Funding News - Probes for Microimaging the Nervous System Sought

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) invites small business innovation research (SBIR) and small business technology transfer (STTR) grant applications for research and development of probes useful in imaging the structure and function of the brain and other parts of the nervous system.  This announcement is made together with 4 other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).*

An emerging area of scientific opportunity is the design and use of probes to study structure and function at the molecular and subcellular levels in living cells. Approaches and tools such as labels that attach to specific peptide or nucleotide moieties, fluorescent resonance energy transfer, green fluorescent protein (and mutant color variants), and genetically engineered voltage or ion-sensitive fluorophores are making it possible to visualize not only the distribution of molecular species in cells, but the manner in which they interact.

Topics of research interest include, but are not limited to:  bioengineering of small-molecule, sterically benign probes that can be genetically linked to proteins that play important roles in cell function; research, development, and engineering of probes that can report quantitative information regarding particular molecular or subcellular events or structures; research and development of probes that attach to specific sites on proteins that can be observed through multiple modalities; and research and development of caged molecules that provide temporally and spatially controlled release of molecular probes.

For more information, potential applicants should contact Dr. Daofen Chen, Program Direct or, Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience Cluster, NINDS, Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 2175, Bethesda, MD  20892; telephone:  301-496-1917; fax:  301-402-1501; e-mail:   dc342b@nih.gov.

*For a full list of supporting NIH components and a more detailed description of this program announcement, please visit the NIH web site at:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-120.html.