NOT-NS-01-003: BIOMATERIALS FOR THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health^®

BIOMATERIALS FOR THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Release Date:  October 31, 2000

NOTICE:  NS-01-003

RFP Available:  NIH-NINDS-01-02

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

The Repair and Plasticity Cluster of the National Institute of 
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of 
Health, has a requirement for the research and development of a 
biocompatible matrix on the surface of implantable silicon 
microstructures that will improve the mechanical stability of the 
microelectrode-tissue interface and will provide a bridge between the 
microstructure and neurons, glia and related cells.  Microelectrode 
arrays are being developed that are capable of stimulating or recording 
concurrently from many individual cells in the central nervous system.  
In acute settings stimulation or recordings can be routinely 
accomplished.  Unfortunately, the techniques that are effective for 
acute recordings and stimulation do not generalize to the chronic 
recording environment.  For dependable chronic recording or stimulation 
of specific cells, the interface between the microelectrode and target 
cells needs to be made more stable.  This research effort will focus on 
achieving such stability through modification of the surface properties 
of microelectrode arrays. 

Personnel with expertise in materials science, neural prosthesis, 
biomaterials, neurobiology, extracellular matrix biology and 
biomechanics will be needed to perform this research.  

It is anticipated that one award may be made for a period of four years 
in July 2001.

Request for Proposals (RFP) NIH-NINDS-01-02 will be issued 
ELECTRONICALLY.  It will be made available at website 
(http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/funding_announcements/RFP_all.htm) on or about 
November 17, 2000.  OFFERORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTINELY CHECKING THIS WEBSITE 
FOR ANY POSSIBLE SOLICITATION AMENDMENTS THAT MAY BE ISSUED.  NO 
INDIVIDUAL NOTIFICATION OF ANY AMENDMENT WILL BE PROVIDED.  All 
responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by 
the agency.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Kirkland L. Davis
Chief, Contracts Management Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Neuroscience Center, Room 3287
6001 Executive Boulevard, MSC 9531
Bethesda, MD  20892-9532
Tele: (301) 496-1813
Fax:  (301) 402-4225
Email: [email protected]
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