Contract Management Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Federal Building, Room 901, 7550 Wisconsin Avenue, MSC 9190, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9190

A -- CORTICAL CONTROL OF NEURAL PROSTHESES SOL NIH-NINDS-99-03 DUE 030599 POC Laurie A. Leonard, 301-496-1813, Kirkland L. Davis, 301-496-9203 WEB: Click here to download a copy of the RFP after 1/5/99., http://www.ninds.nih.gov/cmb. E-MAIL: Contracting Officer e-mail, ll44s@nih.gov. The Neural Prosthesis Program (NPP) of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, is committed to research and development on functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) to restore hand and arm function in quadriplegic individuals at the highest functional level possible. These FNS systems operate under the voluntary control of the individual. Generating control signals for a prosthesis that are integrated with the individual's uninjured, voluntary, cortical motor system is a critical part of any potential FNS system. Presently, control signals are generated by voluntary movements of unparalyzed muscles such as the contralateral shoulder. The goal of this research is to establish the feasibility of generating control signals by direct voluntary control of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). To demonstrate that cortical neural activity can be used to control a prosthesis, we need to demonstrate that the neural activity of selected cell populations in the CNS can be reliably recorded for extended periods of time. Then it must be shown that the signals from this population of neurons can, under voluntary control, reliably control an electromechanical device. During the current contract period, it has been demonstrated that a rat can modulate neural activity in its motor cortex to control a mechanical arm to retrieve a food reward. Efforts are underway to duplicate these results in animals with a gyrencephalic brain, but thus far, chronic recording has been difficult to achieve in larger brained animals. The focus of this research will be on the development of chronic microelectrode recording techniques in a primate with a gyrencepahalic brain. There will also be research on extracting control signals from the recorded neural activity. The results of these animal studies are needed by the NPP to provide information on microelectrode recording array design, recording site selection, number of cells required to provide stable control signals, and the ability to adapt to changes in recorded cell populations. These factors are all critical to establishing reliable control signals from neural activity. This information is also needed before a decision can be made to initiate feasibility studies in spinal cord injured individuals. Personnel with established expertise in neurophysiology, bioengineering, and histopathology will be needed to perform this research. It is anticipated that two awards may be made for a period of three years in September 1999. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP). THE SOLICITATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY ONLY. It will be available at this website (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/cmb) 15 or more calendar days after the issuance of this synopsis. OFFERORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTINELY CHECKING THIS WEBSITE FOR ANY POSSIBLE SOLICITATION AMENDMENTS THAT MAY BE ISSUED. NO INDIVIDUAL NOTIFICATION OF ANY AMENDMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. Refer to numbered Note 26.**** Posted 12/10/98 (W-SN278961). (0344)

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