Notice Number: NOT-CA-16-011
Key Dates
Release Date: December 22, 2015
Response Date: March 1, 2016
None
Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Purpose
The goal of this Request for Information (RFI), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is to gain feedback, comments, and novel ideas from members of cancer research communities with regard to the need, characteristics, and potential utility of a facility for particle beam radiotherapy-related cancer research. Specifically, opinions are sought on the types of research that such a facility would enable, the infrastructure required to carry out such research, and some estimate of particle beam time usage. The information gained through this RFI will be used by the NCI’s Radiation Research Program (RRP) to explore the possibility of making a particle beam facility available to the broad radiation research community.
Background
Particle beam radiation therapy offers advantageous physical-dose distributions (protons and heavier-ion beams) and biological potential (heavier-ion beams) as compared to photon radiotherapy. A considerable body of experimental and clinical, treatment-based evidence indicates that in certain settings particle beams might be equally, or more, effective in treating cancer as the most sophisticated photon-based therapies while significantly reducing the volume of normal tissue irradiated.
There are several carbon-ion therapy clinical centers operating worldwide but none of them are in the U.S. Moreover, there are no announced plans to build such a facility in the U.S. Thus, before a clinical particle beam facility is built in the U.S., a pre-clinical particle beam research facility might serve some needs of U.S. scientists by enabling research on oncological applications of a spectrum of particle beams.
This RFI is being published to gauge the interest in the U.S. radiation oncology and radiation biology communities to investigate, through extensive pre-clinical research, possible application of particle beams for cancer treatment and determine appropriate and optimal uses of particle beam therapy.
Information Requested
The NCI RRP seeks input on the potential utility of a potential pre-clinical particle beam research facility for radiation therapy-related research. Particularly of interest are comments on the following topics:
- Main issues relevant to the clinical uses of particle beam radiotherapy that can be efficiently addressed in pre-clinical studies;
- Types of research that might be designed to address such issues;
- Particle beam species and properties that are most needed or required or desirable;
- Estimated needs for particle beam time for potential preclinical research;
- Optimal infrastructure of such a facility; and/or
- Any additional issues relevant to this RFI that are not specifically mentioned above.
How to Submit a Response
Responses to the RFI will be accepted until March 1, 2016. All comments must be submitted to: [email protected].
No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in responses.
Responses will be compiled and shared internally within the NCI and/or with working groups convened by the NCI, as appropriate. The compiled information may also appear in public reports and may inform the development of a research-support initiative(s) at an undetermined time in the future.
We look forward to your input. We also hope that you will share this document with your colleagues.
Important Note: This RFI is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government and the NCI. The NCI does not intend to make any research awards on the basis of responses to this RFI or to otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted, or for the Government's use of such information.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Jacek Capala, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-5690
Email: [email protected]
and Human Services (HHS)
