Notice Number: NOT-AI-09-048

Key Dates
Release Date:  July 10, 2009
Receipt Date:  October 16, 2009

Issued by
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (http://www.niaid.nih.gov)

Description

Research supported and conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), strives to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent immunologic, infectious, and allergic diseases The NIAID Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation intends to issue a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA-NIAID-DAIT-NIHAI2009027) entitled “The ATOPIC DERMATITIS RESEARCH NETWORK (ADRN)”.

The goal of this ADRN is to study defense mechanisms of the skin, with research focused on atopic dermatitis (AD) and its association with both immune and skin barrier defects (compared to non-atopic individuals). Specific research areas may include the defects resulting in susceptibility to eczema vaccinatum (EV) and eczema herpeticum (EH), and to colonization and infection with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) (including methicillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus, MRSA), and responsiveness of AD subjects to vaccines. It is anticipated that research conducted within the ADRN will utilize state of the art techniques to measure immune responses and skin barrier function, and will capitalize on new scientific opportunities and advancements in the field.

Offerors must propose an AD research program that consists of at least two (up to four) research projects. The program must include a project in either Research Area 1 or Research Area 2, and at least one additional project in any of the remaining three research areas. Each research project must focus on a different research area from among the four research areas. These include: Research Area 1, susceptibility to Eczema Vaccinatum and/or Eczema Herpeticum; Research Area 2, susceptibility to staphylococcal colonization and infections, including MRSA; Research Area 3, susceptibility to colonization and/or infection with other organisms, including commensals (that is, organisms not included in research areas 1 and 2); Research Area 4, immune responses to vaccines. 

For purposes of this solicitation, “AD subsets” refers to individuals who are distinguishable clinically and/or in immune and/or skin barrier function and/or genetic markers from other individuals with AD.
Research conducted under Research Area 1 may include the following: the genetic variants in AD and AD subsets, and the host’s immune function, skin barrier function and gene expression in response to vaccinia virus and/or herpes simplex virus. The study of genetic variants in AD and AD subsets must include racial and ethnic groups that expand beyond the populations examined in the Atopic Dermatitis Vaccinia Network Clinical Studies Consortium (Caucasian and African-American). Research conducted under Research Area 2 may include the following: the genetic variants in AD and AD subsets, and the host’s immune function, skin barrier function and gene expression in response to staphylococcal colonization and infection. Research conducted under Research Area 3 may include the following: the genetic variants in AD and AD subsets, and the host’s immune function, skin barrier function and gene expression in response to the organisms, including commensals, being evaluated. Research conducted under Research Area 4 may include the following: the genetic variants in AD and AD subsets and the host’s immune function, skin barrier function and gene expression in response to immunization with one or more vaccines.

The research program must also maintain data currently stored in the ADVN registry of AD subjects and subsets of AD subjects, and data from control subjects and expand data to include additional subjects. Subjects should represent diverse racial and ethnic groups as well as subjects with AD without EH, AD with history of EH, AD with other clinical entities such as MRSA and MSSA colonization and infection; and AD subjects with manifestations of other atopic diseases (allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy). The research program must also maintain and expand the ADVN repository of biological specimens.

The NIAID anticipates a single cost reimbursement completion-type award will be made, for a five (5) year period of performance, beginning on or about June 30, 2010. The length of time for which funding is requested should be consistent with the nature and complexity of the proposed research.  In no event shall the period of performance proposed by an offeror exceed five 5 years.

All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Agency.  This BAA was made available electronically on/about June 16, 2009, and may be accessed through FedBizOpps http://www.fedbizopps.gov/.  This notice does not commit the Government to award a contract. No collect calls will be accepted.  No facsimile transmissions will be accepted.

Contracting Office Address

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Division of Extramural Activities
Office of Acquisitions
6700-B Rockledge Drive
Room 3214, MSC 7612
Bethesda, MD 20892-7612

Inquiries

Tom Bahrami,
Contract Specialist
Office of Acquisitions, Division of Extramural Activities, NIAID, NIH, DHHS
6700-B Rockledge Drive Room 3214, MSC 7612 (Express mail:  Use Zip Code 20817-7612)
Phone: 301-451-2654
Fax: 301-451-5430
bahramit@niaid.nih.gov

David T. Lisle,
Contracting Officer
Office of Acquisitions, Division of Extramural Activities, NIAID, NIH, DHHS
6700-B Rockledge Drive Room 3214, MSC 7612 (Express mail:  Use Zip Code 20817-7612)
Phone: 301-451-2617
Fax: 301-402-0972
dlisle@niaid.nih.gov

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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