[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 209 (Friday, October 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66932-66933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27939]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Announces the Initiation of a 
Public Private Industry Partnership on Translation of Nanotechnology in 
Cancer (TONIC) To Promote Translational Research and Development 
Opportunities of Nanotechnology-Based Cancer Solutions

AGENCY: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Cancer 
Nanotechnology Research (OCNR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer of the National 
Cancer Institute (NCI) is initiating a public private industry 
partnership called TONIC (Translation Of Nanotechnology In Cancer) to 
promote translational research and development opportunities of 
nanotechnology-based cancer solutions. An immediate consequence of this 
effort will be the formation of a consortium involving government and 
pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. This consortium will 
evaluate promising nanotechnology platforms and facilitate their 
successful translation from academic research to clinical environment, 
resulting in safe, timely, effective and novel diagnosis and treatment 
options for cancer patients.
    The purpose of this notice is to inform the community about the 
Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer of NCI's intention to form the 
consortium and to invite eligible companies (as defined in last 
paragraph) to participate.

DATES: Interested parties should contact Ms. Sonia Calcagno 
([email protected]) and inform her of their intention to 
participate. This notice will remain open to accept the inquiries and 
letters of intent.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sonia Calcagno 
([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The National Cancer Institute established the Alliance 
for Nanotechnology in Cancer (ANC) program in September 2004 to 
facilitate the discovery and development of innovative nanotechnologies 
for applications in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment and to 
address different stages of the developmental pipeline ranging from 
discovery, applied research through translation. The program has been 
providing funding to academic groups to support large multi-
disciplinary projects--Centers for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence 
(CCNEs) along with smaller Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships 
(CNPPs) and training programs. NCI also formed an intramural 
laboratory, the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), to 
serve as a centralized facility to characterize nanomaterials.
    A proposed TONIC consortium will operate in parallel with the 
Alliance program and will bring together individuals from sufficiently 
capitalized pharmaceutical, biotechnology and

[[Page 66933]]

other healthcare-related companies and start-ups, which either have 
ongoing internal efforts within their organization or have strategic 
interest in evaluating the nanotechnology platforms for oncology care 
solutions, through participating in a academic-private partnership 
aimed at promoting translational opportunities.
    Consortium Goals: Specifically, the TONIC consortium will undertake 
the key tasks of:
    1. Creating a Discussion Forum for opportunities in the 
nanotechnology platform drug delivery, monitoring and imaging 
specifically in cancer, but may extend it to other therapeutic 
indications if an opportunity arises;
    2. Developing a Roadmap for the development of nanotechnology-based 
cancer products;
    3. Developing a robust translational model to move promising 
opportunities based on nanotechnology from academic research to the 
clinical environment;
    4. Evaluating the most promising technology candidates within 
existing R&D developments and generating Case Studies based on them;
    5. Recognizing and promoting translational efforts at every stage 
of development through appropriate partnerships among industry, 
academia, government, and philanthropy.
    Consortium Membership: Membership to the TONIC consortium will be 
limited to companies which (1) Have a successful track record of 
translating diagnostics and drug formulations and reaching their 
regulatory approval and, (2) are engaged in the development of 
nanotechnology-based formulations with application to imaging, 
diagnostics and therapy.
    In addition, these companies should have (1) A corporate structure 
with centralized operations and, (2) the capability and resources to 
move along the translational efforts effectively and to provide 
feedback to the academic researchers on industry technological needs.
    Consortia members will be expected to attend regular meetings and 
participate in the project evaluation funded through TONIC consortium.
    The following information must be provided by parties interested in 
participating in the consortium:
    (1) The company profile;
    (2) The name and specific function of the company representative 
for the TONIC consortium; and
    (3) A brief rationale and/or statement of intent for participating 
in the consortium.

    Dated: October 21, 2011.
Piotr Grodzinski,
Director, Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research, Center for 
Strategic and Scientific Initiatives, National Cancer Institute.
[FR Doc. 2011-27939 Filed 10-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P