A -- SN07-37 BLOOD PHARMING

Special Notice SN07-37: BLOOD PHARMING Workshop;WORKSHOP DATE: June 29, 2007; REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 20, 2007; TECHNICAL POC: Dr. Jon Mogford, DARPA/DSO, Ph: (571) 218-4928, Fax: (703) 741-7845; Email: BAA07-21@darpa.mil; URL: http://www.eventmakeronline.com/dso/View/index.asp?MeetingID=524 The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is hosting a Workshop to discuss innovative research that will enable development of an automated progenitor cell-based culture system to produce a donor-less supply of universal donor (Type ?O? negative) red blood cells (RBCs) for combat casualty care. It is envisioned that RBCs of normal structure and function will be produced and that the automated culture system would process cells from starter population to packaged RBC unit ready for transfusion. Complete program metrics will be specified in a forthcoming Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). The Blood Pharming Workshop will be held at 3601 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22201. The goal of the workshop is to explore: 1) culture techniques that stimulate and support the efficient and large-scale production of mature red blood cells from human progenitor cells and 2) automated cell culture systems capable of large-scale implementation of progenitor cell expansion and RBC differentiation protocols. Workshop participants are strongly encouraged to prepare posters describing previous or potential research in the area in order to facilitate discussions and formation of well-rounded teams. It is expected that the successful team will possess expertise in human progenitor cell biology and erythroid differentiation; RBC physiology, cellular support matrices/scaffolds; automated cell culture systems, and cell sorting, purification and packaging. In addition, teams should be led by a strong System?s Integrator and have experience with the FDA approval process for transfusable products. For poster submissions, a detailed description of the poster must be submitted by June 20, 2007, 4:00PM ET. A maximum of 20 4ft x 4ft posters can be accommodated. There is no fee for the Blood Pharming Workshop. Details on the workshop, including registration and poster information, can be found at the following URL: http://www.eventmakeronline.com/dso/View/index.asp?MeetingID=524. The password for login is: arlington Registration is limited by the venue capacity (maximum of 50 people, maximum 2 from each institution). The registration cutoff date is June 20, 2007, or at attendance capacity, whichever comes first. If there is additional space available after the registration deadline, institutions will be permitted additional participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Further administrative information is available from Ms. Carol Higgins (Carol.Higgins.ctr@darpa.mil). Additional technical information can be obtained from Dr. Jon Mogford (Jon.Mogford@darpa.mil). Please refer to the Blood Pharming Workshop in any correspondence. This special announcement is not a request for proposals. For those interested but unable to attend, requests for DARPA materials presented at the workshop should be directed to Ms. Carol Higgins.