Special Notice DARPA-SN08-53: Rapid Altitude and Hypoxia Acclimatization Proposer’s Day Workshop DATE: October 20, 2008, REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 10, 2008, TECHNICAL POC: Dr. Michael Callahan, DARPA/DSO, Ph: (571) 218-4596, Meeting Registration: https://www.enstg.com/Signup/default.cfm?ThisCode=DAR55124 Rapid Altitude and Hypoxia Acclimatization (RAHA) Proposer’s Day Workshop, DARPA-SN08-53. The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is sponsoring a proposer’s day workshop to promote novel collaborations and new strategies that will allow for rapid (hours to 7 days) acclimatization to high altitudes and other conditions of hypoxia, as evidenced by physiological measures of athletic performance and tolerance of low oxygen tension environments. Ultimately, the RAHA program will create a novel prophylactic measure sufficiently advanced to perform a Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Phase I clinical trial and prepare for an FDA-approved Phase II clinical trial at the completion of the DARPA program. The RAHA proposer’s day workshop will be held on the 10th floor of 3811 N. Fairfax Dr. Arlington, VA 22203 on October 20, 2008. The goals of the session are: (a) introduce the research community (industry, academia, and Government) to the RAHA program vision and goals; and (b) explain the current need for accelerated acclimatization among soldiers deployed to mountain conflict and security operations, and (c) encourage and promote multi-disciplinary teams among potential research organizations that have the relevant expertise, facilities, and capabilities for executing a research and development program responsive to the RAHA program. The proposer’s day workshop will include overview presentations by Government personnel including clinical researchers from DARPA, military personnel from the Mountain Warfare Training Center and Fort Benning U.S. Army Rangers as well as representatives from the FDA and members of the hypoxia and altitude research community. Appropriate teaming will be a critical element in successfully responding to the DARPA RAHA Broad Agency Announcement BAA08-60. Teaming and information session participants are strongly encouraged to prepare a one-page description identifying their areas of capabilities including relevant publications in hypoxia, altitude, clinical trials and small molecule discovery. The descriptions will be used to facilitate communications, interactions, and teaming discussions. Your one-page description must be submitted to
[email protected] no later than October 10, 2008 at noon ET. Participants are strongly encouraged to interact with complementary experts to propose orthogonal solutions to altitude and hypoxia adaptation. A teaming website has been established to facilitate interactions across many disciplines. Also, material presented at the teaming and information session and DARPA’s response to clarification inquiries will also be available on the teaming website: http://teaming.sysplan.com/RAHA for those interested in DARPA-BAA08-60 but are unable to attend the session. There is no registration fee to attend this teaming and information session. Each participant in a performer team may bring a maximum of two members. Additional personnel may be considered on a case by case basis and requests can be made by emailing
[email protected]. Early registration is strongly recommended as space is limited. The registration cutoff date is October 10, 2008, at noon ET, or at attendance capacity, whichever comes first. Further administrative information can be obtained by contacting Jameel Bennett (
[email protected]). Additional technical information can be obtained from Michael Callahan (
[email protected]). Please refer to the “RAHA Proposer’s Day Workshop” in correspondence. This announcement is not a request for proposals. The solicitation document is available at http://www.darpa.mil/baa/baa08-60.html. Original Point of Contact Michael Callahan, Program Manager, Rapid Altitude & Hypoxia Acclimatization Phone (571) 218-4596,
[email protected] Teaming Website: http://teaming.sysplan.com/RAHA Meeting Registration Website: https://www.enstg.com/Signup/default.cfm?ThisCode=DAR55124