QUANTUM PROJECTS: TECHNOLOGY-BASED ADVANCES IN HEALTHCARE RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2003 NOTICE: NOT-EB-03-011 National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) (http://www.nibib.nih.gov) RESPONSE DUE DATE: January 9, 2004 PURPOSE The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) solicits suggestions from academia, industry, and the broad healthcare community for major problems that need to be solved or research advances that represent high-impact, large-scale, technology-based projects and will result in significant (quantum) improvements in disease treatment or quality of life. The purpose of this request is to collect ideas from the scientific and healthcare communities about biomedical research topics that may be ready for major advances if supported in a sustained and focused manner over a five-to-ten year period. BACKGROUND The mission of the NIBIB, the newest of the NIH research institutes, is to develop and translate novel technologies and methods that enable understanding of basic biological processes and facilitate diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of disease. Activities conducted in support of this mission are also aimed at supporting the broad mission of the NIH which is to improve human health and quality of life. To demonstrate the NIBIB’s commitment to improving human health, the Institute is considering supporting one or more quantum projects . These projects will require large-scale, focused, and sustained efforts and will produce quantifiable results with concrete benefits that address national healthcare needs. The title quantum project is based on the objective of providing a significant (quantum) improvement in healthcare or quality of life. Consistent with the technology-oriented mission of the NIBIB and the objective of realizing benefits in a reasonable time period, a quantum project should have the following characteristics: 1. A major problem that needs to be solved or a research advance that requires a collaborative, multi-disciplinary research and development effort and will provide a product or benefit that results in a significant healthcare improvement; 2. Research based on technological approaches and applications; and 3. Can be accomplished (i.e., solve the problem or provide the research advance not necessarily make available for patient use) by a focused and sustained effort in a five-to-ten year time period. Considering the anticipated magnitude and scope of the effort and the goal-oriented objective, a phased program is being considered that will initially support several approaches to the project, evaluate the results of the initial research to determine the most promising courses of action for continued support, and establish a project consortium to focus and coordinate efforts to reach the goal. In view of the healthcare focus of these projects, it is anticipated that the NIBIB will partner with one or more NIH institutes with missions appropriate for the intended application to manage and coordinate the effort. Technological areas appropriate as bases for these projects include but are not limited to: o Biomedical imaging (diagnostic level, cellular/molecular level, multi-modality) o Nanotechnology and microtechnology (NEMS and MEMS, targeted drug delivery and agents) o Biomaterials (micro materials for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering; macro materials for devices, implants, and prosthetics) o Computer applications (modeling and simulation, computer-assisted surgery, robotics) o Sensors (chemical, biological, and physical detectors) and therapy actuators Combinations of these and other technological areas are also appropriate. Clinical or biomedical focus areas include the broad range of applications and missions encompassed by the NIH institutes and centers which are available on the NIH Web site at http://www.nih.gov. The first step in this initiative is to identify candidate quantum projects based on input from the scientific community including academia, industry, hospitals and clinics, federal laboratories, other federal agencies, and other NIH research institutes and centers. This notice solicits the input in the form of ideas for quantum projects that meet the criteria given above. Depending on the quality of suggestions and the availability of funds, one or more of these ideas will be selected as the goal(s) of the quantum project(s) to be announced by the NIBIB and one or more NIH institutes or centers. INFORMATION REQUESTED The NIBIB seeks your help in identifying major problems or research advances that require collaborative, multi-disciplinary efforts; will result in a product or benefit that provides a significant improvement in healthcare; are based on technological approaches and applications; and can be accomplished in a five-to-ten year time period. Respondents are asked to submit a one-page (maximum) summary with the following information for each suggested project: 1. A descriptive title; 2. A one or two paragraph description of the major problem or research focus, the anticipated product or advance, and the anticipated improvement in healthcare; and 3. The respondent’s contact information (name, address, telephone, fax, and e-mail address) RESPONSE AND PROCESS Respondents are requested to transmit the information described above no later than January 9, 2004. To respond, please send an e-mail, letter, or fax to the following address: Dr. Richard E. Swaja National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering 6707 Democracy Boulevard Suite 200 Bethesda, MD 20892-5477 TEL: 301-451-4779 FAX: 301-480-1614 EMAIL: swajar@nibib.nih.gov Questions concerning this notice can also be transmitted to the above address. Responses will be collected and shared with our advisory committees. We look forward to receiving your ideas and suggestions, and we hope that you will share this document with your colleagues.

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