Funding-EPA -
Organotypic Culture Models for Predictive Toxicology Center; January 23, 2014
Agency
Name
Environmental Protection Agency
Description
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking
applications for research centers to investigate toxic effects of chemical
substances in three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models, hereafter referred to as
‘organotypic culture models’ (OCMs). OCMs are tissue
culture models that mimic in vivo tissue architecture through interactions of
heterotypic cell types (e.g., epithelium-stroma) and
extracellular matrices (ECM). They can be established from isolated cells or
from tissue fragments harvested in vivo, and will bridge the gap between
conventional monolayer cell cultures and whole-animal systems. EPA is
interested in the potential application of OCMs that mimic complex cell
arrangements and physiologies, scalable from mid to higher throughput screening
(HTS), and high-content screening (HCS) approaches. This solicitation seeks the
formation of research centers that will guide the development and evaluation of
OCMs that will accelerate translational research in predictive toxicology. Three
dimensional tissue models may, for example, utilize animal cells combined with
mechanical scaffolds or microfluidics devices. Under this solicitation, the
successful applicant will lead a Center to craft OCMs that can recapitulate
critical features of in vivo cellular organization and communication,
cell-matrix interplay, morphogenetic processes and differentiation, physiology
and chemical metabolism. Measures of success or progress should be described
toward the application of OCMs for computational toxicology and reconstructing
in vivo responses to environmental chemicals and nanomaterials
to improve environmental health protection. As such, the OCMs should be
scalable in support of medium to high throughput strategies or high-dimensional
quantitative data collection, such as high content imaging, that respond to
questions relevant to chemical risk assessment and management. For applications
using human cells, it is preferred that the cells are already available or
derive from available cell lines. Under EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 26
(Protection of Human Subjects), using pre-existing human cell lines is not
considered human subjects research.
Announcement
Number: EPA-G2013-STAR-L1
Due
Date: Jan 23, 2014
Link
to Full Announcement
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2013/2013_star_ocm.html
Contact
Information
Todd Peterson, Phone: 703-308-7224