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Software for the Analysis of Electrocochleograms
20-0019 – The Electrocochleogram (ECochG) is an electrophysiologic signal acquired from the cochlea in response to sound or electrical stimulaton. This recorded signal is a mixture of potentials generated by hair cells and nerve activity. Although many companies make products which can acquire the ECochG signal, the interpretation of that signal is largely qualitative. Our investigators have developed... Read More
Synthetic Peptide Mimetic for the Treatment of Rare Hematalogical Disorders
19-0178 – We have recently developed a cell penetrating, synthetic peptide for the treatment of sickle cell anemia and ß-thalassemia, that disrupts the MBD2:NuRD complex in human cells. This represents a novel therapeutic approach to ß-hemoglobinopathies, and is based on the observation that enforced expression of a small peptide from the GATAD2A protein could disrupt complex formation and block DNA... Read More
Lead Oxysalt Thin Layers to Improve Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiency and Stability
19-0012 – A lead oxysalt coating has been developed that stabilizes perovskite surfaces against degradation and enhances the long-term performance of organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells. Many classes of perovskite solar cells show promise to be cheaper and more efficient than traditional silicon-based solar cells; however, perovskite solar cells suffer from various surface defects that rapidly... Read More
Biologically Targeted Photo-Crosslinkable Nano-Patch to Prevent Postsurgical Peritoneal Adhesion
18-0101 – A biologically targeted, photo-crosslinkable nanopatch (pCNP) that prevents postsurgical adhesion has been developed. Peritoneal adhesion occurs in a majority of patients following abdominal surgery and can result in significant side effects and complications. Current strategies to minimize adhesions involve the use of nontargeted anatomical barriers that are either inefficient in protecting... Read More
Small Molecules for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Disorders
10-0118 – Small molecules that can bind dopamine receptor D2 have been developed for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The compounds developed have both agonist and antagonist activity and were proven effective in in vitro and in vivo models. Significantly, in hyperlocomotion mouse models, these compounds showed efficacy and potency without inducing catalepsy. These compounds can... Read More
Advanced Colonoscopy Imaging Technology
19-0148 – Colonoscopy reduces the rate of colorectal cancers following colonoscopy (interval cancers) by 50-60%. However, colonoscopy fails to find at least 20% of polyps, especially “flat” polyps. Polyps are missed because not all of the colon surface is effectively surveyed by current visualization systems or the polyps were seen but not effectively recognized by the current imaging technology. This... Read More
Hydrogen-bond Enriched Ion Exchange Membranes
19-0027 – The UNC innovation is polymer chemistry for synthesizing ion-selective membranes (anion and cation exchange membranes) that increase the number of hydrogen bonding sites inside the polymer. The addition of hydrogen bonding sites can dramatically increase the conductivity of the membrane without substantially changing its selectivity. This behavior is in contrast to conventional membranes,... Read More
Rate Sorted Entropy Coding
19-0098 – Entropy coding techniques such as arithmetic coding are well-known and commonly used in many compression algorithms including all modern video coding standards. UNC is developing rated sorted entropy coding that improves upon existing methods. The UNC approach can be applied to existing standardized video compression schemes that rely on arithmetic encoding without having to fully decode and... Read More
Assessing Lower Extremity Movement Quality
18-0003 – Clinical assessment tools can provide a simple and efficient method for identifying problems in the musculoskeletal system that may result in athletic injury. Sports medicine clinicians can often use the results of such assessment tools to develop effective intervention programs for injury prevention and rehabilitation. This innovation provides an objective and autonomous system to classify... Read More
Dynamic Vision Correction for In-focus Viewing of Real and Virtual Objects
18-0094 – The UNC invention provides a system that corrects dynamically for the focus of the real world surrounding a near-eye display of an augmented reality user, simultaneously with the internal display of augmented synthetic imagery, with an aim of completely replacing the user’s prescription eyeglasses. The ability to adjust focus for both real and virtual stimuli will be useful for a wide variety... Read More
Novel Estimation of Pose Configuration
18-0112 – It is well understood that high tracking rates are critical for AR/VR systems for immersive experiences, yet there currently exists no practical, portable system that comes close to next-generation tracking performance. This UNC innovation utilizes rolling shutter and radial distortion – two image features typically treated as camera artifacts to be corrrected – and leverages them to... Read More
Composite Membrane-Coated Electrodes for Nitric Oxide Detection and Quantification
18-0073 – An improved sensor has been developed for various analytes, including nitric oxide. Electrochemical techniques for in situ sensing currently offer the highest spatial and temporal resolution, but unmodified electrodes suffer from a lack of selectivity and performance degradation in complex biological media due to interferents and biofouling. The present technology improves the performance of... Read More
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) That Increases T Cell Metabolism and Lifetime
18-0109 – A novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that increases CAR-T cell function has been engineered. Typically, a CAR is comprised of a targeting ligand capable of binding to a specific antigen, and at least one co-stimulatory signal domain (CSSD), such as 4-1BB or CD28, that enhances T cell effector functions. We have developed a new CSSD derived from the herpes virus mediator (HVEM) protein,... Read More
Small Molecule Mutant IDH1 Inhibitors Useful for Treating Cancer
16-0001 – Small molecule inhibitors of mutant Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) have been developed for the treatment of cancer. Normal IDH1 converts isocitrate into ketoglutarate. A mutated form of IDH1 is found in several cancers including glioma, cholangiocarcinoma, and acute myeloid leukemia. Expression of mutated IDH1 leadd to elevated levels of R-2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). 2HG has been linked to... Read More
Cell Line: AALEB
19-0116 – AALEB is an engineered cancer cell line, which was prepared from primary human bronchial epithelial cells that were serially transformed by retorvial driven expression of SV40 early region genes, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, and selection markers. Related Publications:
Cell Line: UNCCF7T
19-0150 – This is a growth enhanced cell line derived from primary epithelial cells originally obtained from the explanted lungs of a donor with cystic fibrosis, in accordance with an IRB-approved protocol, that underwent lung transplantation. The CFTR genotype is G542X homozygous, enabling this cell line to be used to study the biology and potential therapies for diseases created by premature... Read More
Stereocontrolled Vinyl Ether Polymerization for Accessing Functional Thermoplastic Materials
19-0009 – A universal method for generating isotactic polyvinyl ethers (iso-PVEs) has been developed. While polyolefins offer excellent thermomechanical properties at low cost, their lack of polar functionality renders them unable to interface with other materials for high performance applications. Iso-PVEs are an intrinsically polar class of polymers that demonstrate plasticity and high tensile... Read More
Production of Stable Perovskite Films for Photovoltaic Solar Cells using Bilateral Alkylamine Additives
19-0079 – A simple method for formulating perovskite inks that leads to scalable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with unprecedented stability and efficiency has been developed by UNC-CH researchers. The use of bilateral alkylamine additives (BAAs) retained 90% of the initial PSC power conversion efficiency for > 20 days under operational light conditions and > 40 days shelf lifetime. The BAA... Read More
Regioselective C–H Xanthylation as a Platform Technology for Polyolefin Functionalization
18-0040 – The incorporation of commodity polyolefins into high performance materials is currently limited by their chemical and physical properties. The present invention is a synthetic platform for introducing a diverse range of chemical functionalities into commercial polyolefins. This post-polymerization functionalization features site-selective C–H xanthylation of the polyolefin which allows for... Read More
Use of Aminobisphosphonates as Latency Reversing Agents
18-0151 – Novel methods for the reversal of latency in HIV infected cells, and for the clearance of latently infected cells have been discovered. Aminobisphosphonates (N-BPs) are a class of drug currently FDA approved for the treatment of several diseases involving the loss of bone density. Our investigators have demonstrated that N-BPs can reverse latent HIV viruses in infected immune cells without... Read More
Epitope and Antibody for Prevention of Zika and Dengue Viruses
17-0061 – An epitope that can elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENZ) has been developed. ZIKV and DENV are endemic in South America and elsewhere, and can lead to fetal malformations, neurological disease and death. Complicating the efforts to develop vaccines is the fact that the generation of cross-reactive antibodies against only one serotype of DENV... Read More
Repurposing Dabuzalgron to Prevent and Treat Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure
15-0105 – Dr. Paul Simpson Jr. at University of California, San Francisco and Dr. Brain C Jensen at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill have identified and developed a new indication for dabuzalgron: prevention and treatment of cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Dabuzalgron is an alpha-1A- adrenergic receptor agonist that can stimulate smooth muscle contraction in higher doses; however, in this... Read More
Reconstructing Detailed Textured Surface Models from Endoscopic Videos
18-0149 – A method has been developed for constructing an accurate three-dimensional textured surface from an endoscopic video, and for transferring information from the reconstruction onto images gathered through other modalities such as computed tomography (CT). This technology facilitates more efficient and thorough review by clinicians and researchers and has demonstrated usefulness in planning... Read More
Crosslinked Hyperbranched Poly(aryletherketone) Membranes for Gas Separation at Elevated Temperature
19-0022 – Gas separation techniques currently use energy-intensive condensation methods. While the high chemical and thermal stability of commercially available PAEKs make them promising membrane candidates, poor solubility hinders their processability and low glass transition temperatures (~150°C) limits their applicability for high temperature separations. Soluble, reactive hyperbranched... Read More
Gamma Secretase Inhibitors Attenuate Vascular Malformations
16-0192 – Gamma secretase inhibitors (GSI) have been determined to attenuate vascular malformations by inhibiting NOTCH expression in endothelial cells. Vascular malformations are developmental abnormalities of venous, arterial, capillary or lymphatic vessels which have significant morbidities such as pain, infection, pulmonary emboli, bleeding and even death. There is growing interest in medical... Read More
Recombinant Antigens for Differential Serological Detection of Remote Zika Infection
18-0017 – Two novel antigens have been developed for the serological diagnosis of Zika virus. Accurate diagnosis of Zika is critically important to its treatment, prevention, and further clinical research. Antibodies raised in response to other flaviviruses are often cross reactive to Zika virus, complicating serological diagnosis. These novel recombinant antigens demonstrate lower cross reactivity as... Read More
Highly Specific and Neutralizing Therapeutic Antibodies for Zika Virus
18-0023 – Our investigators have identified two highly specific and neutralizing antibodies isolated from a traveler naïve to all serotypes of Dengue. The antibodies (A9E and G9E) can be used against 7 different Zika virus types and react only to Zika virus and no other flaviviruses. Applications: •Diagnosis and treatment of Zika virus infection. •Antibody sequences for vaccine development. ... Read More
AAV-Based Gene Therapy for Equine Osteoarthritis
17-0041 – An AAV-based gene therapy has been developed to treat equine osteoarthritis (OA). Interleukin receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra) blocks joint inflammation caused by IL-1b stimulated cells, and for this reason, it has shown promise in the treatment of OA. Our OA gene therapy cassette utilizes an optimized self-complimentary AAV to produce significant levels of IL-1ra in vivo. In equine... Read More
Light Triggered CRISPR/Cas9 for Spatial and Temporal Control of Genome Editing
16-0095 – A novel, light-activated Cas9 protein has been developed for better special and temporal control of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system. The addition of a caged lysine residue keeps Cas9 dormant by default, but in the presence of light the lysine caging group falls off and Cas9 springs into action. Unlike standard CRISPR/Cas9, which has full reign over the body, our light-activated system... Read More
BALB/c Latency Mouse Line
19-0023 – BALB/c mice are commonly used for B cell hybridoma development because of their predictable B cell responses to various antigens. Our investigators have developed the tg801 transgenic mouse line, (BALB/c latency mice), as an alternative to the commonly used BALB/c or BALB/c/FcgR2b KO mouse that are often used for hybridoma development. Our mouse line was created via random insertion of a... Read More
Wnt1 as a Therapeutic to Enhance Cardiac Repair and Increase Blood Flow in Patients with PVD
11-0002 – Wnt-1 has been identified as a potential new therapeutic agent to enhance cardiac repair in patients with heart ailments, and to increase blood flow in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Following acute cardiac injury, Wnt1 orchestrates a critical early repair response and disruption of downstream Wnt1 signaling leads to heart failure and death. Furthermore, studies in mice show that... Read More
Interactive Sound Propagation in Virtual Environments
13-0038 – This technology provides an efficient technique for modeling sound propagation effects in indoor and outdoor scenes for interactive applications. The technique generates immersive directional reverberation and reflection effects, and can easily scale to multi-channel speaker configurations. It is easy to implement and can be easily integrated into any modern game engine without significantly... Read More
Interactive Wave-Based Sound Propagation
13-0080 – This technology provides a novel approach for incorporating dynamic source and listener directivity in a general frequency-domain, wave-based sound propagation technique. The UNC approach can automatically model wave-effects from low-frequency directional sources and can handle analytical, data-driven, rotating or dynamic directivity at runtime. The spatial sound based on listener directivity... Read More
Direct-to-Indirect Acoustic Radiance Transfer
11-0048 – This invention provides an efficient algorithm for simulating diffuse reflections of sound in a static scene. The UNC approach is built on advances in precomputed light transport techniques for visual rendering and uses them to develop an improved acoustic radiance transfer technique. It precomputes a direct-to-indirect acoustic transfer operator for a scene, and uses it to map direct sound... Read More
Image Analysis with Deep Learning For Molecular Subtyping of Breast Cancer
19-0010 – RNA-based, multi-gene molecular assays are available and widely used for patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancers. However, RNA-based genomic tests can be costly and are not available in many countries. Methods for inferring molecular subtype from histologic images may identify patients most likely to benefit from further genomic testing. To identify patients who could benefit... Read More
Camera Control Unit Communications Breakout Box
18-0145 – In broadcast video technology, a camera control unit is an electronic device, usually in the form of a rack-mounted box, that connects to a video camera and to external video recording, display, and control devices. One problem with connectors provided on camera control units is that many external intercom, program voice, and tally systems require other types of connectors, such as XLR... Read More
Conserved Epitopes for Vaccination Against GII.4 Norovirus Strains
17-0144 – Antigenic diversity within the GII.4 genotype of human norovirus is a significant hurdle to the development of cross-protective immunity after natural infection and vaccination. Our investigators have developed a method of identifying conserved GII.4 norovirus epitopes. Using this method, a conserved GII.4 antibody epitope and residues that mediate antibody access to this conserved epitope... Read More
Tensegrity Wheel with Force-Based Motion
17-0124 – A tensegrity wheel capable of being steered simply by applying force, has been developed. Terrestrial, long distance travel, either on Earth or a celestial body, benefits from overall weight reduction. Tensegrity structures are inherently lightweight and can facilitate weight reduction. The tensegrity wheel invented at UNC Chapel Hill is of much simpler design than previously disclosed... Read More
MTAP Inhibitors for Treatment of Airway Inflammation Associated with CF and COPD
16-0020 – Small molecules have been identified that decreases inflammation associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) and COPD. Accumulation of the metabolite 5’-methylthioadenosine (MTA) promotes an anti-inflammatory response. However, the direct administration of MTA is not a viable therapeutic strategy due to poor pharmacokinetics. The small molecules we developed increase endogenous MTA levels by the... Read More
Osseous Distractor for Cranial Reconstruction
18-0065 – A novel device for osseous distraction has been invented. Current osseous distractors, particularly those for cranial reconstruction, can cause scarring, skin infections and wound breakdown. These complications are often responsible for treatment failure. UNC researchers have designed a novel device that can eliminate or negate most of these problems. This new distractor has a low profile in... Read More
Using phase-changing nanodroplets to dissolve blood clots with ultrasound
18-0123 – Thrombosis, or pathologic blood clot formation, causes many vascular diseases. UNC researchers have developed a new method for using ultrasound to dissolve blood clots which improves on existing thrombosis treatment practices. The technique combines ultrasound with use of nanodroplets which convert from liquid to gas when exposed to ultrasound energy. This phase change enhances the disruption... Read More
Nanofiber-based immunotherapeutic drug delivery specifically targeted to the atherosclerotic niche
18-0152 – A nanodrug delivery system has been developed which precisely targets controlled immunotherapeutics to the atherosclerotic niche. This system is comprised of therapeutic peptides tethered to nanofibers which self-assemble from peptide amphiphiles. These complexes are targeted specifically to atherosclerotic lesions. In addition to its specificity, the nanofiber-based delivery system stands... Read More
Long-acting injectable multipurpose implants for treatment of osteoporosis
18-0167 – Osteoporosis, a chronic disease associated with a decrease in bone strength and increase in bone fractures, leads to high rates of morbidity and mortality globally. UNC researchers have developed a novel long-acting, multipurpose implant as a treatment option for osteoporosis which is safer, more effective, and more versatile than current first-line therapies for osteoporosis which require... Read More
Improved removal of stimulation artifacts in intracranial electroencephalography
18-0136 – Cortical oscillations are associated with key cognitive functions and show impairment in many psychiatric disorders. They are most effectively measured using direct cortical stimulation (DCS) in intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG). A new algorithm has been developed to remove artifacts caused by DCS when recording iEEG signal. This technique, which has been validated on simulated and... Read More
Novel PET tracers for predicting tumor response to immunotherapy
17-0028 – Labeled Positron Emmision Tomography (PET) imaging tracers have been developed which can easily screen tumors for responsiveness to specific immunotherapies. This low-cost screening method prevents application of costly immunotherapy to non-responsive tumors. These novel tracers are also relevant to serotonin pathways important in diabetes and neurophysiology. Advantages:
Light catalyzed radiofluorination
17-0133 – This new method of fluorinating biomolecules for PET imaging and other therapeutic applications is catalyzed by light, making it more adaptable than other fluorination methods. This allows easier fluorination of a broader range of molecules including drugs and proteins and avoids the use of potentially hazardous heavy metals. Advantages:
Combined Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARGI) Ultrasound and Elastography for Improved Tissue Imaging
12-0104 – Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) ultrasound is a tissue imaging method where a short duration impulse (on the order of microseconds) of relatively high acoustic energy is transmitted into the body. The tissue’s response in terms of its peak displacement and subsequent recovery from displacement is used as an indicator of the tissue’s mechanical properties. The use of ARFI for... Read More
Increased Recombinant AAV Vector Yield Using Engineered Assembly Activating Proteins
18-0116 – Assembly Acting Proteins (AAPs) are required for adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) capsid formation. Novel engineered Assembly Activating Proteins (eAAPs) have been developed with enhanced stability that promote viral assembly and enhance vector yields of recombinant AAV by 200% over wildtype AAP. eAAPs can address some of the manufacturing limitations of AAV needed for gene therapy, gene... Read More
Novel Cross-Linker and Related Methods of Isotope Tagging for Analysis of Protein Interactions
13-0034 – An isotope labeled cross-linker has been developed to improve the detection of cross-linked peptides. Chemical cross-linking is often used to study protein-protein interactions, however gas-phase dissociation reactions of cross-linkers often lack the sensitivity and specificity to fragment the cross-linker at the desired location. Consequently, there is a need for improved cross-linkers for... Read More
Topical Tigecycline to Control Endodontic Infections
18-0031 – Endodontic infections result from a variety of bacteria and require treatment, which can include tooth extraction. The severity of infection can lead to hospital stay, morbidity, and even mortality, if not cared for properly. Though antibiotics are ideal, some bacteria have developed a resistance, as a result of antibiotic use in both medicine and dentisty. Tigecycline is a promising... Read More