A -- GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC SPINAL CORD INJURY (BAA)

Notice Date

February 13, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Neuroscience Center, Suite 3287, MSC 9531, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9531

ZIP Code

20892-9531

Solicitation Number

NIH-NINDS-01-03

Response Due

May 10, 2001

Point of Contact

Kirkland Davis, Chief, Contracts Management Branch, Phone (301) 496-1813, Fax (301) 402-4225, Email kd17c@nih.gov

E-Mail Address

Kirkland Davis (kd17c@nih.gov)

Description

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), NIH announces the availability of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to support gene expression profiling in the nervous system following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Research on animal models of SCI have provided insights into the complexity of the injury, the many stages of cellular damage and recovery, and the complexity of approaches that will be necessary to address treatment and rehabilitation. Research efforts will employ neural tissue-specific and/or species-specific reagents and contemporary high throughput methodologies to quantify expression profiles of genes in acute and chronic phases of SCI. Changes in expression will be characterized at the injury site as well as in areas of the cord rostral and caudal to the lesion site. In addition, regions of brain that represent areas that project to or receive input from the spinal cord will be evaluated for alterations in gene expression. The injury paradigm will utilize well-characterized and justified rodent models of spinal cord trauma. Since the areas sampled are complex structures, patterns of expression of specific genes will be characterized on a cellular/tissue level. Analysis of the multitudes of altered proteins after injury is a daunting task. Up until now, investigators have studied particular molecules (i.e., GAP-43, NOGO) or classes of proteins (i.e., cytoskeletal proteins, trophic factors) in the hope of finding evidence for involvement in either regenerative or inhibitory responses. The development of new technologies to screen large numbers of genes (or specific sequences) for expression after injury may focus the search for the critical elements. Obviously, a complex condition such as SCI has critical temporal and anatomic parameters. Prevention of outgrowth may occur at the injured axon tip or at the cell body. Negative or positive factors are likely expressed from the time of the injury through several stages of recovery and stabilization. Therefore, analysis should include comparative time frames after trauma, and various parts of the neuroaxis that may react differently to the injury, regeneration or stabilization phases. The purpose of this BAA is to utilize new gene screening processes in order to determine temporal and regional changes in expression of a large number of genes following traumatic SCI. From this data, certain specified genes will be subsequently analyzed for post-injury changes in patterns and localization of their expression. This two-step process will allow for a large scale screening of potential genes that are changed after SCI as well as a more focused study of genes that are determined to be important to injury and potential regenerative processes. High throughput data obtained from these experiments will become part of a public database for dissemination to the scientific community. Prospective offerors are expected to have personnel resources adequate to conduct the proposed research with expertise in the following areas: SCI animal models and basic research, molecular genetics, array technology, and bioinformatics. Prospective offerors are also expected to have access to facilities (either on-site or through collaborative relationships) adequate to conduct the research such as: DNA microarray or other gene expression research facilities. It is anticipated that one (1) cost-reimbursement type contracts may be awarded for a maximum period of up to three years. BAA/Request for Proposals (RFP) No. NIH-NINDS-01-03 will be AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY and may be downloaded at URL http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/currentrfps.html on or about March 1, 2001. This solicitation will be issued in electronic format only. Proposals will be due on or about May 10, 2001. The exact proposal receipt date will be specified in the solicitation. 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. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which will be considered by the agency. See Note 26. ***** Laurie A. Leonard, Contracting Officer Contracts Management Branch National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 301-496-1813 e-mail: ll44s@nih.gov

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010215/ASOL001.HTM (D-044 SN50D5M4)