Announcements of Opportunity

For Growth of Protein Crystals
During STS-107 Spacehab Flight

Release date: November 5, 2001

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is pleased to announce an opportunity to participate in a research program aimed at protein crystal growth (PCG) in microgravity. This announcement provides an opportunity for scientists to contribute leading edge research projects to the STS-107 mission, currently scheduled for June 2002. Experiments will last from 12 to 16 days in SPACEHAB’s High-Density Protein Crystal Growth (HD-PCG) facility.

AREAS OF INTEREST

The Canadian Space Agency will accept proposals for the crystallization in space of biologically important proteins, which have been previously grown in the proposer’s laboratory. Only crystallization systems that have been demonstrated to be able to nucleate and grow to a useful size within 12 days at ambient temperatures will be considered. 

TYPES OF STUDIES

All studies must demonstrate the need and merit for growing protein crystals in microgravity in order to achieve significant and improved protein structural information. It is foreseen that 6 to 12 sample wells will be available for each protein selected. Justification of the specific proteins to be flown and the number of wells required for each protein is an important element of the proposal to be submitted. 

NOTE: Funding is for up to two years with a spending limit of $33 000/year.

DEADLINES

• Letter of Intent, Submitted to the Canadian Space Agency, November 23, 2001
   
• Proposals, Due to the Canadian Space Agency, December 21, 2001
   
• Award Announcement: By the Canadian Space Agency, February 12, 2002
   
• Project Start Date, March 4, 2002

BASIC SCIENTIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• The protein must have been crystallized on earth;
• The results of the protein structural resolution on earth must be in a range (see next requirement), which will allow improvements with microgravity. 
• A very strong justification for selecting proteins already having a resolution of 2.0 Å or better will be required.
• The protein must have scientific significance.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

It is possible that up to one hundred and forty-four (144) fluid wells will be available for Canadian experiments in SPACEHAB’s High-Density Protein Crystal Growth (HD-PCG) facility (see http://www.spacehab.com/products/protein_crystalg.htm for description of the hardware). The HD-PCG unit will be integrated into a Commercial-Refrigeration Incubation Module (C-RIM) to maintain a constant temperature environment of approximately 22 degrees Celsius. The protein crystallization process will be vapour diffusion with on-orbit activation. The protein reservoir holds up to 40 microlitres and the precipitant reservoir holds up to 0.5 millilitres

The participant is to deliver the protein and precipitant solutions to the CSA, in quantities appropriate for the number of wells selected and the volumes selected, once for pre-flight screening tests and once for the flight. The protein and precipitant solutions must be delivered 12 days prior to launch (the exact launch date will be communicated to the investigator). The investigator must be prepared to deliver back-up protein solutions in the event of launch delays. The CSA will load/unload the proteins and precipitants before and after the mission and will arrange for the delivery of space grown crystals back to the investigator.

For toxicology evaluation the investigator is required to provide complete candidate protein and precipitant lists prior to the launch, which will occur shortly after the starting of the project. This information is treated as confidential.

PROJECT EXECUTION

The projects selected under this AO will be executed in a phase approach. It will consist of 4 phases with each phase needing to be successfully completed before proceeding:

• Phase 1: Determining crystallization conditions for each protein. The PI will be required to provide CSA with the complete hazardous material list of the protein solution. This phase will be completed by a test at CSA to ensure that the protein crystallizes in the HD-PCG hardware under the PIs determined conditions. The PI is to provide CSA with a sample of the protein(s). The quantity in milligrams will be calculated as follows: the protein concentration at equilibrium in a crystallization experiment multiplied by 2.5. 
• Phase 2: Time effect of crystallization test. During this phase the PIs will provide CSA with a sample of their protein in a specified quantity. The quantity in milligrams will be calculated as follows: the protein concentration at equilibrium in a crystallization experiment multiplied by 2.5. With this sample, we will conduct a test to see how elapse time affects the crystallization potential of each protein. Crystallization potential of the protein after a period of time equivalent to a typical flight timeline, including launch delays, is critical.
• Phase 3: Provision of mission protein. PIs will provide the final protein shipment to CSA for the loading of the PCG apparatus at KSC. 
• Phase 4: Post-mission analysis. During this phase, analysis of the crystals will be co-ordinated by CSA to ensure standardised analysis and reporting. A period of up to three (3) months post-landing is allowed.

LETTER OF INTENT

To facilitate processing, potential Principal Investigators are requested to send a letter of intent to propose confirming plans to submit a proposal. Please note that this letter of intent is not binding but should be received by November 23, 2001. Although the letter of intent is not essential, it is to the proposer’s benefit, as the information will be used in the organisation of peer review panels. The letter of intent should be no more than two pages and should contain:

• (1) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of a single Principal Investigator and all co-investigators
• (2) A descriptive title of the research
• (3) A brief summary describing the proposed research
• (4) The major participating institutions
• (5) Up to six (6) key words that best describe the research area of the pending proposal
• (6) Optionally, up to three recommended reviewers

Letters of intent to propose may be submitted through the postal service or commercial delivery services to the same address as proposals. In addition, letters of intent may be submitted electronically via e-mail to the following address:

MicrogravitySciences@space.gc.ca

The subject heading of the e-mail should read "Microgravity Sciences PCG-AO 01-01".

PROPOSAL PREPARATION GUIDELINES

Proposal Format

Proposals should be prepared in 8.5" H 11" format with minimum 1inch borders and 12 pt type. A proposal must contain the following elements:

The name of the Principal Investigator should appear on the upper right hand corner of each page of the proposal.

Duration

Note that the proposal must specify the duration of the proposed investigation. While the duration is up to 2 years, the duration should be appropriate for the project proposed.

Budget Guidelines

Non-salary costs should be limited to expendables. Salary costs should not include salaries of Principal Investigators.

Number of Copies

Proposers are required to provide six copies of their proposal and a 3 1/2" disk with a soft copy of the proposal in either Wordperfect or Microsoft Word and .rtf format. The CSA will accept responsibility for further duplication of proposals.

LANGUAGE

Proposals may be submitted in either English or French.

SUBMISSION

Proposals should be submitted to the following address:

Dr. Alan Mortimer
Canadian Space Agency
REF: Microgravity Sciences PCG-AO 99-03

Courier address: 
100 Sussex Drive 
Ottawa ON 
K1A 0R6 
Telephone: (613) 990-0785

Postal Address:
P.O. Box 7275
Vanier Postal Station
Ottawa, ON
K1L 8E2

Proposals must be received by December 21, 2001.

Proposals should be forwarded by mail or courier to be received by the closing date of December 21, 2001. Proposals received after the date will not be accepted. Consideration will be given in case of postal or other disruption.

EVALUATION

The evaluation of each proposal will involve three separate components:

1. Space Agency Screening
   Each research proposal submitted to the CSA will be reviewed to ensure that it is complete as per the guidelines above. Proposals that do not meet the guidelines will be immediately returned to the proposer. Therefore it is recommended to communicate with the CSA if there are any questions or doubts regarding acceptability of a proposal.

2. Merit Review
   An external peer review panel will evaluate the scientific merit of each proposal. The review criteria are:

   1. Soundness of scientific and technical concepts underlying the proposed research.
   2. Originality of experiments
   3. The feasibility for achieving the stated objectives of the research.
   4. Adequacy of the proposed facilities for the performance of the work.
   5. Plan and ability to perform the required characterisation and data analysis
   6. Potential for industrial and social benefits
      
   
    

3. Evaluation of Programmatic Relevance and Cost
   Finally, the CSA will determine the relevance of each competitive proposal to its program. This will be done by evaluating the proposal’s contribution to the development of a sound Agency program having the appropriate balance required by the CSA’s goals and objectives. Evaluation of the cost of a proposed effort includes consideration of the realism and reasonableness of the proposed cost and the relationship of the proposed cost to available funds.

   To determine that proposals funded provide maximum benefit to the Canadian population each proposal will be evaluated for the following in addition to scientific merit:

   • Science team strength
   • Relationship to the space environment
   • Terrestrial application and benefits
   • Efficiency and effectiveness
   • Opportunities for students and young researchers

FURTHER INFORMATION

Background information and further detail is available from:

Dr. Rodney A. Herring
Canadian Space Agency
6767 route de l’Aéroport
Saint-Hubert, QC J3Y 8Y9
Tel: 450-926-4773

Fax: 450-926-4766
E-mail: rodney.herring@space.gc.ca