[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 42962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17789]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice: (19-047)]


Notice of Centennial Challenge Vascular Tissue Challenge

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is updating the Centennial Challenge Vascular 
Tissue Challenge that was published June 13, 2016, Document Number 
2016-13795. The Vascular Tissue Challenge is open and teams that wish 
to compete may now register. Centennial Challenges is a program of 
prize competitions to stimulate innovation in technologies of interest 
and value to NASA and the nation. The Vascular Tissue Challenge is a 
prize competition with a $500,000 prize purse for teams that can 
successfully create thick, human vascularized organ tissue in an in 
vitro environment while maintaining metabolic functionality similar to 
their in vivo functionality throughout a 30-day survival period. NASA 
is providing the prize purse. The Methuselah Foundation's New Organ 
Alliance is the Allied Organization managing the competition.

DATES: This is a ``first to demonstrate'' competition. Teams must 
submit their intent to compete by September 30th, 2019, and all trials 
need to be completed by the Trial Deadline of September 30th, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The Vascular Tissue Challenge will be conducted and judged 
at the laboratory facilities of the participants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for or get additional 
information regarding the Vascular Tissue Challenge, please visit: 
https://www.neworgan.org/prizes/vascular-tissue-prize/.
    For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program 
please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. General questions and 
comments regarding the program should be addressed to Monsi Roman, 
Centennial Challenges Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, AL 35812. Email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary

    Competitors will be asked to produce an in vitro vascularized 
tissue that is >1 centimeter in thickness in all dimensions at the 
launch of the trial and maintains >85% survival of the required 
parenchymal cells throughout a 30 calendar day period. Tissues must 
provide adequate blood perfusion without uncontrolled leakage into the 
bulk tissue to maintain metabolic functionality similar to their in 
vivo native cells. Histological measurement of the quality and amount 
of functional performance will be required to determine survival of 
parenchymal tissue. Teams must demonstrate 3 successful trials with at 
least a 75% trial success rate to win an award. In addition to the in-
vitro trials, teams must also submit a Spaceflight Experiment Concept 
that details how they would further advance an aspect of their tissue 
vascularization research through a microgravity experiment that could 
be conducted in the U.S. National Laboratory (ISS-NL) onboard the 
International Space Station.

I. Prize Amounts

    The total Vascular Tissue Challenge prize purse is $500,000 (five 
hundred thousand U.S. dollars). First place will receive $300,000 
(three hundred thousand U.S. dollars). Two runners-up may be awarded 
$100,000 (one hundred thousand U.S. dollars) each. Entries must meet 
specific requirements detailed in the Rules to be eligible for prize 
awards.

II. Eligibility To Participate and Win Prize Money

    To be eligible to win a prize, competitors must:
    (1) Register and comply with all requirements in the rules and Team 
Agreement;
    (2) In the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and 
maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and in the 
case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, 
shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and
    (3) Not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the 
scope of their employment.

III. Official Rules

    The complete rules for the Vascular Tissue Challenge can be found 
at: https://www.neworgan.org/prizes/vascular-tissue-prize/.

Cheryl Parker,
NASA Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-17789 Filed 8-16-19; 8:45 am]
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