Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
Scientists at Fort Detrick are working on a new method for delivering DNA vaccines that would inject the vaccines directly into cells without the use of needles, according to a news release from the American Forces Press Service.
Called the “gene gun,” the delivery method coats DNA on tiny gold beads that are placed in a plastic device about the size of a small flashlight. When the trigger of the device is pressed, compressed helium gas propels the beads into the skin of the patient.
The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases is currently testing the vaccine delivery method on humans as part of Phase 1 clinical testing of two vaccines employing small amounts of DNA from the Hantaan and Puumala viruses.
In other Fort Detrick news, 12 Maryland companies will receive nearly $600,000 in total funding to continue with projects being funded through the Fort Detrick Technology Transfer Initiative. The projects include:
• a wireless sensor for tracking patients, developed by Aid Networks;
• a product for identifying, isolating and producing antibodylike molecules, developed by APE-Bridgepath Scientific;
• a platform for rapid biological manufacturing, including a combination vaccine against plague and anthrax, developed by Bacilligen; and
• a diagnostic test able to detect and differentiate from a single sample multiple pathogenic poxviruses, including variola, vaccinia and monkeypox, developed by BioAssay Works.
• Companies receiving funding also include DS-Byte Solutions, Juxtopia, Theradigm, Biomedica Management, CynerGene, Intelligent Substrates, HeMemics Biotechnologies and Imagilin Technology.
The funding initiative involves the Maryland Technology Development Corp., the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.
RDECOM Issues $485 Million in RFPs for CBRNE Work
The U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command Contracting Center (RDECOM CC) in late June issued two requests for proposal (RFP) worth up to $485 million for a new contract vehicle to support research, development, analysis and other work at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) in Maryland, which develops a wide range of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) defense systems.
Essentially, the new contract vehicle is designed to speed development of products that otherwise is slowed when research on a program ends and a new contract must be initiated for that program’s engineering to begin.
“This new contract mechanism will give RDECOM, ECBC and client organizations the flexibility to acquire a very broad range of contract support, from basic laboratory research through CBRNE defense systems design acquisition, engineering, development and testing,” RDECOM CC spokesperson Charles Comaty said in a press release. “It will allow larger firms to bid, but it will also feature a small business set-aside that will provide opportunities for smaller firms to compete for contracts.”
Comaty said the two RFPs have a total value of up to $485 million—one is open to any and all bidders, while the other is a “100 percent Small Business set-aside.”
The full RFPs are available at www.fbo.gov. For more information on ECBC, visit www.ecbc.army.mil.
Correction:
In the June 2009 issue of MMT, Brigadier General Jess Scarbrough’s name was misspelled in the cover Q&A as well as the article “Practical Solutions.” We apologize for the error.
VA Launches 60,000-person Study
The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a new study on the effect of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on the health of servicemembers. The “National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans,” as the study is called, will involve 30,000 veterans deployed to Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom as well as 30,000 veterans who were not deployed.
All military branches will participate, as well as activeduty, reserve and National Guard members, with the study to be done through mail and online surveys, phone interview and physical evaluations. About 20 percent of participants will be women.
The comparison between deployed and non-deployed veterans will focus on chronic medical conditions, traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder and other psychological conditions, general health perceptions, reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes, functional status, use of health care, behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, seatbelt use, speeding, motorcycle helmet use and sexual behavior), and VA disability compensation. Martinsburgh, Va.-based Research firm HMS Technologies will collect the data.
In other news, the VA’s number of claims to process is close to reaching 1 million, the Associated Press reported, with claims up about 13 percent compared with 2008. DoD and the VA are currently developing the means to electronically exchange records by 2012. ♦