Additional Information
Start-Up Opportunities
Life Sciences
First-In-Class Isoform Specific HDAC Inhibitors: Lead Compounds for the Treatment of Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Harvard References: 2436, 2672, 2673Applications and Benefits: Researchers at the Broad Institute of Harvard University (Stuart Schreiber) and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Drs. Ken Anderson and Jay Bradner) have discovered a novel set of first-in-class HDAC inhibitors that target a specific HDAC isoform--HDAC6. Recent studies have demonstrated a primary role for HDAC 6 in both aggresome-mediated diseases (cancer and neurodegenerative diseases) as well as microtubule-associated cell motility (metastatic cancer).
Innovation: The advantage of these small molecules over other HDAC inhibitors currently in development is their specificity and efficacy at low nanomolar concentrations; thus providing for a lower toxicity profile in human subjects.
Contact: Laura Brass, laura_brass@harvard.edu
Mu Opioid Peptidomimetics: Lead Compounds for the Treatment of Pain
Harvard References: 1472 and 2129Applications and Benefits: Although peptides have shown some promise in clinical trials as therapeutic agents, their success has largely been limited by several factors, including rapid degradation by peptidases, poor cell permeability, and a lack of binding specificity resulting from conformational inflexibility. Researches at Harvard University have overcome these limitations with the advance of peptidomimetics--a system for the production of modified chemical compounds capable of mimicking the structural and or functional properties of peptides. Using this approach they have generated nonpeptidic ligands to a key receptor involved in pain relief, the mu opioid receptor (MOR). Selection assays using compounds of this series exhibited was 600% more selective for MOR than the delta opioid receptor (DOR) and kappa opioid receptor (KOR), respectively.
Innovation: This selectivity profile of the lead compounds along with the synthesis platform has far-reaching implications for the discovery of next-generation therapeutics for the treatment of pain.
Contact: Laura Brass, laura_brass@harvard.edu
Applied Sciences, Computer Science, Physical Sciences and Engineering
Medical Devices and Related Applications
Harvard Reference: 2774A Novel Biologically Selective “Smart” Surgical and Diagnostic Medical Device
Application and Benefits: (a) Surgical instruments that can bind to and remove analytes, cells, and tissues with molecular specificity and sensitivity – for example, a catheter capable of detecting and removing athlerosclerotic lesions. (b) Diagnostic tool for specific blood or urine markers – for example, instant diagnosis of heart attack. (c) Other clinical applications may leverage the novel versatile polymer films to regulate analyte concentrations in solution or provide localized delivery of drugs or analytes, while non-clinical applications may generate label-free electrochemical CMOS microarrays and proteomic chips. The devices are highly sensitive and specific in their reversible binding.
Innovation: Molecular sensitivity is generated through dopants (e.g., ligands, receptors, ions, surfactants) on a conductive polymer film functionalized to the surface of a surgical instrument. Improvements over the prior art include the novel use of reversible polymer films with a medical device substrate, significantly enhanced fabrication protocol, improved charge transfer kinetics, and conductive polymer films sensitive to a wide dynamic range of binding events (e.g., nanoscale range). Doped ligands or receptors may include proteins, enzymes, analytes, biomolecules, DNA, mRNA, fatty acids, drug compounds or synthetic peptides
Contact: Michal Preminger, michal_preminger@harvard.edu
Enhanced MRI Rivals the Imaging Performance of PET by Using Hyper-polarized Nanoparticle Imaging Agents
Harvard References: 2572, 2620, 2648Applications and Benefits: Enables real-time MRI imaging at resolutions rivaling those of PET scans (a $2B market in 2004, growing at 11.5% annually)…but at lower cost, improved patient safety, and the ability to leverage the much wider availability of MRI equipment. The technology can be used as a diagnostic for very specific diseases / tumors and to track effectiveness of drugs and cell therapies (drug discovery and efficacy).
Innovation: Novel Nanoparticle Imaging Agent (NIA) can be attached to biologically relevant macromolecules (e.g. Monoclonal Antibodies) to make long-life Combination Products (nanoparticle + biologic) that can be tracked through the body using MRI. The nanoparticles are biologically inert and the NIA has long life for imaging over time.
Contact: Alan Gordon, alan_gordon@harvard.edu
Applications in Computer Science / IT
Secure On-line Auctions Protect Against Fraud in Large Financial Transactions
Harvard References: 2693, 2930, 2931Applications and Benefits: Reduce fraud by keeping bids secret and encourage honest bidding by using advanced auction models. This is of particular interest to procurement professionals at large corporations and financial institutions using sealed bid auctions.
Innovation: The software protocols completely hide the value of all bids until the auction's close -- even from the auctioneer -- and ensure correctness and provide trust. After the auction, the auctioneer opens the bids but can still announce an outcome and prove it correct without revealing any bid to anyone else. The protocols and software support auctions of one or many identical items and extend to facilitate real-time cryptographic securities exchanges.
Contact: Alan Gordon, alan_gordon@harvard.edu
Applications in Energy, Physical Sciences, Engineering
Instrument for Rapid, Real-time Measurement of Thermal Properties of Materials
Harvard Reference: 2755Application and Benefits: Ultra-fast, high precision measurement of thermal properties of materials using only thin films of the materials. Measurements include thermal conductivity and differential scanning calorimetry. Because the measurement is done using novel micro-scale sensors, many measurements can be done at one time to quickly characterize thermal properties as a function of material composition, thickness, etc. This is of particular use for companies that are synthesizing new materials or new alloys, or for anyone involved in thin-film deposition.
Innovation: This instrument relies on a novel micro-scale sensor design. Arrays of these sensors can be cost-effectively incorporated into any substrate onto which materials under study can be deposited. Once the material is deposited, the sensors capture information on thermal properties very rapidly.
Contact: Daniel Behr, daniel_behr@harvard.edu