Skip to main content
menu
URMC / Virtual Drug Discovery / Patents

 

Patents

Patent Applications

Method for Altering the Lifespan of Eukaryotic Organisms
Inventor: David Goldfarb

The present invention is directed to methods for altering the lifespan of eukaryotic organisms comprising the steps of: providing a lifespan altering compound and administering an effective amount of the compound to a eukaryotic organism, such that the lifespan of the eukaryotic organism is increased.

Materials and Methods for Identifying Genes and/or Agents That Alter Replicative Lifespan
Inventor: David Goldfarb

Recombinant materials, including DNA constructs, expression vectors, and host cells, and methods of identifying an environmental stimulus or a gene that alters the lifespan of an organism are identified. The recombinant DNA constructs include first and second chimeric genes that both encode substantially the same protein that is required for yeast replication, the first chimeric gene containing a promoter responsive to growth medium conditions and the second chimeric gene containing a promoter operable in mother cells but not daughter cells.

Treatment of Neuroads Using Inhibitors of Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK)-3
Inventors: Harris Gelbard, Sanjay Maggirwar, Stephen Dewhurst, Giovanni Schiffito

Provided is a method of treating or preventing neurological disease in a subject in need of such treatment or prevention, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective dose of a GSK-3 inhibitor.

Compositions and Methods for Inhibiting G Protein Signaling (0100130505)
Inventors: Alan Smrcka, Burns Blaxall, Jean M. Bidlack

Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with G protein .beta..gamma. subunit activity.

Compositions and Methods for Inhibiting G Protein Signaling (0090221691)
Inventors: Alan Smrcka, Jose Font, Tabetha Bonacci

The present invention relates to methods for identifying agents which bind to specific amino acid residues of the protein interaction site of G protein .beta. protein subunit. Compounds identified in accordance with the assay of the invention and methods for using the compound for modulating at least one activity of a G protein are also provide.

Methods and Compositions for Treating Cardiac Dysfunctions
Inventors: Nigel Mackman, Rafal Pawlinski, Burns Blaxall

The present invention provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing cardiac dysfunctions (e.g., cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac remodeling, or heart failure) in subjects who have or are likely to develop cardiomyopathies. Some of the methods are directed to therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of cardiac dysfunctions in subjects having undergone myocardial injuries such as cardiac ischemia/reperfusion or myocardial infarction. Typically, these methods comprising administering to the subjects a therapeutic composition comprising a compound which can specifically inhibit PAR1 mediated signaling or down-regulate the cellular level of PAR1.

Serum Response Factor and Myocardin Control Alzheimer Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
Inventors: Berislav Zlokovic, Joseph Miano

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is involved in Alzheimer dementia through reduction in arterial blood flow that may impair protein synthesis, which is required for learning and memory, and lower the threshold for ischemic injury. Elevated serum response factor (SRF) or myocardin (MYOCD) activity in subjects afflicted by or at risk for development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) promotes a "vascular smooth muscle cell" (VSMC) hypercontractile phenotype in brain arteries and enhance accumulation of A.beta. in the vessel wall. This, in turn, can initiate a disease process in cerebral arteries which can cause brain arterial hypoperfusion and neurovascular uncoupling, that are commonly seen in AD. Thus, SRF and MYOCD represent novel targets for treating arterial dysfunction associated with cognitive decline in AD.

Methods and Compositions Related to the Structure and Function of APOBEC3G
Inventors: Harold Smith, Joseph Wedekind, Ryan Patrick Bennett

Disclosed are methods and compositions related to the structure and function of APOBEC3G.

Composition and Methods Related to Protein Displacement Therapy for Myotonic Dystrophy
Inventors: Charles Thornton, Thurman Wheeler, Krzysztof Sobezak, Robert Osborne, Jill Miller, Maurice Swanson

Disclosed are compositions and methods related to the interaction of polyCUG and polyCCUG repeat RNA and proteins that bind to these repetitive RNA sequences. Also disclosed are methods of treating DM1 or DM2 comprising inhibiting the interaction of poly(CUG).sup.exp or poly(CCUG).sup.exp RNA with muscleblind proteins, or by causing improvement of spliceopathy in myotonic dystrophy.

Methods and Compositions for Treatment of Diseases Associated with Aberrant Microsatellite ExpansionInventors: Maurice Swanson, Rahul Kanadia, Charles Thornton

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of diseases associated with aberrant microsatellite expansions. Methods of the present invention comprise the use of recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors containing a transgene encoding at least one muscleblind protein. The present invention also provides an animal model for a disease associated with aberrant microsatellite expansion.