[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 161 (Monday, August 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43464-43465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20662]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 95-17: 
Radiation Dosimetry

Agency: Office of Energy Research, Department of Energy (DOE).

Action: Notice inviting grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER) of the 
Office of Energy Research (ER), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 
supports a comprehensive research program in the area of medical 
applications. This program includes development of advanced therapy 
modalities such as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), charged 
particle therapy (CPT), and internal emitter therapy (IET). Other areas 
of research supported by medical applications are advanced imaging 
modalities for diagnosis of human diseases, molecular nuclear medicine, 


[[Page 43465]]
biomedical technology, and computational biology. One of the components 
of these programs deals with correctly assessing the dose to various 
systems that are exposed to radiation fields during treatment. These 
systems could range from biomolecules to different tissues and organs. 
The exposure to both patients and health care providers results from 
such sources as neutrons, high LET radiation, and low LET radiation 
such as electrons, x-rays, and gamma rays. In many situations, 
radiation could be combinations of the various radiation fields listed 
above. For example, development of improved methods for determination 
of dose to normal vs. cancerous tissue, and of strategies for 
maximizing the dose to cancerous tissue will be of special interest. 
This includes, but is not limited to, planning tools for conformal 
therapy, BNCT, internal emitter therapy and charged particle therapy, 
biological response to normal and pathological tissue as expressed in 
the tumor control probability, and normal tissue complication 
probability. Research topics include: (a) applying the fundamental 
knowledge about interaction of radiation with matter in developing 
methodologies for determining dose to the target cells in individual 
organs and tissues, (b) research associated with developing concepts 
for use and improving the radiation protection standards and practices 
at DOE facilities, and specifically, that research which will 
contribute to correctly assessing the dose to internal organs by 
internal emitters.

DATES: Formal applications submitted in response to this notice must be 
received by 4:30 p.m., E.S.T., February 15, 1996, to be accepted for a 
May merit review and to permit timely consideration of award in Fiscal 
Year 1996.

ADDRESSES: Formal applications referencing Program Notice 95-17 should 
be forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research, 
Grants and Contracts Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown Road, 
Germantown, Maryland 20874, Attn: Program Notice 95-17. The following 
address must be used when submitting applications by U.S. Postal 
Service Express Mail, any commercial mail delivery service, or 
handcarried by the applicant: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 
Energy Research, Grants and Contracts Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown 
Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Matesh N. Varma, Office of Health 
and Environmental Research, ER-73, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 
Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874, telephone: (301) 903-3209.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy announces its 
interest in receiving applications in support of research in the field 
of dosimetry for use in improving radiation treatment planning and 
reducing the radiation exposure to patients and workers.
    Before preparing a formal application, potential applicants are 
encouraged to submit a brief preapplication in accordance with 10 CFR 
600.10(d)(2), which consists of two to three pages of narrative 
describing research objectives and methods of accomplishment. These 
will be reviewed relative to the scope and research needs for the 
radiation dosimetry and medical applications program. Preapplications 
referencing Program Notice 95-17 should be received by October 1, 1995, 
and sent to Dr. Matesh N. Varma, Office of Health and Environmental 
Research, ER-73, Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, 
Germantown, Maryland 20874, (301) 903-3209. Telephone and fax numbers 
are required to be part of the preapplication. A response to the 
preapplication discussing potential relevance of a formal application 
will be communicated by November 15, 1995. It is anticipated that 
approximately $1 million will be available for grant awards during 
Fiscal Year 1996 contingent upon availability of funds. We expect to 
award several grants in this area of research ranging from a few 
thousand to a few hundred thousand dollars per year. Information about 
development, submission, and selection process, and other policies and 
procedures may be found in the Application Guide for the Office of 
Energy Research Financial Assistance Program 10 CFR Part 605. The 
Application Guide is available from the U.S. Department of Energy, 
Office of Health and Environmental Research, ER-73, 19901 Germantown 
Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874. Telephone requests may be made by 
calling (301) 903-5349.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program 
is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR Part 
605.
D.D. Mayhew,
Associate Director, Office of Resource Management, Office of Energy 
Research.
[FR Doc. 95-20662 Filed 8-18-95; 8:45 am]
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