SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Brain Machine Interface
- Notice Date
- 6/6/2016
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Attn: MCMR-AAA, 820 Chandler Street, Frederick, MD 21702-5014, Maryland, 21702-5014, United States
- ZIP Code
- 21702-5014
- Solicitation Number
- MTEC-16-02
- Archive Date
- 9/6/2016
- Point of Contact
- Alysia Bridgman,
- E-Mail Address
-
Mtec-sc@mtec-sc.org
(Mtec-sc@mtec-sc.org)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is not a notice for a solicitation. This is not a Request for Proposals or Request for Whitepapers. This Special Notice is to advise interested members of the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), as well as other interested members within the U.S. medical technology base, that a Request for Project Proposals has been issued by SCRA Applied R&D for the MTEC. Interested parties can be directed to www.mtec-sc.org and all information regarding this Request for Project Proposals can be obtained at www.mtec-sc.org. Non-MTEC parties must join the MTEC to respond to this notice. Any questions concerning the Request for Project Proposals should be addressed to the SCRA Applied R&D point of contact listed in the Request. The overarching goal of this program is to provide a prototype visual prosthesis for human testing within 5 years that (1) provides the ability to navigate for ambulation, identify faces and objects critical to daily life, and read large print, and (2) is economically feasible. Applications to MTEC should clearly state how the proposed research provides an innovative solution to a critical problem in the development of a brain machine interface prototype for vision restoration. A critical step towards realization of the overarching goals is the development of an appropriate brain-machine interface. Applications must address the following focus area in vision restoration to be considered: Specifically, MTEC seeks the prototype development of a device that: 1.Stimulates visual pathways in either the a) the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) or b) primary visual cortex. 2.Provides appropriate punctate stimuli with either a) electrical stimulation or b) optical stimulation for photolysis of caged excitatory neurotransmitters, photoswitches, or optogenetics (an optical stimulation delivery device is being sought, NOT the development of caged neurotransmitters, photoswitches or optogenetic tools). 3.Provides density of stimulation for the equivalent of at least 20/40 in the central 2 of visual field. 4.Stimulates neurons normally responsive to the peripheral field providing the equivalent of at least 70 of horizontal visual field for each eye. 5.Proposal must address specific anatomical challenges associated with implantation and communicating with the stimulation device. 6.Proposal must address biocompatibility (i.e., the prosthesis should ideally function for the lifetime of the patient). 7.Components of the device must be demonstrated as a prototype in animal or appropriate in vitro models. MTEC seeks applications from investigators comprising multi-disciplinary teams from a wide spectrum of disciplines including, but not limited to, basic science, engineering, translational research, and clinical research. The current effort aims to promote highly innovative, groundbreaking research; high-impact research with near-term clinical relevance; multidisciplinary, synergistic research; and translational studies to support the fluid transfer of knowledge from basic principles to a working visual prosthesis prototype. Results of studies conducted through this effort should inform the developmental pathway for a visual prosthesis prototype. Proposed projects must be based on logical reasoning and sound scientific rationale. Please note that awards are not to be exploratory in nature and require a foundation of preliminary data. Research involving animal or human subjects is allowed, in accordance with the PPG. Although seven critical specifications of the visual prosthesis prototype are outlined in the above, we encourage you to submit even if you cannot currently meet all seven specifications. However, it is expected that an Offeror's approach to the visual prosthesis prototype will one day satisfy all seven critical specifications.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/USAMRAA/DAMD17/MTEC-16-02/listing.html)
- Record
- SN04139336-W 20160608/160606234340-c65458590648fd1c1d6b52432413f153 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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