USPTO granted U.S. Patent No. 10,301,651 to the UC team for CRISPR methods enabling sequence-specific gene repression or activation.
On May 28, 2019, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted U.S. Patent No. 10,301,651 to the University of California team, further expanding the CRISPR-Cas9 intellectual property portfolio developed from Jennifer Doudna's foundational research.
This patent specifically covered CRISPR-based methods enabling sequence-specific repression or activation of gene expression in cells — an important extension beyond simple DNA cutting, allowing researchers to use a modified, catalytically inactive form of Cas9 (often called "dead Cas9" or dCas9) fused to activator or repressor domains to turn genes on or off without permanently altering the underlying DNA sequence.
This capability, known as CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR activation (CRISPRa), opened new avenues for functional genomics research, enabling scientists to systematically study gene function across the genome and explore therapeutic strategies that modulate gene expression rather than permanently editing DNA, which can carry additional appeal for certain clinical applications due to its reversibility.
This grant was part of a rapid succession of patents awarded to the UC team throughout 2019, reflecting the breadth of foundational CRISPR applications originally conceived by Doudna and her collaborators and reinforcing UC's growing dominance in the CRISPR patent landscape.