Screening of Investigational Compounds to Treat, Modify or Prevent Epilepsy for the NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP)   2

Background
The NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP) was established in 1975 to address the need for new anti-seizure medications and to promote industry interest in their development. The program has been supported through contracts to the University of Utah. The screening process involves researchers from academia and industry in the U.S. and abroad submitting compounds to the ETSP for investigation in a series of acute and chronic animal seizure models. The program has contributed to bringing 11 anti-seizure drugs to market since 1990, with a major role in some and a minor role in others.
The program is routinely reviewed by Working Groups commissioned by the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NANDS) Council.

Work Details
The Contractor shall perform various preclinical pharmacological evaluations of potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of epilepsy and conduct supporting pharmacokinetic studies using normal and epileptic animals. Additionally, the Contractor shall adapt, develop, validate, and implement new models to support the ETSP mission as needed.
Studies evaluating investigational compounds will be conducted in the areas of established workflow for drug resistant epilepsy, models of disease prevention and modification (anti-epileptogenesis), and pharmacokinetic studies. Ancillary studies and optional tasks to support the evolving requirements of the ETSP will also be performed.

Period of Performance
It is anticipated that one award will be made for a base 9-month term, plus four successive 12-month Term Option periods, and one 3-month transition-out option, for a total potential performance period of 5 years.

Place of Performance
The contract will be performed at locations relevant to the NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program.