*includes end-user software and materials licenses along with conventional technology licenses
Study identifies monoclonal antibodies that may neutralize many norovirus variants
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, have taken a big step toward developing targeted treatments and vaccines against a family of viruses that attacks the gastrointestinal tract.
Several vaccine candidates are in clinical trials, but it is unclear how effective they will be, given the periodic emergence of novel norovirus variants. Developing broadly effective vaccines will require an understanding of the genetic diversity of the virus and the mechanisms by which the immune system can neutralize it.
Leading the research on a paper published in the journal Nature Communications, were corresponding authors, James Crowe Jr., MD, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, and B.V. Venkataram Prasad, PhD, the Alvin Romansky Chair in Biochemistry, in collaboration with Mary Estes, PhD, the Cullen Chair and professor of virology at Baylor College of Medicine.
“We were surprised to find naturally occurring antibodies that recognized so many different noroviruses,” said Crowe, the Ann Scott Carell Chair and professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology at VUMC.
A new collaborative initiative from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences, the BRET Office of Career Development’s ASPIRE Program, and Vanderbilt’s Center for Technology Transfer andCommercialization will be supporting a biomedical sciences postdoctoral fellow to lead a start-up company to be formed by Vanderbilt. The goal of the program is twofold: (i) to provide a biomedical Ph.D. scientist with extensive mentorship, supplemental training, networking opportunities with investors, and potential strategic/other assistance to successfully launch a company, and (ii) to commercialize technologies discovered at Vanderbilt University.
The ASPIRE to Innovate Postdoctoral Fellowship Program officially commenced on July 1, 2021, with Karrie Dudek selected as its first fellow following a competitive application and interview process this spring. Dudek recently defended her dissertation after completing her Ph.D. research training as a graduate student in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. During her research training, she was actively involved in multiple initiatives around campus to augment her research skills with business and management, leadership, and consulting experiences. She served as a Business Development Analyst at the local start-up Utilize Health through the ASPIRE Internship program, where she gathered data on new markets and company profiles to aid in the development of a sales strategy for the company.
Five Vanderbilt technologies earn patent protection in July
11,068,659
System, method and computer program product for determining a decodability index for one or more words
11,067,657
Uniform radio frequency magnetic fields in the body for high field MRI
11,065,467
Systems and methods for fast and reversible nerve block
11,058,510
Spine-mounted stereotactic systems and related methods
11,054,423
Antibody-mediated neutralization of ebola viruses
Technology Spotlight:
Natural product for seizure relief and
long term disease modification in
Dravet Syndrome
Dravet syndrome is a lifelong form of epilepsy beginning in early childhood. Children with Dravet syndrome suffer aggressive seizures, impaired cognition, and an increased risk of premature death. Dravet syndrome does not respond to conventional anti-epileptic drugs, and current treatment regimens fail to fully elevate seizures. No disease-modifying treatments exist. Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a novel application of a known natural product in treating Dravet syndrome. This natural product could be beneficial to children suffering from Dravet syndrome in both reducing seizures and treating the underlying disease cause.
Development Status:
The researchers have undertaken 3 intermittent dosing studies in multiple mouse models of epilepsy. Furthermore, the NP exhibits favorable pharmaceutic properties for a CNS drug, including moderate oral bioavailability, and the group is currently performing pharm sci work to further improve these characteristics. They have also performed pharmacokinetics and initial toxicology studies.
Seeking Redevelopment Opportunities for the Treatment of Rare or Orphan Diseases
Healx, an AI-powered, patient-inspired, biotech company based in Cambridge (UK), is seeking drug redevelopment opportunities from academics, clinicians or recent university spinouts in the area of Rare Disease. Healx will collaborate with the asset holders to quickly turn their research into approved treatments that benefit the rare disease community.
Approaches of Interest:
Open to rare or orphan diseases (prevalence <5/10,000) with current unmet medical needs, with a particular interest in rare renal, inflammatory, neuromuscular, bone and ocular conditions.
Ideally, the rare or orphan indication has well-characterised natural history, established clinical trial endpoints and/or biomarkers and, if applicable, sufficient patients willing and able to participate in clinical trials.
Healx is open to most modalities, with a particular interest in small molecules, as well as new platform technologies (e.g. novel delivery systems) that are (nearly) market‑ready and can improve patient outcomes and create commercially viable drug redevelopment.
If you are interested in submitting, please reach out to CTTC@vanderbilt.edu
for more information.
Weekly Interactions
Below is a sampling of the interactions that have taken place in our office and with our staff over the last month.
ATTENDED
Attended a conference by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) on topics relevant to tech transfer
Attended sessions of NCI Drug Development Workshop
Attended Ancora Project Team meetings
Attended NHC Networking Meeting
Attended a PMI Nashville Webinar on data privacy
Attended a webinar titled "Houston Innovation Ecosystem Series Part 2: Startups & Accelerators"
Attended Technology Commercialization Process meeting
Attended Pitch for Good 2021: Nashville Founders Edition
Attended nPhase Q2 Board Meeting
Attended HeroWear Q2 board meeting
Attended Meru Biotechnologies board of directors meeting
Attended an AUTM webinar viewing titled "Researcher Liaisons For TTOs"
Attended a Brookings Webinar on leveraging regional tech hubs to advance economic inclusion
Attended an Endpoints News webinar on trends and future directions for pharma in neurosciences
Attended a lunch forum where Paul Yock spoke about Updating the Biodesign Innovation Process for the new Health-tech environment
EXECUTED
Finalized a license agreement for access to antibodies created by James E. Crowe, Jr. and the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center with a research tools and research services company
Executed an option agreement with a Boston-based product development company for due diligence on a technology from the CREATE Lab at Vanderbilt School of Engineering led by Karl Zelik
Finalized a license agreement for dengue antibodies created by James E. Crowe, Jr. of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center with an SBIR-funded company
Amended a license agreement with a local startup for the commercialization of an exosuit technology from the laboratories of Karl Zelik
Executed a CDA for discussions with a small biotech company interested in thermal ELIZA technology developed by Franz Baudenbacher and Ray Mernaugh
Entered into a Materials Transfer Agreement with a German orthopedics company for a technology from the laboratories of Michael Goldfarb in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Executed a non-exclusive license with a multinational medical and lab equipment company to the ARMS-D patient questionnaire created by Sunil Kripalani and Lindsay Mayberry
MARKETED
Assembled FY21 year-end licensing metrics to review with staff and leadership
Finalized documentation on Vanderbilt University and VUMC research programs as relevant to a large Department of Defense Omnibus grant for partnership opportunities
Held a call with Sponsored Programs Administration and representatives from Georgia Tech and the University of Central Florida related to a membership agreement for a Georgia Tech-run Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC)
Held a call with a startup company interested in commercializing virtual reality-based job interview simulator software developed by Nilanjan Sarkar from the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Held a call with a pharmaceutical company interested in partnering with Steve Fesik in the Department of Biochemistry for the development of anticancer compounds
Advised Vanderbilt startup on LaunchTN microgrant and SBIR opportunities
Conducted IP assessment with VU faculty and Deerfield for potential Ancora project
PARTICIPATED
Participated as a panelist on the topic of monetizing data sets at the Central Region Meeting of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
Engaged with VICB Executive Committee to provide external speakers and CTTC support for Aug 12th CBAS VICB Annual Symposium
Hosted the Portal Innovations Visit to Nashville
Interviewed VUMC clinical experts for advice on potential Ancora project
The pipeline highlights a listing of fully human antibodies by target disease, availability by field, and stage of development. Links to scientific publications are also included.
The catalogue highlights medical device technologies currently in the pipeline for commercialization at Vanderbilt University. This Pipeline has more than 100 technologies in 12 categories from 40 research groups.
