You are here

ELECTROCHEMICAL MOLECULAR ARRAYS FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 1R43CA089911-01
Amount: $99,277.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2001
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
2810 MERIDIAN PKY, STE 152
DURHAM, NC 27713
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 ROBERT HENKENS
 () -
Business Contact
Phone: (919) 544-8220
Email: JODALY@ANDCARE.COM
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (applicant's abstract): Some 45 percent of all approved cancer
products. Plants and microorganisms can be extremely useful in the production
these medicines or precursors for these medicines. Collectively, photosynthetic
plants and microorganisms have a broad array of biosynthetic capabilities for
the production of drugs. The discovery /manipulation of gene networks in these
organisms could lead to development of new medicines and to significant human
health benefits. Consequently, we propose the initial stage of a multi-phase
SBIR project aimed at developing and producing a line of
inexpensive,high-sample-throughput, multigene assay systems ("Plant Chips") for
use in testing plants and non-medical microbes and algae for their capacities
to produce medicines. The Phase I proof-of-concept project is designed to
demonstrate the feasibility of using the AndCare platform to detect metabolic
pathways or key steps in pathways by gene-expression analysis. For Phase I, we
propose to develop a prototype "algal chip" and to demonstrate its
effectiveness in detecting patterns of gene expression in selected strains of
marine microalgae. The chip-based assays will be designed to detect and
characterize metabolic pathways that may lead to the production of drugs or
drug precursors. Phase I success will set the stage for follow-on Phase II
optimization and demonstration.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS:
Efforts over the past 30 years have documented that species inhabiting the marine environment particularly have many unusual chemical substances, some of which will be useful in the development of pharmaceuticals. Success in carrying out the work proposed here will lead to almost unlimited potential commercial application in the drug discovery and development marketplace, addressing important needs in treating cancer and other human diseases and conditions.

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

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government