[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14955-14956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6854]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Opportunity 
for a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) and/or 
Licensing Opportunity for Preparative Two Dimensional Gel 
Electrophoresis System

AGENCY: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National 
Institutes of Health, PHS, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking CRADA 
partners and/or licensees for the further development, evaluation, and 
commercialization of a Preparative Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis 
System (U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/243,643, filed May 16, 
1994) for protein analysis and characterization. The National Institute 
of Environmental Health Sciences has also determined that the developed 
technology can be utilized in other scientific areas. The invention 
claimed in the above-referenced patent application is available for 
either further development under a CRADA and/or exclusive or non-
exclusive licensing (in accordance with 35 U.S.C 207 and 37 CFR part 
404) for the applications described below under Supplementary 
Information.

ADDRESSES: CRADA proposals and questions about this opportunity may be 
addressed to Dr. B. Alex Merrick, NIEHS, Mail Drop D4-03, P.O. Box 
12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (Telephone: 919/541-1531; Fax: 
919/541-4704; Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f1bcb4a3a3b8b2bab1bfb8b4b9a2dfbfb8b9dfb6bea7">[email protected]</a>). CRADA proposals must be 
received by the date specified below.
    Licensing proposals and questions about this opportunity should be 
addressed to: David Sadowski, Office of Technology Transfer, National 
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852 
(Telephone: 301/496-7735 ext. 288; Fax: 301/402-0220).
    Information on the patent application and pertinent information not 
yet publicly described can be obtained under a Confidential Disclosure 
Agreement. Respondees interested in licensing the invention(s) will be 
required to submit an Application for License to Public Health Service 
Inventions. Respondees interested in submitting a CRADA proposal should 
be aware that it may be necessary to secure a license to the above 
patent rights in order to commercialize products arising from a CRADA 
agreement.

DATES: Capability statements/CRADA proposals must be received by NIH on 
or before May 22, 1995. There is no [[Page 14956]] deadline by which 
license applications must be received.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has 
developed procedures and a prototype device for isolation of proteins 
from complex mixtures for protein sequencing. The system serves as a 
one-step purification method for isolation of biologically relevant 
proteins affected by disease or experimental treatment and has been 
described in Electrophoresis 15,535-545,1994. The system includes a 
preparative isoelectric focusing device for separation of proteins by 
charge, a glass mold for preparative polyacrylamide gel separation by 
mass and a protocol for use.
    The commercial advantage of the Preparative Two Dimensional Gel 
Electrophoresis system is to separate and isolate sufficient amounts of 
individual protein for sequencing in a powerful one-step purification 
method. The Preparative Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis system can 
resolve individual proteins by charge and mass from up to 1 to 2 mg of 
unpurified starting material from protein mixtures. Current devices for 
two dimensional gel electrophoresis are generally for analytical scale 
work and are not physically or procedurally adapted to accommodate 
preparative sample loads. Although other preparative electrophoresis 
devices do exist, they separate by either mass or charge alone and 
function as stand-alone units without ready integration into additional 
systems for resolution of individual proteins.
    The developed technology has applications for protein sequencing, 
protein immunization for antibody production, immunostaining and other 
modes of protein characterization. Although the system has been tested 
and is operational, some refinements in protein resolution are still 
possible which may involve procedural, reagent or equipment 
modifications.
    The CRADA awardees will have an option to negotiate for an 
exclusive license to market and commercialize any new technology 
developed within the scope of the CRADA research plan for the 
Preparative Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis System. This CRADA may 
be directed toward the co-development of improved preparative 
electrophoresis equipment and pertinent procedures.

Roles of NIEHS

    1. Provide design and specifications of an operating prototype 
device, provide a protocol for prototype operation, provide user 
expertise, and assist in beta testing.
    2. Work cooperatively with the company(s) to determine the market 
potential for the Preparative Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis 
system and to refine the prototype system.

Roles of the CRADA Partner

    1. Provide expertise in application and commercial-oriented 
separation systems.
    2. Develop plan for production, testing and commercialization of 
Preparative Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis system.
    Selection criteria for choosing the CRADA partner(s) will include, 
but will not be limited to the following:

    1. Experience in manufacturing electrophoresis devices or related 
separation technologies.
    2. Capability to develop, implement and manage the product 
commercialization so as to ensure the dissemination of the 
technology(s) to research or health care services.
    3. Ability to cost share for production and testing of a 
preparative two-dimensional gel electrophoresis device.

    Dated: March 13, 1995.
Barbara M. McGarey,
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 95-6854 Filed 3-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P

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