[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24628-24630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11532]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice 99-19;
Computational Structural Biology
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) of
the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby
announces its interest in receiving grant applications in its
Computational Structural Biology subprogram. There is an immediate
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need for greatly improved computational approaches for gene product
structure and function elucidation. This solicitation seeks
sophisticated prediction, modeling and simulation research for the
exploration of the interrelationship of macromolecular sequence,
structure and function. The goal will be to establish a robust
computational process for predicting the three-dimensional architecture
for gene products and for gaining further insight into their biological
role.
DATES: Before preparing a formal application, potential applicants are
encouraged to submit a brief preapplication. All preapplications,
referencing Program Notice 99-19, should be received by DOE by 4:30
P.M., E.D.T., June 15, 1999. A response discussing the programmatic
relevance of the proposed submission will be communicated by July 1,
1999. Formal applications submitted in response to this notice must be
received by 4:30 P.M., E.D.T., October 5, 1999, to be accepted for
merit review and consideration for award in mid-Fiscal Year 2000.
ADDRESSES: Preapplications referencing Program Notice 99-19, must be
sent by E-mail to sharon.betson@science.doe.gov. Preapplications will
also be accepted if mailed to the following address: Ms. Sharon Betson,
Office of Biological and Environmental Research, SC-73, 19901
Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290.
Formal applications, referencing Program Notice 99-19, should be
forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Grants and
Contracts Division, SC-64, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland
20874-1290, ATTN: Program Notice 99-19. This address must also be used
when submitting applications by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail or any
other commercial overnight delivery service, or hand-carried by the
applicant. An original and seven copies of the application must be
submitted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Charles G. Edmonds, Office of
Biological and Environmental Research, SC-73, U.S. Department of
Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, telephone:
(301) 903-0042, FAX: (301) 903-0567, E-mail:
charles.edmonds@science.doe.gov. The full text of Program Notice 99-19
is available via the Internet using the following web site address:
http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Biological and Environmental
Research supports a directed, basic research program in the areas of
environmental, life and medical science. Major research program
emphases are placed on characterization of human and microbial genomes,
model organisms for understanding human gene function, structural
biology, the biological effects of low dose radiation, global climate
change, improved technology for cleanup of DOE contaminated sites,
advanced imaging technologies, and molecular nuclear medicine. With the
accelerating increase in nucleic acid and derived amino acid sequence
data flowing from genome projects and in the particular context of
these DOE supported basic research efforts, there is an immediate need
for greatly improved experimental and computational approaches for gene
product structure and function determination. OBER presently supports a
program in computational structural biology that is intended to address
this need.
This notice is to solicit applications for grants to maintain and
enhance this program which focuses on sophisticated prediction,
modeling and simulation research to provide a generalizable approach to
the interrelationship of macromolecular sequence, structure and
function. The rapid influx of newly discovered genes, the remarkably
large proportion of which no function can so far be inferred, require a
global predictive capability. We are seeking tools for the robust
prediction of structure and inference of function for any gene and on a
whole genome scale of analysis.
Research applications that integrate existing software tools in
novel ways and/or develop new computational strategies to exploit
databases of macromolecular structural information, including both high
and low resolution structures, are a continuing interest of the
program. This includes the goals of predicting the structure and
function of newly discovered gene sequences as well as the prediction
or computational design of the chemical properties and architectural
arrangement of proteins or nucleic acids needed for a particular
functional application. Examples of existing approaches that fall into
this category are knowledge-based or molecular extension methods (e.g.,
homology model building), ab initio structure prediction (finding
structures that fit sequences) and the development of tools to assign
existing or new sequences to specific structures (e.g., finding
sequences that fit structures through threading or inverse folding
algorithms). Attention may also be focussed on the problem of negative
design, the identification of aspects of sequence that precludes its
fitting a known structure. Awardees will be expected to attend the
biannual Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure
Prediction (CASP) experiment and participate at an appropriate level in
the comparative exercise.
Further, the use of structure from experimental and/or
computational sources to provide insight into function is a specific
target of this solicitation. Computational and visualization techniques
exploiting structure to characterize recognition within macromolecular
ensembles, ligand-receptor and other specific molecular interactions
and to extend this to the understanding and modeling of elaborate
functional aggregates including metabolic pathways and interacting
circuits are specifically encouraged. This solicitation includes but is
not limited to participation in structural genomics projects, i.e., the
collaborative experimental, theoretical and computational efforts which
seek to establish a catalogue of the structures of a representative set
of protein folds occurring in nature and thus facilitating the modeling
of the structure of any genomically derived amino acid sequence by
reference to its nearest catalogued archetype.
Applications that exploit the latest multiple approaches (in
algorithms, simulation, modeling and graphical representation/
visualization) or provide for the interpretation and the integration
and joint utilization through the World Wide Web of the growing body of
sequence, structural and physical information tools will also be
considered particularly responsive. We encourage the development of
teams to accelerate the deployment of robust software available to the
entire community. Established programs should demonstrate such
capabilities or discuss plans for web access and dissemination. The
long term goal of the program is to develop well-integrated software
packages that meet the scientific and technical goals outlined above.
The transformation of the accumulating database of genomic
information into a practical understanding of structure-function
relationships in biological macromolecules and of the complicated
systems which constitute living cells, tissues and organisms is
paramount. The ultimate objective of the extension of this new
understanding of individual reactive entities to the genome scale will
be the elucidation of a vocabulary and
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grammar of connectedness in molecular function. Through escalating
levels of complexity from functional aggregates to metabolic circuits
and homeostatic networks we will arrive at a systems view of biology.
This will enable diverse applications in human health, including
individualized medicine and drug design, in biotechnology, including,
new and improved biomaterials and new biocatalysis in industry and
manufacturing, in environmental science for the design of enzymes for
effective and efficient removal of environmental contaminants and in
energy technology for the development and conversion of biomass for
fuels.
Program Funding
It is anticipated that approximately $2.0 million will be available
for multiple grant awards during Fiscal Year 2000 contingent upon the
availability of appropriated funds. Applications may request project
support up to three years, with out-year support contingent on the
availability of funds, progress of the research, and programmatic
needs. We expect to award several grants in this area of research of up
to $500,000 per year.
Preapplications
A brief preapplication should be submitted. The preapplication
should identify on the cover sheet the institution, PI name, address,
telephone, fax and E-mail address for the principal investigator, and
title of the project. The preapplication should consist of two to three
pages narrating the research objective, methods for accomplishment and
benefits of the effort.
Preapplications will be evaluated relative to the scope and
research needs for the Computational Structural Biology subprogram.
Applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer
review) and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria
listed in descending order of importance as codified at 10 CFR
605.10(d):
1. Scientific and/or Technical Merit of the Project.
2. Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach.
3. Competency of Applicant's Personnel and Adequacy of Proposed
Resources.
4. Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget.
The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the
relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement and
an agency's programmatic needs. Note, external peer reviewers are
selected with regard to both their scientific expertise and the absence
of conflict-of-interest issues. Non-federal reviewers may be used, and
submission of an application constitutes agreement that this is
acceptable to the investigator(s) and the submitting institution.
To provide a consistent format for the submission, review and
solicitation of grant applications submitted under this notice, the
preparation and submission of grant applications must follow the
guidelines given in the Application Guide for the Office of Science
Financial Assistance Program 10 CFR part 605.
Information about the development, submission of applications,
eligibility, limitations, evaluation, the selection process, and other
policies and procedures may be found in 10 CFR part 605, and in the
Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance
Program. Electronic access to the Guide and required forms is made
available via the World Wide Web at: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/
grants/grants.html. On the SC grant face page, form DOE F 4650.2, in
block 15, also provide the PI's phone number, fax number and E-mail
address.
The Office of Science as part of its grant regulations requires at
10 CFR 605.11(b) that a recipient receiving a grant and performing
research involving recombinant DNA molecules and/or organisms and
viruses containing recombinant DNA molecules shall comply with NIH
``Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules'', which
is available via the world wide web at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/odhsb/
biosafe/nih/rdna-apr98.pdf, (59 FR 34496, July 5, 1994), or such later
revision of those guidelines as may be published in the Federal
Register.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this
program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10
CFR Part 605.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 1999.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director of Science for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 99-11532 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
