Director, USAMRAA, 820 Chandler St, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5014

A -- NEUROTOXIN EXPOSURE TREATMENT RESEARCH PROGRAM SOL CBD970-6000-0001 POC Craig D. Lebo, Contracting Officer (Site Code DAMD17) E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via email., craig_lebo@ftdetrck-ccmail.army.mil. Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program -- The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command is soliciting research proposals for studies on the pathophysiology and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, and including environmental and stress exposure factors encountered in military operations which may be neurotoxic or lead to neurodegenerative conditions. An improved understanding of the pathophysiology of neurodegerative diseases will form the basis of potential preventive measures against the effects of military threat agents and military operational hazards, and also lead to treatment interventions for Parkinson's disease. This effort is coordinated with research programs of the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. We solicit proposals on a broad range of basic and applied science, including but not limited to these areas of interest: (1) mechanisms of damage and protection against neural cell death, including regulation of excitotoxins such as glutamate, oxidative stress effects, and the protective role of anticonvulsants, (2) development and validation of new approaches to neuropsychological testing to improve early detection of neurodegenerative diseases, (3) new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease, including neural cell transplantation, neuroprotection, and alteration of cell biology through gene regulation and other novel methods, (4) influence of environmental factors such as exposure to environmental toxins, toxic military threat agents, infectious particles, and chronic psychological stress in the mediation of neural cell death. Proposals will be selected for funding on the basis of scientific quality as determined through an independent scientific peer review and potential military relevance. Potential application to military populations will be considered in this award. Projects are typically 2-4 years in duration and must be completed by 30 Sep 2003. Up to $23M is available for the lifespan of these projects. Proposals must be submitted according to general instructions contained in the Broad Agency Announcement 95-1 (see http://www-usamraa.army.mil). Letters of intent containing a proposed title, brief description of project scope (<150 words), and investigator and institution identification, are required by 15 September 1997. Full proposals are due by 4:00 pm EST, Wednesday, 15 October 1997. Investigators will be notified about funding recommendations by March 1998. Send letters of intent and proposals to: Commander, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, ATTN: MCMR-AAA (Neurotox), 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5014. (0183)

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