A -- A -- REESTABLISH INTRAMURAL CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY BRANCH; REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Notice Date

December 15, 2000

Contracting Office

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch, 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7902

ZIP Code

20892-7902

E-Mail Address

Robert Best (rb4o@nih.gov)

Description

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) intends to reestablish its CardioThoracic Surgery (CTS) Branch as part of its intramural research program. The CTS program was phased out 10 years ago for a variety of reasons, but changes in CTS in recent years will require innovative surgical techniques. Also, recent changes in policies and regulations combine with the changes in CTS to highlight the positive benefits that interaction between basic science and clinical investigations have created in the past and will bring in the future to a research and training program that is needed in CTS. The goal of the CTS Branch in the NHLBI is to conduct innovative clinical research that will advance the field and to train CT surgeons in research methodologies and techniques. The NHLBI plans an approach that first will establish clinical excellence, and then will follow up by pursuing mutually beneficial collaborations. NIH offers links between basic science and clinical investigations, relative swiftness in translating basic science to clinical usage, access to state-of-the-art animal facilities, presence of multidisciplinary research teams, capability to focus on selected science and health problems, support of a centralized coordinating facility, organization of a center of excellence in clinical research, and ability to provide integrated service delivery. NHLBI needs access to acute care so that the clinical research, applied and basic research, and training and education components it envisions as comprising its reestablished CTS can be put in place. Development of this infrastructure centered around multidisciplinary core programs and specific research projects will enable the NHLBI to attract the leaders and mentors needed to do the innovative research and help train the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons. NHLBI needs the facility and cardiac surgeons, in close proximity and operating on a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week schedule so that participants in the Branch are able to quickly go from research to surgery. NHLBI also will extend its core role in facilitating and fostering communication and cooperation among clinical and laboratory researchers by establishing locally a CTS fellowship program that then could be extended nationally as slots are available. This notice is provided as a Request for Information to help NHLBI further refine its plans and to obtain information on the acute care and training elements of the infrastructure. Interested parties should direct all comments to the Contracting Officer identified above by January 16, 2001.

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001219/SPMSC001.HTM (D-350 SN5089Y7)