The recognition, granted through the 2024 BRIPC Best Practice Cases in Intellectual Property program, honors an innovation in characterizing viral respiratory infections that was developed in Chile and patented in China.
Recognition for Viral Respiratory Research
The CNIPA award highlights successful models of innovation, technology transfer and use of intellectual property among countries participating in the Belt and Road cooperation network. According to the National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI), which promoted the candidacy, the PUC project was selected from 54 international entries as one of five winners. The technology involves a method that utilizes specific immunological biomarkers—IL-3, IL-33, and IL-12p40—to characterize a patient’s response to viruses, including the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Clinical Impact of Immunological Biomarkers
This tool allows for the determination of the severity of the infection. By measuring the identified biomarkers, medical professionals can obtain a faster and more accurate clinical evaluation, which facilitates the classification of patients based on their risk of complications. Dr. Susan Bueno noted that this recognition underscores how research developed in Chile can generate innovation of global reach when knowledge is protected and projected toward society.
International Collaboration and Validation
The development of this technology has extended beyond Chilean borders through collaborative clinical studies. María Angélica Fellenberg, Vice Rector of Research and Graduate Studies at UC, stated that the project, while originating in Chile, has been conducted internationally with participation from other countries in Europe and Latin America where the clinical studies necessary for its validation have been carried out. The project received support from the Biomedical Research Consortium (BMRC), an initiative that promotes research, technological development and knowledge transfer in the biomedical field. The CNIPA award specifically evaluates the management of patent portfolios and the transformation of knowledge into concrete economic and social benefits.
Key Details of the Innovation
- Primary Biomarkers: IL-3, IL-33, and IL-12p40.
- Clinical Application: Characterization of viral respiratory infections, including RSV.
- Awarding Body: China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
- Program: BRIPC Best Practice Cases in Intellectual Property 2024.
This achievement highlights the role of Chilean biotechnology in the global intellectual property landscape. By securing international patents and validating results through clinical trials, the research team at PUC and IMII has developed a model for medical innovation that addresses respiratory virus diagnostics.