National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Office of Grants and Contracts, 6100 Bldg., Room 7A07, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892

A -- FOLATE-NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS PROJECT Sol SS NICHD-DESPR-95-01. Contact Mrs. Lynn Salo, 301/496-4611/ Contract Specialist, Harvey Shifrin, 301-496-4611/ Contracting Officer. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is planning to extend the period of performance of the NICHD/Health Research Board of Ireland Neural Tube Defects Study. Originally a Master Agreement was issued under RFP NICHD-PRP-89-27 which resulted in organizations becoming Master Agreement Holders, who were then issued a Task Order under RFP NICHD-DESPR-92-08. The Health Research Board, Dublin Ireland, received this award to participate in a NICHD study to demonstrate how folate supplements reduce the occurrence of Neural Tube Defects in pregnant women who are considered to be high risk. The Health Research Board has developed a unique, geographically-based study of women not exposed to vitamin supplements who have had blood samples collected during pregnancies producing offspring with neural tube defects. The proposed extension will build on current findings of abnormal folate metabolism in this population to define specific biochemical defects resulting in neural tube defects. Any organization who has a geographically-based sample of women, not exposed to vitamin supplements, on whom blood has been collected during affected pregnancies, and who can conduct studies of folate-dependent enzymes, should submit a short Capability Statement to Mrs. Lynn Salo at the address listed above by 4:00 P.M. (local Time) forty-five days from the publication of this announcement (on or about March 29, 1995). (See Numbered Note 22). (041)

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