Development of Gene Chip Technology for Vascular Risk Assessment

Prevention of cardiovascular disorders such as myocardial infarction and stroke is an area of major public health importance. Currently, several risk factors for future cardiovascular disorders have been described and are in wide clinical use in the detection of individuals at high risk. However a large number of cardiovascular disorders occur in individuals with apparently low to moderate risk profiles, thereby limiting the ability to identify such patients. Moreover, many of the risk factors require accurate gathering of clinical information. An objective panel of biological markers which allow one to predict an individual’s risk of vascular disease is therefore needed.

The present provisional patent application is directed to utilizing blood mononuclear cells to evaluate vascular disease risk and determine a preventive regimen for reduction or minimization of such risk. The method includes screening for differential expression of vascular risk-related molecules, such as DNA binding/transcription factor proteins, lysosomal or protein degradation enzymes, adhesion molecules, metabolism molecules, intracellular signaling molecules, immune response molecules and apoptosis. The technology is available to a collaborator for monitoring stroke treatment protocols, for definition of clinical trial protocol candidates, or for developing an "assessment chip" that could be used to predict an individual’s risk of developing a stroke in the future.

In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further development through collaborative research opportunities with the inventors: The NINDS Stroke Neuroscience Unit is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize a vascular risk genetic chip technology. We seek a collaborative partner in the development of a chip that could be used to predict an individual's risk of developing a stroke in the future and to monitor the effectiveness of preventive measures once they have been instituted. Please contact Heather Gunas at gunash@mail.nih.gov for more information.