Lung Tissue Research Consortium (LTRC): Radiology Center

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is seeking a Radiology Center (RC) for a four-year continuation of the multi-center Lung Tissue Research Consortium (LTRC). The purpose of this announcement is to provide a Presolicitation Notice for the release of the LTRC Solicitation NIH-NHLBI-HR-11-14. THIS IS A SYNOPSIS. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. The overall objective of the LTRC is to enable better management of lung diseases by increasing understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of these diseases through studies of human lung tissues. The LTRC facilitates histopathological and molecular research of pulmonary diseases by collecting lung tissues from donors and preparing and distributing collections of tissue specimens to researchers within and outside the Consortium. Collections of specimens are linked to extensive, individual clinical and phenotypic data. The LTRC will consist of multiple Clinical Centers (CCs), a Radiology Center (RC), a Tissue Repository (TR), a Data Coordinating Center (DCC), and possibly, External Contributors through the DCC contract. The CCs will enroll subjects and perform extensive clinical phenotyping. The RC will perform quantitative analyses and archiving of high resolution chest computed tomography (CT) images. The TR will process tissues and prepare specimen collections in accordance with investigator requests. The DCC will manage the study and a central database, provide data quality assurance, and coordinate the review and approval of requests for tissues and data. External Contributors, if used, will submit data and biospecimens collected according to the LTRC protocol from individuals with specific, targeted conditions. The NHLBI anticipates one award under a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Radiology Center (RC). The RC will 1) obtain and maintain approval for RC activities described in the LTRC Protocol Manual; 2) provide one member of the Steering Committee (SC) with expertise in lung disease imaging, who will participate fully in the activities of the SC; 3) conduct a training/retraining course for CC personnel involved in image acquisition, processing, and transfer of images to the RC; 4) develop and implement a process whereby the CCs and possibly External Contributors transfer CT images to the RC, and perform quality control/quality assurance tests and report results to the DCC; 5) develop and maintain an archive of lung images with procedures for backup that will minimize possibilities of data loss; 6) perform analyses of lung images to obtain diagnostic and quantitative research measures of disease, and transmit results to the DCC; 7) perform diagnostic radiological readings of lung images by a board-certified radiologist, and notify the contributing CC of any clinically significant abnormalities; 8) prepare image collections in electronic form for distribution to investigators for approved studies; 9) participate in site visits of CCs or institutions identified by the SC and NHLBI as potential External Contributors, and assess the capability of the institutions to provide CT image data in accordance with the LTRC Protocol; 10) identify any problems with existing LTRC procedures and devise strategies to improve procedures; 11) transfer all LTRC x-ray CT lung images to a repository identified by the NHLBI at the end of the contract period, together with the coded information linking the images to other data of the LTRC; 12) participate with other LTRC investigators in up to two collaborative clinical research substudies; and, 13) conduct approved research studies and disseminate the results and conclusions to the research community. This is not a request for proposal (RFP) and the Government is not committed to award a contract pursuant to this announcement. It is anticipated that the RFP will be available on FedBizOpps on or about January 8, 2010. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract.