DoD Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award
The Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network (PCPRN or Network) Award mechanism was previously offered in FY09. At that time, five PCPRN Award applications were received for the Coordinating Center plus Pathology Resource Site, with one being funded, and nine were received for Pathology Resource Sites, with one being funded. NEW for FY13: Applications will now be submitted by Coordinating Centers in collaboration with their chosen Pathology Resource Sites. The PCRP PCPRN Award is intended to provide infrastructure support for the development and maintenance of a prostate cancer biorepository through a collaborative network across multiple institutions that will facilitate the collection, processing, annotation, storage, and distribution of high-quality human prostate cancer biospecimens. Biospecimens may be collected from the broad spectrum of prostate cancer clinical stages, but major emphasis must be placed on the acquisition and distribution of specimens in limited supply (e.g., castration-resistant disease, metastatic disease, tumors of the neuroendocrine phenotype, disproportionately affected populations, active surveillance populations, longitudinal specimens). The Network must also collect, store, and manage data derived from the distributed biospecimens, including images of the hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained samples. Applications should describe how the development of the Network biorepository will enable the prostate cancer research community to address the PCRP overarching challenges and PCRP focus areas by utilizing Network biospecimens. Applications should propose a clearly defined mission that will guide the proposed NetworkÂ’s biospecimen collection, distribution, and data collection processes. In addition, institutions must demonstrate a commitment and plan to secure additional funds from other sources to continue operations of the Network after the end of the PCRP award performance period. The Network will consist of four Pathology Resource Sites and a Coordinating Center, which will also be the location of one of the Pathology Resource Sites. These organizations will be jointly responsible for developing and maintaining the biorepository for prostate cancer research. The Coordinating Center and Pathology Resource Sites should together design the proposed biorepository. It is expected that the Coordinating Center will provide unique resources that may not be available at the Pathology Resource Sites and can be leveraged for the biorepository as a whole. Additionally, Pathology Resource Sites should each 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. Both U.S. and international organizations should be considered for inclusion in applications for this award. The Pathology Resource Sites should be selected for the individual contributions each can make to the biorepository; the contributions need not be equal but rather of unique value to the biorepository as a whole. If the contributions vary significantly between Pathology Resource Sites, variance in the budgets allocated to sites should be well described in the budget justification. The Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Coordinating Center, in addition to functioning as a Pathology Resource Site, will serve as the nexus for Network information and planning, providing administrative, operational, and data management, and providing support to Pathology Resource Sites in implementing Network policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Therefore, the Coordinating Center will have multidisciplinary expertise and extensive experience in multi-institutional collaborations in prostate cancer research. Applications from organizations 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 Sites for data transfer) already in place to support the development of a biorepository are encouraged. Principal Investigators (PIs) are expected to have 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. Multiple PI Option: Due to the multi-institutional nature of the PCPRN Award mechanism, if the Coordinating Center does not wish to apply for a single award with multiple subawards, the Multiple PI Option is available to accommodate up to four PIs, each of whom will receive a separate award. Whether any of the required Pathology Resource Sites other than the Site located at the Coordinating Center will submit a separate application using this option, rather than as a subcomponent of the Coordinating Center application, is at the discretion of the applicants. Coordinating Center PIs should consider that submission of applications using the Multiple PI Option will (1) reduce the amount of Coordinating Center direct costs that must be used to support Pathology Resource Site indirect costs, (2) increase Government oversight of each Pathology Resource Site, and (3) reduce flexibility should any Pathology Resource Site not perform as expected. All applications for a single proposed biorepository will be associated with each other through the CDMRP eReceipt System. In using the Multiple PI Option, the Coordinating Center PI will be the Initiating PI. Pathology Resource Site PIs will be the Partnering PIs at organizations other than that of the Coordinating Center. The Initiating and Partnering PIs have different application submission requirements; however, each PI should contribute to the preparation of each of the application components. The Network Award recipient(s) are encouraged to conduct a workshop to convene Network PIs, other biorepository participants, and other experts in the field of biospecimen science during the period of performance for the award. If a plan to conduct a workshop is included in the application, a description should be provided that details how the proposed workshop would enhance the usefulness of the biorepository in facilitating meaningful and innovative prostate cancer research. While the conduct of this workshop is not mandatory, appropriate costs should be accounted for in the proposed budget if a workshop effort is included in the application.
Office: U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
301-682-5507
