OpportunityTitle: Clinical Translation of Activated Optical Fluorescence Methods and Technologies for Sensitive Cancer Detection in Vivo (R01  Clinical Trial Optional)
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Other Eligible Applicants include the following:  Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession.
Description: [The purpose of this PAR is to bring a highly sensitivity imaging technology capable of locating very small (1-3 mm) tumors in vivo to clinical utility. Under this funding opportunity, NCI solicits innovative concepts that propose a path to clinical validation for in vivo intelligent or activated optical fluorescence agents or probes with demonstrated capabilities for detection of small tumors. Current imaging techniques are in use for non-invasive cancer detection, but clinical methods are limited to detecting masses several millimeters to centimeters in size. To image small primary or metastatic tumor sites composed of 106 to 107 cells, imaging sensitivity must be improved. This can be achieved without significant hardware advances by improving the contrast between diseased and healthy tissue captured in the image. Thus, there is a clinical need for techniques that improve image contrast between tumors and surrounding background tissue. There are several novel optical fluorescence methods that rely on the use of specialized agents that are activated when coupled to a tumor target. These activated agents dramatically increase the contrast between small tumor cell masses and surrounding tissue. Efforts to develop activated fluorescence imaging agents have been ongoing for over a decade. These developmental successes now need to be translated for clinical use. This FOA thus supports translation of novel activated optical fluorescence technologies for sensitive cancer detection In Vivo. Clinical translation and validation are the primary goals of the proposed research. Minimal development activity in preparation for clinical validation will be accepted. The bulk of the proposed research must focus on translating improvements to imaging sensitivity to a clinical environment. The goal is to demonstrate that tumor cell aggregations on the order of 1 mm 3 in diameter can be visualized in vivo. This FOA, does not support continued development of novel technologies
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