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VIRTUAL RESEARCH NETWORK FOR GENETIC STUDIES OF AUTISM

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 1R44MH061041-01A1
Amount: $0.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2001
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
1263 WESTWOOD BLVD, STE 200
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 YVONNE TOBIN
 () -
Business Contact
Phone: (310) 478-6648
Email: MCHASE@WEBSCIENCES.ORG
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

We propose to utilize the multimedia and hypertext capabilities of the World Wide
Web to develop a complete, comprehensive set of resources to facilitate multi-
university, interdisciplinary collaborative research dealing with any of the Complex
Genetic Disorders. In order to develop these resources, a virtual private research
network will be developed for one representative complex genetic disorder, namely,
autism. Accordingly, this application encompasses the development of a Web-based
Virtual Private Research Network for Genetic Studies of Autism (VPRN-GA) that
will represent the collaborative endeavors of WebSciences and the currently
constituted multi-institutional Collaborative Linkage Study of Autism (CLSA) which
includes investigators at Tufts, Vanderbilt, the University of Iowa and Duke. Further
expansion of the network may include eight other funded groups who are just
beginning a collaboration on autism genetics via an R-13 Conference Grant (two via
NIMH, and others via NINDS, NICHD, a private foundation, the Canadian MRC, a
French/Swedish organization, and the British MRC and NICHD).
This Phase I application focuses on developing static Web page templates for the
organization and flow of information dealing with the online submission, review,
discussion, evaluation, manipulation, etc., of data and documents (manuscripts); in
addition, online communication and bibliographic services for the VPRN-GA will be
developed.
The VPRN-GA will be evaluated originally by the CLSA investigators, who will
function as users/beta-testers. On the basis of the preceding, the accompanying Fast-
Track Phase II application will provide for the transformation of static Web pages to
a database-driven, fully functional VPRN-GA on the World Wide Web. Also
included in the Phase II application is a comprehensive plan for commercialization
of the software responsible for the VPRN-GA.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION:
We anticipate that the primary commercial contribution to sustain the VPRN-GA
will arise from the sale of the software that provides for an integrated set of
functionalities for collaborative research on autism, complex genetic disorders,
molecular biology, etc. Certain of these functionalities will be marketed as
individual components, for example, the submission, review and evaluation of
molecular biological images on the Web and collaborative interactions associated
with these images. Additional revenue will come from sponsorships and advertising.
A description of the potential sources of funding support are presented in the Phase
II Appendix: Product Development Plan.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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