Description
The PCRP Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award is intended to provide infrastructure support for the development of a prostate cancer biorepository consortium that will facilitate the collection, processing, annotation, storage, and distribution of high-quality human prostate cancer biospecimens through a collaborative network across multiple institutions. The Network will also collect, store, and manage data derived from the distributed biospecimens. The initial, pilot Network will consist of a Coordinating Center and two additional Pathology Resource Sites that will be jointly responsible for developing the biospecimen repository for prostate cancer research. Additionally, Pathology Resource Network Sites should possess the ability to derivatize DNA, RNA, and proteins, and utilize both standard and state-of-the-art technologies (e.g., laser capture microdissection, tissue microarrays) to provide the necessary biospecimen processing for a large range of prostate cancer research studies. This award is intended to support Principal Investigators (PIs) with experience and expertise in human biospecimen procurement, annotation, storage, and distribution, and in developing and operating a biospecimen repository. PIs should have a proven track record in human pathology. The Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award mechanism seeks applications from institutions with resources (such as sufficient equipment for biorepository functions, pathology and histochemistry infrastructure, informatics and information infrastructure to support connectivity between the Coordinating Center and Pathology Resource Network Sites for data transfer) in place to support the development of a biorepository. Institutions must demonstrate enhanced access to both patients and patient samples, and the ability to collect high-quality prostate cancer and normal biospecimens from ethnically diverse patient populations across the spectrum of disease stages. This will include collection of biospecimens from disproportionately affected populations to facilitate biomedical research targeted toward resolving prostate cancer health disparities. It is expected that institutions will demonstrate their ability to collect a variety of tumor samples across the spectrum of prostate cancer progression and from the various procurement procedures. All data generated from the use of biospecimens obtained from the Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network biorepository will be deposited into a common information grid. Investigators will first have the opportunity to publish the data, after which (and according to a prescribed period of time determined by the Network and in accordance with journal policies) the dataset will be released for distribution and shared with the prostate cancer research community through an internet-accessible database. Investigators must agree to share their data in order to use biorepository resources. The Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network will control access to all repository data. In addition, protocols and methods that were used to derive data from biorepository specimens should be available through an open source system such as public websites.The Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Coordinating Center, in addition to functioning as a Pathology Resource Network Site, will serve as the nexus for Network information and planning, providing administrative, operational, and data management, and provide support to Pathology Resource Network Sites in implementing Network policies and standard operating procedures. The Coordinating Center will have multidisciplinary expertise and extensive experience in multi-institutional collaborations in prostate cancer research. AllFY09 DOD Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award 4Pathology Resource Network Sites must collaborate with the Coordinating Center to develop policies and standards of operation for the entire Network and harmonize the Network informatics grid with the national Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIG) and the corresponding tissue bank repository tool, caTissue Core, for biospecimen inventory, tracking, and basic annotation. While it is not expected that Pathology Resource Network Sites will use the caTissue Core, they must be able to input data into the system and be able to interact with it. Applications for the Coordinating Center of the PCRP Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award should describe how the development of the Network biorepository will enable the prostate cancer research community to address multiple FY09 PCRP focus areas by utilizing any of the Network services to advance prostate cancer research. These applicants should propose a clearly defined Mission that will guide the proposed Networks biospecimen distribution and data collection processes. In addition, institutions must demonstrate a commitment to secure additional funds from other agencies to continue operations of the Network after the end of the PCRP award performance period. The Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award mechanism will be used to select and fund both the Coordinating Center and the Pathology Resource Network Sites. Applicants will be required to indicate whether the application is for the Coordinating Center or a Pathology Resource Network Site. Applicants for the Coordinating Center have the option to be considered for a Pathology Resource Network Site if not selected as the Coordinating Center. See the Program Announcement for the full Funding Opportunity Description.