DCP- Cancer Immunoprevention Laboratory Support

The Contractor shall provide support for operation of a Cancer Immunoprevention Laboratory. This laboratory shall include staff and equipment suitable for work required for development of novel immune interventions relevant to virus-associated and other cancers. The mission of the lab is to serve as a reference lab confirming key results of extramural DCP Task Order contractors using standardized methods and performing work necessary to advance successful immunoprevention concepts in preclinical development. The laboratory will contribute to advancing development of successful vaccines by optimizing the selection and use of adjuvants, mapping immunodominant epitopes of antigens to enable compounding multipeptide, RNA vaccines, multivalent vaccines and incorporating small molecule and other immunomodulators into the vaccination regimen. The on-site laboratory will interact with existing FNL Shared Service groups such as the Laboratory Animal Support Program and the Center for Advanced Preclinical Research to conduct immunogenicity and cancer prevention efficacy trials. The latter effort will require the use of carcinogen-induced tumor models and genetically engineered mouse models to support testing of interventions. Some of these are already available at FNL and others will need to be established and optimized for use in cancer prevention trials.
Capabilities required include acquisition or development of model systems and reagents and processing of preclinical samples from animals for assessment of humoral and cellular immune responses. This shall include capabilities for quantitation and characterization of antibody response and T-cell response to vaccination. A variety of antigens will be characterized using these and other assays. The latter will include assessment of antigen processing and MHC display. Detailed epitope mapping will be required in some cases. The full range of vaccine platforms ranging from simple peptide vaccines to engineered viral constructs can be anticipated. Expertise in selection and testing of adjuvants will be needed. The contractor shall have the capability and knowledge to stay current with state-of- art assays and instrumentation. Close collaboration is expected with the LASP who will be expected to administer vaccines to animals, collect blood and other tissues and perform necropsies. Post-doctoral or DCP Cancer Prevention Fellows may assist with these studies when available.

Grant Number: 75N91019D00024-0-759102500016-6
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: lynn briscoe