University of Pittsburgh Announces 11 U.S. Patents Issued to Pitt Innovators in July 2026

Pitt innovators were issued 11 U.S. patents in July 2026.

Featured patent: 12,692,547 “Methods of Treating Cancers Containing Fusion Genes”

Pitt researchers have found a set of genetic “fusions” — abnormal joins between genes, like TRMT11-GRIK2 and MAN2A1-FER — that show up in aggressive prostate cancer and several other cancers, including liver cancer and glioblastoma. Detecting these fusions could let doctors flag which patients are more likely to have their cancer recur, spread, or become fatal. Beyond diagnosis, the team is also developing ways to attack these fusion genes directly. Two approaches stand out: drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors that block the faulty proteins these genes produce, and CRISPR gene-editing tools that can disable the fusion gene inside cancer cells altogether.

This approach adds a genetic fingerprint that’s more specific to each patient’s tumor, enabling earlier, more targeted treatment decisions and potentially fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy, which attacks healthy and cancerous cells alike. The technology has been tested in animal models and lab studies.

Below is a listing of all patents issued to Pitt innovators in July 2026: