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necrostatin
Summary A new paradigm in cell death has been discovered, Necroptosis. Necroptosis reflects a distinct mechanistic pattern of programmed cell death that combines elements of passive unregulated necrosis and organized, energy-dependent apoptosis. Activated by the TNF family, sterols, and toll-like re
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Prevention of Tularemia Using an Enhanced Live Attenuated Vaccine Strain
Summary Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis) is an intracellular and facultative bacterium that is the etiological agent of tularemia. Government concern over F. tularensis as a biowarfare agent has been raised due to its high virulence when aerosolized. In the laboratory setting, a live attenuate
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Detection of Invasive Bladder Cancer by DNA Hypermethylation
Summary Background: The National Cancer Institute has estimated that in year 2008, 68,810 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in United States, causing 14,100 deaths. The mortality of this cancer is attributed to the invasiveness of solid tumors into the muscular layers of the bladder. Cli
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Proteasome-Mediated Degradation of RISC: Lead Target for Treatment of Long-Term Memory Disorders
Summary Background: Breakthrough research by Professor Sam Kunes and colleagues at Harvard University demonstrates that degradative control of the miRNA RISC pathway underlies the synaptic pattern of protein synthesis associated with the establishment of a stable long-memory. Manipulation of this pa
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Targeting the Par-4 Protein as a Novel Approach in Depression Treatment
Summary Harvard researchers have discovered methods for identifying agents that modulate the interaction between Par-4 and the dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR). The ability to screen for this interaction may provide researchers with the ability to identify specific small molecule inhibitors of this inter
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Novel Clinical Stage Treatments for Epilepsy and Pain
Summary The principal investigator has discovered that Huperzine A (HupA) is characterized by extremely potent therapeutic activity against epilepsy and chronic pain. HupA was tested in a formalin model of pain, in which it produced complete inhibition of pain behavior in all treated mice, with a do
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Novel Avrainvillamide-like Compounds with Anti-proliferative Properties
Summary Avrainvillamide and stephacidin B, (a dimer of avrainvillamide) have been identified in culture media from various strains of the fungus Aspergillus. Both compounds demonstrate anti-proliferative activity, and avrainvillamide is reported to exhibit antimicrobial activity against multidrug-re
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Tubacin for Myeloma Therapy
Summary Background: Nearly 10 million people throughout the world are diagnosed with cancer each year. The direct and indirect medical costs to treat cancer total more than $180 billion each year, and in the United States alone, cancer takes the lives of 1,500 people on average each day. One key tar
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A Novel Class of HIV Therapeutics: Monoclonal Antibodies that Neutralize Previously Resistant HIV Primary Isolates
Summary Background: Molecular studies of the genomic organization of HIV-1 show that it encodes a number of genes common to all retroviruses, such as the gag, pol, and env genes. The env gene of HIV-1 produces a cleaved envelope glycoprotein (gp120) that is expressed on the exterior viral envelope s
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Simultaneous Study of Multiple Genetic Interactions Using Multi-mutant Yeast
Summary While the Saccharomyces Genome Deletion Project succeeded in deleting many open reading frames in the S. cerevisiae genome, the possibility of multiple deletions in the same strain still represents an unmet challenge. A method has been discovered to precisely delete large numbers of genes in
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IL-8R and STAT-3 Modulation: Targeting Glioblastoma Multiforme and Other Brain Tumors
Summary There is an unmet need for better therapies against high grade anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Recent results suggest that that inhibiting IL-8 receptor activity and enhancing STAT3 activity may be used as a novel therapy against brain tumors. Cell-based assays validated
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Novel Peptide Therapeutic for Multiple Sclerosis
Summary Background: In Multiple Sclerosis, the host immune system (lead by T cells) attacks and destroys myelin basic protein, the principle component necessary for nerve transmission. Part and parcel of this immune response pathway are the so-called Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules.
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Genetic Test for Periodontal Disease
Summary Peridontitis is a serious oral disease characterized by highly painful loss of tissue between the tooth and the gingival tissue. In the US, it is estimated that dentists perform upwards of 28.5 million periodontal procedures each year, accounting for a multibillion dollar treatment market.
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Novel Anti-CMV Small Molecules
Summary Five structurally diverse small molecules have been discovered that inhibit human cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication with sub- to low micro-molar potency and at concentrations of up to 500-fold lower than those exhibiting cytotoxicity. These molecules represent a distinct departure from conte
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Next Generation Pulmonary Malarial Vaccine
Summary Scientists encounter difficult obstacles in attempting to develop vaccines against malaria. For example, malaria parasites of the same species but isolated from different geographic locations may be genetically and immunologically distinct, so vaccines that protect against one geographic iso
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Specific Targeting of Cell Division (and Cancer): Small molecule inhibitors of Eg5 Hold Potential for Enhanced Safety
Summary Prof. Mitchison’s group at Harvard was the first to show, very elegantly, that it is possible to specifically target cell division proteins other than tubulin by using a small molecule, monastrol, which targets Eg5 and leads to mitotic arrest. Eg5 is responsible for establishing and mainta
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Novel Candidates for Tuberculosis Therapy
Summary There is a need for new antibiotics that are useful against tuberculosis. Proteasomes of Mycobacterium tuberculosium are essential in enabling these bacteria to evade killing by macrophages of the infected host. Proteasome inhibitors, an emerging class of drugs, enhance the ability of host m
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Keratinocytes Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Summary The investigator has discovered a method for isolating and propogating keratinocytes from human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Production of an isolated keratinocyte culture proceeded step-wise from ES cell implantation in scid mice, followed by colony fragmentation of the embryoid body, circumf
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Small Molecule Approaches to the Management of Macular Degeneration by Short-Circuiting the Visual Cycle
Summary Age related macular degeneration (AMD) affects millions of persons worldwide and is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in ageing populations. In this disease, daytime vision (cone dominated vision) degrades with time because cone photoreceptors, which are concentrated in the foveal
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A Novel Class of Proteosome Inhibitors
Summary Harvard Medical School investigators has discovered a number of anticancer small molecules, termed ubistatins, that inhibit cell cycle machinery through interference with the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Lead ubistatins were able to arrest cyclin B proteolysis in Xenopus extract assays, and
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Transgenic GFP-Rhodopsin Zebrafish Model System for Study of Retinal Disease
Summary Background: Rhodopsin is a G-protein coupled receptor that initiates the light response upon absorption of a photon in the outer segment of the retina (ROS). Rhodopsin constitutes at least 90% of the total protein in the outer segment and as a consequence the efficient transport of this mole
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Susceptibility to Tuberculosis 1 (sst1): Novel Target for Diagnosis and Treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Summary Background: Tuberculosis is the seventh most important cause of global premature mortality and disability. Currently there are 8 million new cases and 3 million deaths annually from tuberculosis, and it is projected that a total of 225 million new cases and 79 million deaths will occur betwe
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Saframycin Assay
Summary Background: Chemotherapeutic DNA-binding compounds exert their effects, in part, by preventing DNA synthesis and initiating events that leads to apoptotic death. Despite the excellent antiproliferative activity of these compounds, though, elucidating their particular modes of action (i.e. th
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BACE1 siRNA reduces A-Beta peptides in vivo
Summary BACE1 is a beta-secretase shown to cleave precursor molecules leading to the formation of amyloid proteins and plaques in Alzheimers patients. Dr. Li-huei Tsai and her collaborator Ken Kosik, MD (Brigham) have developed a method that inhibits BACE1 using siRNA. In tissue culture using neuron
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Animal Model of Diabetes and Obesity: Cross-bred JNK1 KO/JNK 2 KO Mice
Summary Mice with the JNK 1 and JNK2 genes knocked out were crossed with the obese mouse line (ob/ob) to create a mouse model of diabetes and obesity. These mice exhibit many of the hallmark metabolic pertubations characteristic in diabetes and obesity.
Nature: Vol 420, Nov 21, 2002, pp 333-336
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Col 2A promoter Cre transgenic mice
Summary Description: Modulating gene activity on chondrocytes
Transgenic mice were generated in which the regulatory sequences for the Col2a1 gene were used to drive expression of Cre recombinase in chondrocytes. The strain initiates Cre-mediated recombination predominantly in immature chondrocyt
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Mu Opioid Peptidomimetics: Lead Compounds for the Treatment of Pain
Summary Background: 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 inflex
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Treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse using selective inhibition of alpha 2 adrenergic receptors and dopamine D2 receptors
Summary To date, most alcohol and substance-abuse drugs have been plagued by moderate efficacy and a lack of specific target mechanisms. A new approach is proposed involving weighted inhibition of the brain’s alpha 2 noradrenergic receptors (A2) and dopamine D2 receptors (D2). Lowered dependency o
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Toxin-Phage Bacteriocide Antibiotic and Uses Thereof
Summary The rise of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains will necessitate the development of new strategies for treating bacterial infections. One potential alternative to conventional antibiotics is phage therapy - the use of bacteriophage viruses to specifically target and destroy disease-causin
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Anti-Mitotic Eg5 Inhibitors for Treatment of Cancer and Inflammatory Disease
Summary Background: Molecules targeting mitosis and microtubule stability are important for the treatment of cancer. Unfortunately, the mechanism of action of these agents can cause undesirable toxicities For example, antimitotic agents such as taxol, epothilone, and vinca alkaloids produce toxicity
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Inhibitors of Cellular Necrosis
Summary A new paradigm in cell death has been discovered, Necroptosis. Necroptosis reflects a distinct mechanistic pattern of programmed cell death that combines elements of passive unregulated necrosis and organized, energy-dependent apoptosis. Activated by the TNF family, sterols, and toll-like re
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A Sensitive Assay to Identify Inhibitors of HSV DNA Polymerase
Summary Investigators from Harvard Medical School have developed a novel in vitro screening assay for small molecule inhibitors of viral DNA polymerase subunits. A number of hit have been identified with this assay that show antiviral effect in the low micromolar range, and the activity profiles of
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Ephrins as Novel Targets in Neuronal Regeneration
Summary Chemokines play an intrinsic role in immunity and neural trafficking through their interactions with GPCRs. A reverse signaling mechanism of Ephrin B/EphB receptor has been discovered to inhibit GPCR sensitivity to chemokine binding. Reduced GPCR sensitivity is mediated by a novel cytoplasmi
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Novel Peptide Therapeutic for Multiple Sclerosis
Summary Background: In Multiple Sclerosis, the host’s immune system (lead by T cells) attacks and destroys myelin basic protein, the principle component necessary for nerve transmission. Part and parcel of this immune response pathway are the so-called Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecu
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A Novel Class of Phospholipase A2 Preferentially Expressed in Th2 Cells
Summary This invention describes the identification of a novel, low molecular weight class of Phospholipase A2 enzyme, PLA2 Group XII, that is involved in Type 2 T helper (Th2) cell differentiation and activity. This enzyme provides a potential target for therapeutic modification of Th2 activity, in
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Methods to Regulate the Duration of Th2 Activation
Summary TID1 encodes two human mitochondrial matrix localized splice variants. Expression of each of two splice variants has opposing effects on the cell's ability to respond to exogenous apoptotic stimuli. TNF and mitomycin c both trigger apoptosis via hTID1(L) expression. Both forms affect cytochr
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Next Generation Diagnostics for Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, and Melanoma
Summary From the labs of Professor Alun Jones (inventor of CardioliteTM) and Professor Ashfaq Mahmood, comes a series of small molecule imaging probes, capable of conjugation to both SPECT-based and PET-based imaging agents. Lead candidates include sigma-1 and selective sigma-2 receptor probes in th
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Hyperactive mutant of the Himar1 mariner transposase
Summary Mariner-family transposable elements are active in a wide variety of organisms and so are important genetic engineering tools. The Himar1 element, isolated from the horn fly, Haematobia irritans, has been shown to be active in E. coli. Hyperactive variants of the corresponding transposase ha
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Fetal Alcohol/Alcoholism therapy
Summary Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and alcoholism are major social and medical problems worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that alcohols alter nervous system function by interacting directly with selective neural proteins. This has led to a hope that one may find specific alcohol antagonists that block
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Use of glycated CD59 levels to assess glycemic control in diabetic patients
Summary The invention enables rapid detection of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, or “pre-diabetesâ€) without oral glucose tolerance testing and permits identification of a population at risk of developing the vascular complications associated with diabetes. It also offers a robust tool for monit
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Identification and Characterization of Class II HDACs: Lead Targets for Treatment of Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Summary Background: One promising target of recent cancer therapy research involves a family of proteins primarily involved in gene regulation known as histone deacetylases or HDACs. Currently there are over 15 separate clinical trials ongoing with HDAC inhibitors. A major drawback with the use of p
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Identification and Characterization of Class II HDACs: Lead Targets for Treatment of Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Summary Background: One promising target of recent cancer therapy research involves a family of proteins primarily involved in gene regulation known as histone deacetylases or HDACs. Currently there are over 15 separate clinical trials ongoing with HDAC inhibitors. A major drawback with the use of p
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Identification of a Sequence Element from p53 that Signals for Mdm2-targeted Deg
Research at Harvard University has led to a novel means of protecting the cell against oncogenic tumor formation. This invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting degradation of tumor suppressor protein p53, thereby enhancing p53-mediated growth-suppressive properties. This technolo
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Calcipressins: Lead Targets for Autoimmune, Inflammatory, and Cardiovascular Disease
Summary The development of more selective immunosuppressive agents to mitigate transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases requires effective strategies of blocking signaling pathways in T cells. Current immunosuppressive strategies use cyclosporin A (CsA) or FK506 to inhibit calcineurin, which dep
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Direct and Practical Synthetic Route to Pseudopterosins: Important Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Pain, and Anti-Irritant Compounds
Summary Background: The pseudopterosins are a group of diterpene glycosides isolated from the Caribbean sea whip, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. The pseudopterosins represent an important structural class of anti-inflammatory and analgesic metabolites, and exhibit superior analgesic activity compare
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Valpha24JalphaQ Receptor: Lead Diagnostic and Therapeutic for Type I Diabetes
Summary Background: Autoimmune diseases are the result of a patient's immune system attacking their own cells and tissues. This can result in a wide variety of diseases, including multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and type 1 diabetes. Researchers at Harvard University have discovered a novel me
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Vaccine Compositions AMPERSAND Methods for Human Papilloma Virus
Summary This invention comprises methods of expressing the Human Papilloma Virus L1 and L2 proteins, and variations thereof, in bacterial host cells; the purification of the expressed proteins; and their use in the development and application of vaccine and diagnostic technologies.
Applications F
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Small Molecule Therapeutic and Screening Assays for Drugs Active Against Chronic Neural Degenerative Diseases.
Summary Huntington's disease, as well as other ataxias, are caused by the abnormal expansion of nucleic acid CAG repeats that code a glutamine stretch. These repeats are found within several otherwise non related proteins. The abnormally long polyglutamine tracts are believed to trigger programmed c
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Drug screening tool for herpes antivirals
Summary Harvard Medical School researchers have developed a genetically modified herpes simplex virus that has utility as a drug screening tool. To develop this tool, Harvard researchers engineered a replication competent herpes virus that contains green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to a viral re
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Polo-Like Kinase Polo Box: Lead Target for Cancer Therapeutics
Summary Elevated expression of mammalian polo-like kinase (Plk) 1 occurs in many different types of cancers, such as head and neck, squamous cell carcinomas, oropharyngeal carcinomas, non-small cell lung cancer, melanomas, and ovarian and endometrial carcinomas. Plk1 has also been proposed as a nove
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Systematic, condition-independent identification of essential genes of microorganisms
Summary Traditional antibiotics have been aimed at a small subset of cellular processes (such as cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis and mRNA synthesis) and targets (including DNA gyrase and the cell membrane). Linkage of additional genes, proteins and pathways with functions essential to microbi
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Cellular Basis of Vascular-Graft Stenosis
Summary The invention features a mouse model of vascular graft stenosis in which the stenosis develops rapidly and closely mimics the development of vascular graft stenosis in humans. Methods of surgically modifying a mouse artery to obtain the desired model are detailed.
About 400,000 patients u
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Novel Chemistry and Method to make Compounds Active Against Picornaviruses
Summary Picornaviruses are a large family of viruses responsible for many serious human and animal diseases, including hepatitis A, meningitis, diarrhea, summer flu, the common cold and polio. Several candidate antivirals have been shown to bind and inactivate picornaviruses. Current drugs active ag
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Cell Based Assay for Discovery of Glycogen Synthase Kinase Inhibitors
Summary Background: Lithium exhibits numerous physiological effects in animals. For example, lithium mimics insulin action by stimulating glycogen synthesis and is remarkably effective for the treatment of mania in many human patients. Research over the years has demonstrated that lithium administer
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Antisense Inhibition of Angiogenin Expression in Cancer
Summary Antisense oligonucleotides targeted to anigogenin and designed based on the known sequence of the ANG gene have been synthesized. Angiogenin is a potent positive mediator of neovascularization, a process required for both primary tumor growth and metastasis. Initial immoassay studies showed
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Methods for Improved Viability of Cells at Low Temperature
Summary Discovery of the linkage between the expression of Trigger Factor, a protein of previously-unknown function, and resistance of living cells to cold-shock has led to development of methods that enable prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to remain viable at temperatures at- or below which they wo
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Gene Therapy for Papillomavirus Induced Cervical Carcinoma
Summary Human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been linked to widespread, serious human diseases, especially carcinomas of the genital and oral mucosa.. These infections frequently lead to cancer of the cervix. It is estimated that 20% of all cancer deaths in women are from cancers associated with HPV, i
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Methods of Detecting and Treating Vaso-Occlusive Crisis in Sickle Cell Disease
Summary Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder caused by abnormal hemoglobin (Hgb S). Polymerization of Hgb S in the red blood cells distorts the cell shape causing abnormal cell function and premature cell death. The disease is chronic and life-expectancy is shortened. Individuals are most often
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A Strain of the Ehrlichial Agent
Summary The NCH-1 strain of the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), isolated from a Nantucket patient in 1994, is available as a continuous culture in HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. This strain has been molecularly characterised, and is identical within the rDNA sequence that was ana
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Liposome- Based, Intracellular Delivery of Drugs into Phagocytes, B- and T- cells and their tumor cells
Summary Liposomes are man-made spheres, or vesicles, with an aqueous interior enclosed by one or more phospholipid bilayers. Liposomes can enhance the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of therapeutics by allowing slow diffusion of a drug through the liposomal membrane, so that the concentration of the d
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Method and Kit for Evaluating Transformed Cells
Summary Human papillomaviruses (HPV's) are small DNA viruses of the papovavirus family that infect human epithelial cells. “Low risk†HPV’s can cause benign hyperplasia’s such as genital warts, while “high risk†HPV’s, e.g., HPV-16 and HPV-18 can cause carcinomas such as cervical or pe
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Monoamine Transporters: New Targets for Cocaine Abuse and CNS Diseases/Disorders Treatment
Summary This summary describes classes of compounds jointly designed, synthesized and evaluated through a collaboration between the laboratories of Professor Bertha K. Madras of Harvard Medical School and Dr. Peter C. Meltzer of Organix Inc., a private company in Woburn MA. The compounds target mono
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Purification of a Smooth Muscle Cell Mitogen from Beta Tumor Cell Conditioned Me
Summary This invention describes a novel human growth factor, sometimes referred to as "BTC-GF". BTC-GF is a mitogen for smooth muscle cells, 3T3 fibroblasts, and retinal pigment epithelial cells, but has no such effect on endothelial cells.
Applications -smooth muscle replication in hypertension
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Treating Diseases Associated with Oxidative Stress through the Metalothioneine System
Summary Since its initial discovery and characterization over 40 years ago by Vallee and colleagues, metallothionein has attracted a remarkable level of scientific attention due to its unique structural characteristics, its ubiquitous expression in eukaryotes, and its impressive metal binding and re
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A microfluidic differential manometer for cellular-scale hydrodynamics
Summary Background:
The development and application of microfluidic systems have increased dramatically in recent years. The systems that typically involve controlled fluid flow through a number of microfluidic channels can provide unique platforms useful in both research and production. Flow thr
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Hydroxapatite -Antigen Conjugates AMPERSAND Methods for Generating a Poly-IG Immune Resp
Summary Issued patents 5,443,832:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have discovered that hydroxylated calcium phosphate (HCP) particulate is a particularly useful carrier for antigens to be applied to mucosal surfaces. The antigen-HCP conjugate is transported across epithelium where it raises a poly
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Scaleable Hydrogen Production via Bioengineered Yeast Systems
Summary A new synthetic biology approach is proposed for producing hydrogen from bioengineered yeast strains. The invention applies aggressive engineering of metabolic pathways and reducing complexes to create a yeast microenvironment capable of producing hydrogen from glucose at theoretical maximum
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A Low Cost and Versatile Microbial Fuel Cell
Summary A novel, low-cost microbial fuel cell (MFC) capable of delivering high power, high-efficiency energy. The MFC takes advantage of an easily accessible and ubiquitous carbon source. The organic carbon source can be metabolized by a wide number of microbial types and the Girguis laboratory has
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Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) that are highly scalable and cost effective
Summary Low temperature, compact solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies.
A series of new Harvard technologies enables operation of SOFCs at low temperatures (300 deg. C to 600 deg. C). Operation at these temperatures (vs. the current ~1000 deg. C) is a sought-after goal of the fuel cell indus
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Robust and inexpensive actuator to generate motion in small-scale devices
Summary Innovation and Advantages: The invention is a novel design and fabrication of a millimeter scale SMA actuator used to generate motion. In addition, the researchers have developed a novel system for annealing shape memory alloys (SMA). This system allows for the creation of a spring that has
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Microfabricated, Chip-Based, Low-Power Optical Tweezers
Summary Since they were first demonstrated over twenty years ago, optical tweezers have been widely used for the manipulation and measurement of many microscale particles, particularly in the biological sciences. However, many of these systems require large, high-powered laser systems along with bul
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Method of Thick Specimen Imaging
Summary Conventional light microscopy can be used to visualize fine details of complex structures at or within microns of the surface of histological specimens. To see below the surface of a specimen, histologists currently slice it into thin sections to bring deeper structures to the surface. The p
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Slowing Down Light for Enhanced Detection of Biomolecules
Summary Allows for optical sensing and chemical and biological detection using extremely small and highly-sensitive devices. Also allows for fabrication of exceptionally small lasers for applications in displays and telecommunications, quantum optical devices, and barcoding.
Applications The phot
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Microfabricated, Chip-Based, Low-Power Optical Tweezers
Summary Since they were first demonstrated over twenty years ago, optical tweezers have been widely used for the manipulation and measurement of many microscale particles, particularly in the biological sciences. However, many of these systems require large, high-powered laser systems along with bul
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DNA Nanotube Liquid Crystals for NMR Structure Determination
Summary Scientists at the Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer institute have discovered how to make DNA nanotubes of a uniform length that will self-assemble into liquid crystals. A solution comprising liquid crystalline DNA nanotubes is resistant to detergent and enables liquid-crysta
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Novel and Efficient Algorithm for Analyzing Large Genotypic and Phenotypic Data Sets in Clinical Trials
Summary Background: Recent technologies such as genotype sequencing and gene expression arrays result in datasets that typically have many more variables than data points. As a consequence, these variables have a complex, high-dimensional dependency structure that is most likely unknown. As such, pr
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A Device for Allocation of Frozen Biological Samples Such as Blood and Tissues
Summary The frozen sample aliquotting instrument will extract aliquots from frozen samples such as plasma and serum without thawing the sample. This represents a new approach for biorepositories that will ensure that samples will experience only one freeze/thaw cycle, and dramatically reduce the lab
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Biological Computers: in Vivo Autonomous Doctors that Diagnose and Treat Disease
Summary Background: The promise of computers made from biological molecules lies in their potential to operate within the biochemical environment of a living organism and to interact with that environment through inputs and outputs with other biological molecules. For example, a biomolecular compute
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Portable and Inexpensive Chemical and Biological Sensors
Summary The broadly tunable quantum cascade laser (QCL) described in this invention enables the production of a small, portable chemical and biological sensor that can detect a range of molecules within a single, compact device. Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) are intraband semiconductor lasers that c
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A Novel Color Filter Array Design
Summary Background
In digital imaging applications, data are typically obtained via a spatial subsampling procedure implemented as a color filter array (CFA). CFA assigns a separate primary color to each pixel by placing a filter of that color over the pixel. The most well known CFA is the Bayer
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A Framework for Wavelet-Based Analysis and Processing of Color FIlter Array Images
Summary Background
In digital imaging applications, data are typically obtained via a spatial subsampling procedure implemented as a color filter array (CFA). CFA assigns a separate primary color to each pixel by placing a filter of that color over the pixel. The most well known CFA is the Bayer
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Creating Nano-Wrinkles of Virtually any Design on the Surface of Polymers
Summary Creating Nano-Wrinkles of Virtually any Design on the Surface of Polymers
Elevator pitch: A new method has been developed at Harvard to design and create virtually any type of nano-wrinkle patterns on the surfaces of polymers. Anticipated applications for these hard-skin nano-wrinkled s
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A Low Cost and Versatile Microbial Fuel Cell
Summary A novel, low-cost microbial fuel cell (MFC) capable of delivering high power, high-efficiency energy. The MFC takes advantage of an easily accessible and ubiquitous carbon source. The organic carbon source can be metabolized by a wide number of microbial types and the Girguis laboratory has
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Array of Micro Differential Scanning Calorimeters for Combinatorial Studies
Summary Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a primary technique for measuring the thermal properties of materials. A typical DSC system requires relatively large amounts of test material, making thermal measurements on nano-scale samples difficult if not impossible. Thus, while traditional DS
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An Ultra Low Power System Architecture for Sensor Network Applications
Summary Ultra-low-power chip for sensor network applications
Application and Benefits: Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are used in a wide variety of applications including environmental monitoring, vehicle tracking, health-care, and business supply-chain management. Often such networks must prov
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Fastlock Integer/Fractional-N Hybrid PLL Frequency Synthesizer
Summary Settling time is an important performance metric in the phase-locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizers. To achieve a fast settling time, the PLL loop bandwidth should be increased. In the widely used charge pump PLLs, however, the loop bandwidth cannot be undoubtedly large, but rather, is li
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Microscopy Methods and Apparatus for Manipulation and/or Detection of Biological Samples and Other Objects
Summary Invention
The invention is an integrated circuit(IC)/microfluidic hybrid system that combines the biocompatibility of microfluidic systems with the programmability of IC chips. The hybrid system consists of an IC and a microfluidic system fabricated on top of the IC. Biological cells atta
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A Novel Screening Method for Assessment of Psychopathologic Disorders
Summary Background: The advancement in psychiatric genetics and clinical neuroscience is hindered by the heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders and by difficulties in defining and characterizing the phenotype under investigation. A promising endophenotype is anhedonia, the loss of pleasure or lack o
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Active Optical Antennas
Summary Background Optical antennas are single or coupled metallic nanoparticles in which optical excitation of surface plasmons can produce very high intensities in the optical near field. The field enhancement relative to the incident field is maximum when the wavelength is suitably matched to the
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A microfluidic differential manometer for cellular-scale hydrodynamics
Summary Background:
The development and application of microfluidic systems have increased dramatically in recent years. The systems that typically involve controlled fluid flow through a number of microfluidic channels can provide unique platforms useful in both research and production. Flow thr
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Scanning Dielectrophoretic Tweezers for Particle Manipulation and Sensing
Summary Invention This invention is capable of positioning and sensing particles with intense localized electric fields. In one implementation of the invention, closely spaced electrodes on a tip generate a local radio frequency (RF) electric field at the end of the tip. In one aspect, the tip can b
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New Method of Measure Refractive Indices, (linear and circular) birefringences, as well as optical activity using a ring-resonator
Summary The invention is a new method and apparatus for performing refractive index, birefringence and optical cavity measurements of a material such as a solid, liquid or thin film. The invention makes use of an optical ring-resonator in the form of a fiber-loop resonator, or a race-track resonator
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Frictionless Nano-bearing
Summary Micro- and nanofabricated rotation and translation devices usually rely on the possibility to support the moving part on small dimples in order to reduce the contact area with the substrate. Nonetheless, large forces must be applied to overcome the residual friction. Furthermore, results lar
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Correlated Mutation Analysis-assisted Chimeric-Engineering/Directed-Evolution of Novel Portein/Enzyme Function
Summary Chimeric protein engineering and directed-evolution are increasingly popular methods to obtain enzymes with desired activities and substrate specificities. Chimeric-engineering goes about this by grafting select components of two homologous enzymes together (preserving activity while combina
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Generation of Monodisperse Particles using Microfluidics: Control over Size, Shape and Composition
Summary The invention constitutes microfluidic methods of forming particles that are substantially monodisperse. The technology builds on the technology disclosed in Harvard Case: 2215 – "Method and Apparatus for Fluid Dispersion", which creates monodisperse fluid droplets in a microfluidic flow f
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A Microconcentrator and Microfilter for Suspensions such as Blood
Summary Background:
In healthcare, chemical analysis, environmental testing and other fields it is useful to separate particulate substances that are suspended in a fluid. For example separating cells from body fluids. So far, these techniques have typically required substantial capital equipment
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A Self-sustained Soliton Oscillator Utilizing Nonlinear Transmission Lines and Spectrum-preservice Nonlinear Amplification
Background
Conventional traveling wave oscillators that require high-speed clock signals generally employ a linear transmission line over which sinusoidal waves are propagated. In such systems, linear amplifiers are employed to overcome resistive losses present in the transmission line so as to m
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Asynchronous Circuit Techniques for Memory Error Correction
Summary This invention describes a circuit technique for rapidly and efficiently correcting for read and write data errors in a digital semiconductor memory. More specifically, it involves the design of an error-correcting circuit (ECC) as applied to high density and low latency memories, especially
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Text Annotator
Summary The Text Annotator is a web-based authoring program that allows faculty to add written notes, images (jpg, gif, bmp, png) audio files (aif, mp3, wav, avi) video clips (mgp, mpeg, wma) or links to other web sites to texts that students can access from a web browser. Texts in any language usin
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Fully-integrated 2D microelectromagnet coil arrays in silicon for magnetic manipulation and RF imaging of cells and magnetic particles
Summary The invention comprises a novel method and an apparatus to manipulate, segregate, detect and analyze biological samples on a microfluidic CMOS chip. This technique offers sub-micrometer precision and fast processing speeds for a cheap, easily accessible lab-on-a-chip system. The technology i
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