SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Opportunity for a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA)
- Notice Date
- 2/15/2002
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Bldg 427 Room 12, Frederick, MD, 21702
- ZIP Code
- 21702
- Description
- DATES: Interested parties should submit their proposals to the Technology Transfer Branch of the NCI no later than March 15, 2002. The proposal should address the selection criteria listed in this announcement. CRADA proposals submitted thereafter may be considered if a suitable CRADA Collaborator has not been selected. Note that this is not a contract solicitation. NIH will not provide funds to Collaborator for research pursuant to this CRADA, inasmuch as the U.S. Government is prohibited from contributing funds to non-Federal parties under a CRADA, under the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (15 U.S.C. 3710(a)(d)(1)). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A CRADA is the anticipated joint agreement to be entered into with the CIT and the NCI pursuant to the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 and Executive Order 12591 of April 10, 1987 as amended by the National Technology Transfer Advancement Act of 1995. The CIT and the NCI are looking for a collaborator to further develop and integrate systems for the TELESYNERGY? program. The proposed term of the CRADA can be up to five (5) years. The principal goal of this CRADA is to further develop and enhance the software for the TELESYNERGY? MCWS that will support collaborative networks that are dedicated to the successful diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases. The CIT at the National Institutes of Health has developed software for the TELESYNERGY MCWS, a multi-media medical imaging and high-speed networking infrastructure, which functions within an electronic imaging environment, to facilitate professional collaboration and education concerning cancer research protocols and clinical cancer care. The TELESYNERGY MCWS consists of off-the-shelf components and computers that function using CIT-designed and developed software. The software is the principal component of the TELESYNERGY MCWS and is subject of development for this CRADA opportunity. TELESYNERGY has been designed to provide for the simultaneous high-resolution display of images from numerous medical modalities, in both real-time and store-and-forward modes, as well as for the simultaneous interaction of medical experts and other research professionals. One example of implementation of the TELESYNERGY environment is underway within the Radiation Oncology Sciences Program (ROSP) in the National Cancer Institute. ROSP's initial applications are in the areas of research participation in radiotherapy planning and treatment, and the related subsequent clinical and research interactions and collaborations. Potential areas of application for the TELESYNERGY platform include oncology, general medicine, family practice, and specialties such as OB/GYN, cardiology, nuclear medicine, radiology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, dermatology, urology, cytogenetics and pathology. Further development of this system will ultimately bring expanded participation in NCI clinical research and eventual improvement in clinical care to urban and rural health care systems both nationally and internationally. The TELESYNERGY system functions by transporting audio and video data streams continuously through a 155 Mbits/sec ATM network and/or 1.5 Mbits/sec ISDN telephone link connecting the NCI and national and international sites. Microphones and speakers allow bi-directional voice communication, and video capability is provided with S-video cameras and monitors. As stated above, if ATM capability is not available or is too expensive at a remote site, an ISDN PRI circuit can be utilized for connectivity, with only minimal degradation in audio and video quality. Two high-resolution monochrome image display systems each function as an Electronic View Box (EVB) for the display of 14 x 17 inch format digitized "electronic films." Utilizing the EVBs, discussion, diagnosis, or organ and lesion contouring can be performed via a shared-cursor technique in consultation mode, which allows the oncologists tocollaborate in identifying features. These identified regions-of-interest are transmitted simultaneously and in real-time, as is audio, during the TELESYNERGY consultation session. A remote-controlled microscope capability allows biopsy specimens to be discussed and manipulated by a number of sites concurrently. In addition, a patient exam camera allows high-resolution viewing of patient exams, including identification of dermatological lesions, skin coloration, and other physical characteristics during a patient examination. The TELESYNERGY environment also includes a mechanism to allow remote consultations and education between geographically distributed medical specialists of all types. The CIT and the NCI are seeking a CRADA partner to collaborate with them in the further development, commercialization, education, installation and maintenance of the TELESYNERGY MCWS. The CRADA, with the intellectual assistance of the CIT and the NCI, would provide systems development and integration of the TELESYNERGY environment for the applications mentioned above. The communication infrastructures utilized to support the TELESYNERGY environment may be ATM, ISDN, and/or other planned, low-latency, secure Broadband networks. All future software developments and improvements, realized under this CRADA, will provide a user environment similar to, and compatible with, the current version of the TELESYNERGY MCWS software, to as great an extent as is feasible. This includes interoperability with the peripheral devices utilized within the current version of the TELESYNERGY environment. Under the present proposal, the overall goal of the CRADA collaboration will involve the following: 1. Expanding and enhancing the current technology and its usage, as developed by the CIT and the NCI, regarding the TELESYNERGY MCWS. 2. Providing programming support for the broad commercialization/dissemination of the TELESYNERGY System, and enhancement into other medical disciplines. 3. Developing a distribution and service plan for the TELESYNERGY System. PARTY CONTRIBUTIONS: The roles of the CIT and the NCI in the CRADA may include, but are not limited to: 1. Providing intellectual, scientific, and technical expertise and experience to the research project. 2. Providing the CRADA Collaborator with information and data relating to the methodology currently implemented within the TELESYNERGY MCWS. 3. Publishing research results. 4. Developing additional potential clinical applications for the TELESYNERGY system. The roles of the CRADA Collaborator may include, but are not limited to: 1. Providing significant intellectual, scientific, and technical expertise or experience to the research project. 2. Providing programming support for writing novel software, and technical support for writing system manuals. 3. Providing technical and/or financial support to facilitate scientific goals and for further design of applications of the technology outlined in the agreement. 4. Publishing research results. Selection criteria for choosing the CRADA Collaborator may include, but are not limited to: 1. A demonstrated record of success in the development and dissemination of a medical or scientific software application. 2. A demonstrated background and expertise in ATM, ISDN, and Broadband network technology. 3. The ability to collaborate with the CIT and the NCI on further research and development of this technology. This ability will be demonstrated through experience and expertise in this or related areas of technology indicating the ability to contribute intellectually to ongoing research and development. 4. The demonstration of adequate resources to perform the research and development of this technology (e.g. facilities, personnel, expertise, and funding) and to accomplish objectives according to an appropriate timetable to be outlined in the CRADA Collaborator's proposal. 5. The willingness to commit best effort and demonstrated resources to the research and development of this technology, as outlined in the CRADA Collaborator's proposal. 6. The demonstration of expertise in the commercial development and production of products related to this area of technology. 7. The willingness to cooperate with the CIT and the NCI in the timely publication of research results. 8. The willingness to accept the legal provisions and language of the CRADA with appropriate modifications pertaining to the software-based technology sought to be developed. These provisions govern the distribution of future rights to intellectual property developed under the CRADA. Inquiries and proposals regarding this opportunity should be addressed to: Patricia Lake, Technology Transfer Specialist Technology Transfer Branch, NCI 6120 Executive Plaza South, Suite 450 Rockville, MD 20852-7181 Tel. # 301-496-0477 FAX # 301-402-2117 lakep@mail.nih.gov
- Record
- SN00027611-F 20020217/020215214051 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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