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Handheld FP - Gene Microarray Reader for Assessment of Radiation Damage

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NAS3-02020
Agency Tracking Number: 013793
Amount: $69,995.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2002
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
101 W. Sixth Street, Suite 200
Austin, TX 78701
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 John Bruno,
 Principal Investigator
 (512) 479-7732
 bruno@spec.com
Business Contact
 Syd Ulvick,
Title: CTO & VP Development
Phone: (512) 479-7732
Email: ulvick@spec.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Omnisite BioDiagnostics (OmniSite) proposes to develop a handheld fluorescence polarization (FP) reader for genetic microarrays to assess transcriptional changes in the genes of radiation-exposed astronauts. The reader will be capable of extracting messenger RNA (mRNA) from the blood or other tissues of an astronaut and looking for changes in the transcription of radiation-associated genes such as p53 on commercially available microscope slide-based gene arrays. Amplification of the RNA will be performed either by a variation of Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) or Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). The advantage of using the FP mode of detection on the microarray is obviating the need for wash steps, thus making assays simpler and faster. FP enables homogenous one-step assays without sacrificing sensitivity.In Phase I, OmniSite will provide proof-of-concept for the detection of mRNAs on a gene array using an FP breadboard setup. OmniSite will also provide design parameters for a miniaturized handheld FP reader. In phase II, OmniSite will construct the handheld FP reader and demonstrate its use on real animal blood samples.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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