The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is reviewing a University of Rhode Island pharmacy professor's proposal to use saliva as a non-invasive way to monitor concentrations of anti-rejection drugs in patients that undergo transplants. Associate Professor of Pharmacy Fatemeh Akhlaghi said saliva offers a pain-free way to measure levels of immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporine, and mycophenolic acid, which are essential in preventing organ rejection after transplantation.