6638 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2001 / Notices

of specific SQFs of interest, without the

use of cloning techniques or

polynucleotide amplification protocols

that require locus-specific primers.

Probe Using Diffuse-Reflectance

Spectroscopy

Amir H. Gandjbakhche (NICHD), David

W. Hattery (NICHD), James L.

Mulshine (NCI), Paul D. Smith

(ORS), Ernie Hawk (NCI), Victor

Chernomordik (NICHD)

DHHS Reference No. E–309–00/0 filed

06 Oct 2000

Licensing Contact: Dale Berkley; 301/

496–7735 ext. 223; e-mail:

berkleyd@od.nih.gov.

The invention uses an oblique angle

reflectance spectroscopy method to noninvasively quantify the thickness of the

oral epithelium as a means for

quantifying inflammation at sites in the

oral cavity. In this technique, a

toothbrush-sized probe is used to direct

photon sources at two or more oblique

angles and measure the scattered spectra

to determine the thickness of the

epithelial layer. Analysis of the spectra

provides the location of the stroma/

epithelium interface. The invention has

applications in the assessment of drugs

used in the treatment of Leukoplakia,

which is characterized by a thickening

of the oral epithelium as the underlying

stroma remains unchanged. The

invention provides a non-invasive

technique for determining the efficacy

of drugs used to treat the lesion, and

promises to replace the need for

uncomfortable punch biopsies.

Modified HCV Peptide Vaccine

Jay A. Berzofsky (NCI), Pablo Sarobe

(NCI), CD Pendleton (NCI), Stephen

M. Feinstone (FDA)

DHHS Reference Nos. E–192–98/0 filed

21 Aug 1998 and E–192–98/1 filed

17 Aug 1999

Licensing Contact: Carol Salata; 301/

496–7735 ext. 232; e-mail:

salatac@od.nih.gov.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single

stranded RNA virus responsible for the

majority of non-A non-B hepatitis.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a

worldwide distribution and is a major

cause of liver cirrhosis and

hepatocellular carcinoma in the U.S.,

Europe, and Japan. For this reason,

development of a vaccine against

hepatitis C is of great importance.

The present invention provides

immunogenic peptides of HCV core

protein which elicit an enhanced

immune response, methods for making

these peptides, and methods for using

these peptides for a variety of

therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic

applications, including a vaccine. More

specifically, the present invention

provides an isolated peptide, an isolated

HCV core polypeptide, a fragment of an

HCV core polypeptide and nucleic acids

which encode the peptides and

polypeptides of this invention. The

invention provides a modified HCV core

peptide that is more immunogenic than

the corresponding natural core peptide

for eliciting human cytotoxic T

lymphocytes.

Dated: January 8, 2001.

Jack Spiegel,

Director, Division of Technology Development

and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer,

National Institutes of Health.

[FR Doc. 01–1643 Filed 1–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

National Cancer Institute; Notice of

Closed Meeting

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice

is hereby given of the following

meeting.

The meeting will be closed to the

public in accordance with the

provisions set forth in sections

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,

as amended. The contract proposals and

the discussions could disclose

confidential trade secrets or commercial

property such as patentable material,

and personal information concerning

individuals associated with the contract

proposals, the disclosure of which

would constitute a clearly unwarranted

invasion of personal privacy.

Name of Committee: National Cancer

Institute Special Emphasis Panel, Novel

Technologies for Noninvasive Detection,

Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cancer.

Date: February 23, 2001.

Time: 8 am to 5 pm.

Agenda: To review and evaluate contract

proposals.

Place: National Cancer Institute, 6130

Executive Boulevard, Conference Room J,

Rockville, MD 20852.

Contact Person: Lalita D. Palekar, Scientific

Review Administrator, Special Review,

Referral and Resources Branch, Division of

Extramural Activities, National Cancer

Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6116

Executive Boulevard, Room 8066, Bethesda,

MD 20892–7405, (301) 496–7575.

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Nos. 93.392, Cancer Construction;

93.393, Cancer Cause and Prevention

Research; 93.394, Cancer Detection and

Diagnosis Research; 93.395, Cancer

Treatment Research; 93.396, Cancer Biology

Research; 93.397, Cancer Centers Support;

93.398, Cancer Research Manpower; 93.399,

Cancer Control, National Institutes of Health,

HHS)

Dated: January 12, 2001.

LaVerne Y. Stringfield,

Director, Office of Federal Advisory

Committee Policy.

[FR Doc. 01–1628 Filed 1–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

National Cancer Institute; Notice of

Closed Meeting

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice

is hereby given of the following

meeting.

The meeting will be closed to the

public in accordance with the

provisions set forth in sections

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,

as amended. The grant applications and

the discussions could disclose

confidential trade secrets or commercial

property such as patentable material,

and personal information concerning

individuals associated with the grant

applications, the disclosure of which

would constitute a clearly unwarranted

invasion of personal privacy.

Name of Committee: National Cancer

Institute Special Emphasis Panel, Innovative

Cancer Complementary and Alternative

Medicine Initiative in Cancer Centers.

Date: February 19–21, 2001.

Time: 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant

applications.

Place: Double Tree Hotel, 1750 Rockville

Pike, Rockville, MD 20852.

Contact Person: Gerald G. Lovinger,

Scientific Review Administrator, Grants

Review Branch, Division of Extramural

Activities, National Cancer Institute, National

Institutes of Health, 6116 Executive

Boulevard, Room 8070, Rockville, MD

20892–7405, 301/496–7987.

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Nos. 93.392, Cancer Construction;

93.393, Cancer Cause and Prevention

Research; 93.394, Cancer Detection and

Diagnosis Research; 93.395, Cancer

Treatment Research; 93.396, Cancer Biology

Research; 93.397, Cancer Centers Support;

93.398, Cancer Research Manpower; 93.399,

Cancer Control, National Institutes of Health,

HHS)

Dated: January 12, 2001.

LaVerne Y. Stringfield,

Director, Office of Federal Advisory

Committee Policy.

[FR Doc. 01–1629 Filed 1–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M