DIRECTOR, USAMRAA, 820 CHANDLER ST, FORT DETRICK MD 21702-5014

A -- GULF WAR ILLNESSES RESEARCH: INTERATIONS OF DRUGS, BIOLOGICS AND CHEMICALS IN SERVICE MEMBERS IN DEPLOYMENT ENVIRONMENTS SOL 074&&&-9902-0003 POC Craig D. Lebo, Contracting Officer (Site Code DAMD17) E-MAIL: dolores_king@amedd.army.mil, dolores_king@amedd.army.mil. The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command is soliciting proposals for novel studies on interactions of current or anticipated military medical products with other drugs, biologics, and chemicals, and in the context of military operational stressors (e.g., psychological stress, thermal load, high intensity or prolonged work). This research is intended to expand on current efforts to ensure safety and efficacy of current or anticipated medical products which may be used by Service members in previously untested and militarily unique combinations and conditions. Proposals must involve current or anticipated vaccines, drugs, or other prophylactic treatments used or planned for routine use in DoD programs. Examples of studies which are solicited under this broad agency announcement include: effectiveness of vaccines administered during periods of high stress; adverse effects of combinations of drugs and vaccines that might typically be provided to Service members; stress- induced alterations in brain access of drugs and biologics; environmentally-induced (e.g., nonionizing radiation, heat stress, sand, dehydration) alterations in drug toxicity and immune responses; and prospective studies of troops receiving anthrax and botulinum vaccines. Proposals must provide a compelling justification and military/Gulf War relevance for the combinations and doses or levels of drugs, vaccines, chemicals, and environmental conditions to be studied and should provide preliminary data. Submissions will be considered from federal and nonfederal institutions; extramural institutions are encouraged to develop DoD medical research collaborations. Proposals should represent individual research proposals (NIH "RO1"-type grants) and are expected to average $200K per year for up to four years of support; no proposal award will exceed $1M in total funding. A total of approximately $4M per year is available for the portfolio of projects to be funded under this topic. Proposals must be submitted according to general instructions contained in the Broad Agency Announcement 99-1 (see http://www-usamraa.army.mil). The specifics of this program announcement define both the requirement and amount of funding support envisioned, accordingly preproposals (as defined in BAA 99-1) are not necessary nor encouraged. Full proposals are due by 4:00 pm EST, Wednesday, 28 April 1999. Proposals which are not responsive to the solicitation will not be reviewed. Investigators will be notified about funding recommendations approximately 90 days after the closing date. Send proposals to: Commander, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, ATTN: MCMR-AAA (GWI99), 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5014. Posted 02/10/99 (A-SN296816). (0041)

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