frederick National Laboratory (FNL) a platform to highlight the commercial and life-saving potential of their discoveries to an audience of potential collaborators and licensees. It was conceived by the NCI Technology Transfer Center, the Frederick National Laboratory’s Partnership Development Office and the NCI Office of Scientific Operations. By hosting it at the FNL, they recognized the opportunity to partner with the economic development offices of the City and County of Frederick and the Technology Development Corporation of Maryland (TEDCO) to leverage their regional knowledge, resources, relationships, and expertise. The organizations agreed on goals and entered into a co-sponsorship agreement.

The Technology Showcase – now going on its 5^th year – centers around NCI and FNL researchers who made business pitches for their technologies to an audience of potential industry collaborators and licensees – in contrast to traditional presentations to a purely scientific audience. In addition, representatives from the NCI Technology Transfer Ambassadors Program – composed of post-doctoral scientists seeking unique professional/career education opportunities – develop and present posters highlighting the commercialization potential of additional NIH technologies. In 2020, the event organizers pivoted their efforts to deliver a virtual event that successfully provided interested parties an opportunity to participate regardless of location. The awareness and outreach provided by the annual Technology Showcase means that stakeholders understand they can turn to NCI and FNL when looking for a subject matter expert for collaboration to overcome a technology hurdle. Importantly, the effort serves to increase the likelihood that potentially life-saving cancer inventions may be developed and have a positive impact for patients.

Award Recipients:
NCI TTC:
Michele Newton, Laura Prestia, Ph.D., Michael Salgaller, Ph.D. and Thomas Stackhouse, Ph.D.
FNL:
Victoria Brun, Maryellen Hackett, Vladimir Popov, Ph.D., Maggie Scully, Ph.D.
NCI Frederick Office of Scientific Operations:
Walter Hubert, Ph.D.
Frederick County Department of Economic Development
Heather Gramm, Helen Propheter
Frederick City Department of Economic Development
Mary Ford-Naill, Richard Griffin