Michael Lawrence West

US Patent:

6391554, May 21, 2002

Filed:

Nov 23, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/447151

Inventors:

Michael D. West - Boston MA
Jerry W. Shay - Dallas TX
Woodring E. Wright - Dallas TX
Nam Woo Kim - San Jose CA
Calvin B. Harley - Palo Alto CA
Scott L. Weinrich - Redwood City CA

Assignee:

Geron Corporation and Board of Regents - Menlo Park CA
The University of Texas Systems - Austin TX

International Classification:

C12Q 168

US Classification:

435 6, 435 15, 435 912, 435 72

Abstract:

Methods and kits are provided for diagnosis of specific cancerous conditions. The invention features a method for diagnosis of a condition in a patient associated with an elevated level of telomerase activity within a cell. The method involves determining the presence or amount of telomerase within the cells in the patient, e. g. by the use of the polymerase chain reaction. In one embodiment of the invention, the condition associated with elevated telomerase activity is chosen from prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, renal cancer, ovarian/cervical cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia. The invention allows cancer to be detected even in tissues and cells which are not positive by pathology.

US Patent:

6800480, Oct 5, 2004

Filed:

Aug 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/530346

Inventors:

Andrea G. Bodnar - Oshawa, CA
Joseph D. Gold - San Francisco CA
Margaret Inokuma - San Jose CA
James T. Murai - San Bruno CA
Michael D. West - Boston MA

Assignee:

Geron Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

C12N 500

US Classification:

435325, 435 11, 424 931, 424 9321

Abstract:

Methods and materials for culturing primate-derived primordial stem cells are described. In one embodiment, a cell culture medium for growing primate-derived primordial stem cells in a substantially undifferentiated state is provided which includes a low osmotic pressure, low endotoxin basic medium that is effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells. The basic medium is combined with a nutrient serum effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells and a substrate selected from the group consisting of feeder cells and an extracellular matrix component derived from feeder cells. The medium further includes non-essential amino acids, an anti-oxidant, and a first growth factor selected from the group consisting of nucleosides and a pyruvate salt.

US Patent:

6808704, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Sep 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/655815

Inventors:

Robert Lanza - Clinton MA
Michael D. West - Boston MA
Jose Cibelli - Holden MA

Assignee:

Advance Cell Technology, Inc. - Worcester MA

International Classification:

A01N 6300

US Classification:

424 937, 424 931, 4241841, 435325, 435346, 435375, 435377, 800 24

Abstract:

This invention relates to methods for making immune compatible tissues and cells for the purpose of transplantation and tissue engineering, using the techniques of nuclear transfer and cloning. Also encompassed are methods for determining the effect on immune compatibility of expressed transgenes and other genetic manipulations of the engineered cells and tissues.

US Patent:

7413902, Aug 19, 2008

Filed:

Dec 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/330873

Inventors:

Andrea G. Bodnar - Oshawa, CA
Joseph D. Gold - San Francisco CA, US
Margaret Inokuma - San Jose CA, US
James T. Murai - San Bruno CA, US
Michael D. West - Boston MA, US

Assignee:

Geron Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

C12N 5/02

US Classification:

435377, 435375

Abstract:

Methods and materials for culturing primate-derived primordial stem cells are described. In one embodiment, a cell culture medium for growing primate-derived primordial stem cells in a substantially undifferentiated state is provided which includes a low osmotic pressure, low endotoxin basic medium that is effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells. The basic medium is combined with a nutrient serum effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells and a substrate selected from feeder cells and an extracellular matrix component derived from feeder cells. The medium further includes non-essential amino acids, an anti-oxidant, and a first growth factor selected from nucleosides and a pyruvate salt.

US Patent:

20020046410, Apr 18, 2002

Filed:

Mar 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/797684

Inventors:

Robert Lanza - Clinton MA, US
Michael West - Boston MA, US

International Classification:

A01K067/00
A61K049/00

US Classification:

800/003000, 800/008000, 424/009200

Abstract:

This invention relates to methods for making immune compatible tissues and cells for the purpose of transplantation and tissue engineering, using the techniques of nuclear transfer and cloning. Also encompassed are methods for determining the effect on immune compatibility of expressed transgenes and other genetic manipulations of the engineered cells and tissues.

US Patent:

20020174449, Nov 21, 2002

Filed:

Mar 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/103806

Inventors:

Michael West - Boston MA, US
Jose Cibelli - Holden MA, US

International Classification:

A01K067/027

US Classification:

800/015000, 800/021000, 800/019000

Abstract:

The present invention concerns the use of chromosomal replacement techniques in the context of producing cloned and transgenic animals, in order to correct chromosome abnormalities or alter autosomal genotypes, and provide for novel breeding pairs by replacing the sex chromosome in animals to be cloned. Replacement of a sex chromosome, or an X or Y chromosome, will result in animals that are autosomally isogenic and sexually non-isogenic (AISN), with “autosomally isogenic” meaning that the paired sets of autosomes (non-sex chromosomes) in each animal are isogenic or identical. Also included in the invention are animals that are both “autosomally” and “allelically” isogenic whereby each particular pair of chromosomes is internally isogenic or identical within a single animal as well as between animals. Such animals are particularly useful in generating a line of cloned mammals using sexual reproduction, without having to undergo nuclear transfer in order to propagate cloned animals.

US Patent:

20040031069, Feb 12, 2004

Filed:

Aug 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/398608

Inventors:

Philip Damiani - Spencer MA, US
Robert Lanza - Clinton MA, US
Jose Cibelli - Holden MA, US
Michael West - Boston MA, US

International Classification:

A01K067/027

US Classification:

800/014000, 800/017000, 800/021000

Abstract:

Approximately 100 species become extinct a day. Despite increasing interest in using cloning to rescue endangered species, successful interspecies nuclear transfer has not been previously described, and only a few reports of in vitro embryo formation exist. Here it is shown that interspecies nuclear transfer can be used to clone an endangered species with normal karyo- and phenotypic development through implantation and the late stages of fetal growth, resulting in a newborn animal.

US Patent:

20040040050, Feb 26, 2004

Filed:

Jun 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/276001

Inventors:

Michael West - Boston MA, US

International Classification:

A01K067/027
G06F017/60

US Classification:

800/014000, 800/019000, 705/001000, 119/300000

Abstract:

This invention describes a novel method of agricultural animal production that provides animals with optimum growth characteristics in a reliable and cost-effective manner. The invention utilizes a novel combination of Nuclear Transfer (NT) and Embryonic Stem (ES) cell technologies that improves the efficiency of delivering optimized animals and facilitates the introduction of genetic modifications into farm animals.