| WARF: P03166US |  |
| Transgenic Mouse Model of Myocardial Function |
| INVENTORS | • | Richard Moss, Jose De Santana Pereira |
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a transgenic mouse model that more closely represents human cardiac parameters than current mouse models.
OVERVIEW
Mouse models are used in the study of cardiac diseases; however, they may not be the ideal system for modeling myocardial function in humans, because the kinetic properties of mouse myosin differ significantly from those of human myosin. Myosin, along with actin, is responsible for muscle contraction in the heart.
THE INVENTION
UW-Madison researchers have developed a transgenic mouse that expresses a recombinant cardiac myosin with altered kinetic properties more closely resembling those of human cardiac myosin. The mouse contains a transgene encoding a mutant alpha myosin heavy chain that has been modified to reduce the rate of myosin’s motor activity. This results in increased work- and power-generating capabilities and reduced heart rate, better resembling those of large mammals such as humans.
APPLICATIONS
- Studying heart muscle and cardiac disease
- May enable identification of compounds effective for treating and preventing cardiac disease
- May allow evaluation of external factors such as diet and exercise on cardiac disease
KEY BENEFITS
- More closely represents human cardiac parameters than current mouse models
- Provides a more useful model of myocardial function in humans than other mouse models
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For More Information About the Inventors
Intellectual Property Status
Tech Fields
Drug Discovery - Disease models
CONTACT INFORMATION
For current licensing status, please contact our team at
licensing@warf.org
or phone 608.262.4924. (Clicking this link will open a contact form in a popup window. If you have problems viewing the form, try disabling your popup blocker software.)
Since its founding in 1925 as the patenting and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, WARF has been working with business and industry to transform university research into products that benefit society. WARF intellectual property managers and licensing staff members are leaders in the field of university-based technology transfer. They are familiar with the intricacies of patenting, have worked with researchers in relevant disciplines, understand industries and markets, and have negotiated innovative licensing strategies to meet the individual needs of business clients.
