Anti-inflammatory neutrophil and monocyte cell therapy for
This technology identifies and isolates a specific subset of immune cells — neutrophils and monocytes — that naturally suppress inflammation rather than promote it. The key is a protein called TRAM: cells with low or absent TRAM levels behave in an anti-inflammatory way, and researchers have mapped the surface markers that reliably flag these cells so they can be sorted from a donor sample or engineered into that state. Once isolated or reprogrammed, these cells could be infused into patients to calm the chronic inflammation that drives cardiovascular disease and related conditions. The approach is essentially a cell therapy platform where the therapeutic agent is a modified or selected immune cell rather than a drug molecule.
What you could build
An autologous or allogeneic cell therapy product — sorted or gene-edited anti-inflammatory neutrophils and monocytes — administered to patients with inflammatory cardiovascular conditions such as atherosclerosis; the primary buyers would be cell therapy biotech companies and large pharma with cardiovascular or immunology pipelines.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based biotech startups, INOVA Health System's cardiovascular research programs, or contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) in the Northern Virginia/DC corridor with cell therapy capabilities would be plausible partners or licensees.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Liwu Li, Shuo Geng
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed March 24, 2025
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20250295692A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.