Harvard faculty Don Ingber, Stuart Schreiber, David Liu, Amy Wagers, Steve Gygi, Ulrich von Andrian, Vahid Tarokh, and David Mooney are among the inventors issued U.S. patents during September 2016.

The innovations recognized are as follows:

High strength chitin composite material and method of making
U.S. Patent 9,433,698 (September 6, 2016)

Donald E. Ingber and Javier Gomez Fernandez

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composite laminar material with high mechanical strength and methods of fabricating the material. The invention also provides a method of attaching a medical implant device to tissue.

Deacetylase inhibitors and uses thereof
U.S. Patent 9,434,686 (September 6, 2016)

Weiping Tang, James E. Bradner, and Stuart L. Schreiber

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The inventive compounds are useful as deacetylase inhibitors (e.g., histone deacetylase inhibitors) and may be useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases such as cancer. In particular, the inventive compounds are HDAC6 inhibitors. The invention also provide synthetic methods for preparing the inventive compounds. [Structure]

Protein surface remodeling
U.S. Patent 9,434,774 (September 6, 2016)

David R. Liu, Kevin John Phillips, and Michael S. Lawrence

Abstract: Aggregation is a major cause of the misbehavior of proteins. A system for modifying a protein to create a more stable variant is provided. The method involves identifying non-conserved hydrophobic amino acid residues on the surface of a protein, suitable for mutating to more hydrophilic residues (e.g., charged amino acids). Any number of residues on the surface may be changed to create a variant that is more soluble, resistant to aggregation, has a greater ability to re-fold, and/or is more stable under a variety of conditions. The invention also provides GFP, streptavidin, and GST variants with an increased theoretical net charge created by the inventive technology. Kits are also provided for carrying out such modifications on any protein of interest.

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF-11) for treatment of diastolic heart failure
U.S. Patent 9,434,779 (September 6, 2016)

Richard T. Lee, Francesco Loffredo, James Pancoast, Matthew Steinhauser, and Amy Wagers

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to treatments for, e.g., diastolic heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy, and related conditions.

Methods of identifying interactions between genomic loci
U.S. Patent 9,434,985 (September 6, 2016)

Job Dekker, Erez Lieberman, Nynke Van Berkum, Andreas Gnirke, Eric Lander, Chad Nusbaum, Louise Williams, Alexandre Melnikov, and Georgia Giannoukos

Abstract: The disclosed Hi-C protocol can identify genomic loci that are spatially co-located in vivo. These spatial co-locations may include, but are not limited to, intrachromosomal interactions and/or interchromosomal interactions. Hi-C techniques may be applied to many different scales of interest. For example, on a large scale, Hi-C techniques can be used to identify long-range interactions between distant genomic loci.

Mass spectrometry for multiplexed quantitation using multiple frequency notches
U.S. Patent 9,437,407 (September 6, 2016)

Graeme Conrad McAlister, Wilhelm Haas, and Steven P. Gygi

Abstract: A method of performing a mass spectrometry analysis includes labeling each of a plurality of samples with a corresponding chemical tag; forming a first plurality of ions from molecules in the samples; selecting a subset of the first plurality of ions, the subset being selected by isolating ions of the first plurality of ions in a plurality of ranges of mass-to-charge; forming a second plurality of ions by fragmenting ions in the subset; and measuring information indicative of a quantity of each of the plurality of chemical tags present in each of the plurality of samples.

Adjuvant incorporation in immunonanotherapeutics
U.S. Patent 9,439,859 (September 13, 2016)

Frank Alexis, Matteo Iannacone, Jinjun Shi, Pamela Basto, Elliott Ashley Moseman, Ulrich von Andrian, Robert S. Langer, Omid C. Farokhzad, and Elena Tonti

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and systems for delivery of nanocarriers to cells of the immune system. The invention provides nanocarriers capable of stimulating an immune response in T cells and/or in B cells. The invention provides nanocarriers that comprise an immunofeature surface and an immunostimulatory moiety. In some embodiments, the immunostimulatory moiety is adjuvant. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising inventive nanocarriers. The present invention provides methods of designing, manufacturing, and using inventive nanocarriers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.

Compositions and methods for sensitizing a neoplastic cell to radiation
U.S. Patent 9,439,909 (September 13, 2016)

Mohamed Abazeed, Matthew Meyerson, and Drew Adams

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of radiation sensitizing agents in combination with radiation for the treatment of neoplasia, methods for the identification of genotype-specific radiation sensitizing agents, and methods of identifying patients who could benefit from therapy with a genotype-specific radiation sensitizing agent.

Method and apparatus for using gait analysis to determine a health quality measure
U.S. Patent 9,443,063 (September 13, 2016)

Saeed S. Ghassemzadeh, Lusheng Ji, Robert Raymond Miller II, Manish Gupta, and Vahid Tarokh

Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for calculating a health quality measure are disclosed. For example, a method receives characteristics of motion information, wherein the characteristics of motion information is based upon gait information, monitors the characteristics of motion information over a time period to determine a plurality of different modes of motion within the time period, and calculates the health quality measure based upon the plurality of different modes of motion.

Enhancing diagnosis of disorder through artificial intelligence and mobile health technologies without compromising accuracy
U.S. Patent 9,443,205 (September 13, 2016)

Dennis Wall

Abstract: A computer system for generating a diagnostic tool by applying artificial intelligence to an instrument for diagnosis of a disorder, such as autism. For autism, the instrument can be a caregiver-directed set of questions designed for an autism classification tool or an observation of the subject in a video, video conference, or in person and associated set of questions about behavior that are designed for use in a separate autism classification tool. The computer system can have one or more processors and memory to store one or more computer programs having instructions for generating a highly statistically accurate set of diagnostic items selected from the instrument, which are tested against a first test using a technique using artificial intelligence and a second test against an independent source. Also, a computer implemented method and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for detecting disease regression through network-based gait analysis
U.S. Patent 9,445,769 (September 20, 2016)

Saeed S. Ghassemzadeh, Lusheng Ji, Robert Raymond Miller II, Manish Gupta, and Vahid Tarokh

Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for determining a regression of a medical condition are disclosed. For example, a method receives characteristics of motion information, wherein the characteristics of motion information is based upon gait information, compares the characteristics of motion information over a time period to a profile of the medical condition, wherein the profile of the medical condition comprises a plurality of signatures associated with different stages of the medical condition, determines a potential presence of the regression of the medical condition when the characteristics of motion information matches one of the plurality of signatures, and transmits a notification of the potential presence of the regression of the medical condition.

Scaffolds for cell transplantation
U.S. Patent 9,446,107 (September 20, 2016)

David J. Mooney, Omar Abdel-Rahman Ali, Eduardo Alexandre Barros E Silva, Hyun Joon Kong, Elliot Earl Hill Jr., and Tanyarut Boontheekul

Abstract: A device that includes a scaffold composition and a bioactive composition with the bioactive composition being incorporated into or coated onto the scaffold composition such that the scaffold composition and/or a bioactive composition controls egress of a resident cell or progeny thereof. The devices mediate active recruitment, modification, and release of host cells from the material.

Small molecule inhibitors of ebola and lassa fever viruses
U.S. Patent 9,452,992 (September 27, 2016)

James Cunningham, Kyungae Lee, Tao Ren, and Kartik Chandran

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of infection by enveloped viruses, such as Ebola and Lassa fever viruses.