NOT-HL-02-004: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE PROTEOMICS INITIATIVE

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


NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE PROTEOMICS INITIATIVE

Release Date:  September 5, 2001

NOTICE:  NOT-HL-02-004

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
 (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov)

RFP/BAA:  BAA-02-04

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  December 15, 2001
Proposal Receipt Date:          February 27, 2002

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of this BAA will be to establish local, highly 
interactive, multi-disciplinary Centers to enhance and develop innovative 
proteomic technologies and apply them to relevant biological questions in a 
manner that will advance our knowledge of heart, lung, blood, and sleep health 
and disease.  This is not a request for proposals.  It is anticipated that the 
BAA-HL-02-04 will be available at:  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/index.htm 
on or about September 17, 2001. For further information contact Joanne 
Deshler, Contracting Officer, Contracts Operations Branch, telephone number 
301/435-0340, Email: [email protected]

BAAs are used by agencies to fulfill their requirements for scientific study 
and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or 
increasing knowledge or understanding rather than focusing on a specific 
system or hardware solution.  This BAA is intended to complement and enhance 
the NHLBI"s ongoing research programs, which involve a substantial investment 
in clinical research, genomic research, basic biology, and training and 
education programs.

The accelerating science of genomics has made a major impact on the practice 
of biomedical research.  New genomic tools, particularly DNA microarrays, 
provide a previously unattainable global view of how gene expression patterns 
respond to various physiological stimuli, to mutations, and in disease states. 
 Such knowledge provides a basis for insights into cellular metabolism that 
were not possible by studies of a few selected genes at a time.  However, a 
DNA microarray, or any nucleic acid-based methodology, is blind to many events 
that occur at the protein level.  Therefore, they provide an indirect and 
incomplete picture of cellular function and hence additional information is 
needed for advancing human medicine and health care.  The field of proteomics 
seeks to supply this knowledge by revealing the levels, activities, 
regulation, and interactions of every protein in the cell and how these 
quantities respond to a particular stimulus (e.g. drug, food, infection) or 
disease state or DNA alteration. In essence, proteomics builds on and 
complements the knowledge gained from genomics.

This significant effort in proteomics will provide discoveries about the 
cells" protein machinery that will likely yield important clinical 
applications.  Such knowledge could provide an understanding of the molecular 
basis of the cause and progression of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders, 
identify targets for new therapeutic interventions, and lead to new methods 
for early detection and diagnosis.  For example, analyzing patterns of protein 
expression from tissues or fluids over the course of disease progression could 
reveal proteome-level "biosignatures" indicative of specific disease status.  
Such "biosignatures" may be used extensively in 21st century medical 
diagnostics.  Similarly, analyses of protein profiles before and after 
pharmacological treatments could provide vital clues regarding drug 
effectiveness and toxicity.  In addition, particular "biosignatures" may be 
used to customize therapeutic strategies for individual patients.

In order to overcome technological barriers and promote biological discoveries 
with clinical benefit, an environment is needed in which innovative approaches 
are developed in concert with studies of important biological problems.   In 
order to develop truly innovative technologies and apply them to biological 
issues, the BAA provides for a sustained period of substantial, uninterrupted 
support.  It is recognized that proposed approaches may very well be outdated 
within a few years, thus flexibility allowing updating approaches are part of 
this BAA and any subsequent contract.  In order to insure maximum benefit from 
this investment, the products (reagents, techniques, methods, documentation, 
information, etc.) of this effort will be made readily available to the 
scientific community.

Prospective offerors are invited to attend a pre-proposal conference on 
November 2, 2001 at the Natcher Building on the NIH Campus in Bethesda, 
Maryland.  NHLBI staff will explain the purpose of the Proteomics Initiative, 
provide instructions about the proposal process, and answer questions.  
Questions provided prior to October 26 will be answered at the meeting.  
Offeror institutions are urged to send a representative to this conference, 
both to gather information and to exchange ideas with other potential 
offerors.  All attendees, as well as anyone who cannot attend the pre-proposal 
conference, will be given access to any distributed materials, questions and 
answers, and a summary of the discussion.  These materials and additional 
information about the meeting will be posted with the BAA.  Attendance at the 
pre-proposal conference is recommended, however, attendance is not a 
prerequisite for proposal submission and will not be considered a factor in 
proposal evaluation.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Awards under this solicitation will be made only to offerors located in the 
continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

The NHLBI anticipates awarding approximately 10 contracts, based on technical 
merit, available funds, and programmatic balance. The total project period for 
the BAA will not exceed 7 years.  The anticipated award date is 
September 30, 2002.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices