Steps for Submitting a Proposal & Using BCSC Data
- Develop research questions
- Contact SCC
- Develop proposal for review by BCSC Steering Committee
- Refine proposal and submit to SCC for review by BCSC
- Sign collaborative agreement
- Plan analyses with the SCC
- Prepare progress reports
- Present findings to BCSC at twice-yearly meetings
- Submit project results
- Send programs, datasets, and files to SCC for archiving
These steps are also described in the BCSC Data Request Process Guide (PDF).
- Step 1: Develop research question(s) that can be answered using BCSC data.
- To ensure the project is feasible using BCSC data, investigators are encouraged
to work closely with a Statistical Coordinating Center (SCC) and/or BCSC
member when developing their project proposal (See Step 2 below). The
following are available on this Web site to assist with analytic plans:
- data dictionary;
- site-specific questionnaires;
- tables describing the distributions of some key variables;
- mammography performance measures such as sensitivity, specificity,
and positive predictive value by patient characteristics;
- BCSC proposal form (RTF) (MS Word); and
- examples of protocols that use BCSC data.
- The Steering Committee or designee(s) will determine whether data analyses are best
performed by the SCC or whether deidentified data can be given to an investigator(s) for
analysis.
- [Return to top]
- Step 2: Contact the SCC (scc@ghc.org) or review the
list of investigators on the
BCSC website.
- This step permits investigators to identify an individual who can facilitate completion and review
of the BCSC proposal form. Investigators should indicate reason(s) for data request (manuscript, preliminary data for
grant proposal, inputs for simulation models, development of statistical methodology).
- If you are planning on submitting a grant using BCSC data, use this application request form (RTF) (MS Word) and submit it to scc@ghc.org. It is important to submit this form as soon as
you have enough information to fill it out.
- [Return to top]
- Step 3: Develop a proposal for review by the BCSC Steering Committee (send to scc@ghc.org).
- Proposals for research projects using the BCSC data should include:
- a list of the personnel involved;
- a description of main hypotheses/research questions;
- inclusion/exclusion criteria for study subjects;
- the study time period;
- a list of key variables;
- a brief description of analytic methods to be used;
- "mockup" tables that correspond to analyses;
- an explanation of how BCSC data will be stored and protected from unauthorized access; and
- timeline for completion.
- If the proposal is from a consulting firm or contractor, the
proposal should provide information about the funding source and a letter from the funding
organization indicating that the investigator is free to work and publish his/her findings
without limitations.
- Budgets and detailed staffing plans are not necessary. Proposal length should preferably be no more than 3 pages,
excluding mock tables, and should not exceed 10 pages (see
proposal form (RTF)
(MS Word) and
sample approved proposal (PDF)).
- Investigators outside the BCSC who are interested in initiating a collaborative
research project should contact the SCC at scc@ghc.org
and/or the one of the Principal Investigators of one of the BCSC sites.
- A response to a proposal request will occur within 2-4 weeks of submission to the
SCC.
- [Return to top]
- Step 4: If necessary, refine proposal.
- This step allows investigators to address comments from Steering Committee or designee(s).
- [Return to top]
- Step 5: After Steering Committee approval, complete and sign a BCSC collaborative
research agreement and, if necessary, a Memorandum of Understanding.
-
Five of the seven BCSC data collection sites are
defined as covered entities by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA). The other two sites are either not a covered entity or they obtain data only from
subjects who consent for the release of data to BCSC. To meet HIPAA requirements, data
released to Group Health by the five covered entities is governed by a data use agreement
between each covered entity and Group Health. For more details on required forms, please
see the BCSC policy on HIPAA privacy.
- [Return to top]
- Step 6: Plan analyses with SCC member and develop timeline for data analysis.
- This step is for the interaction between the principal investigator and the SCC
statistical programmer to discuss and establish the analytical design, table format, and
models for data analysis.
- [Return to top]
- Step 7: Complete a brief progress report twice yearly.
- The BCSC tracks data requests to determine how investigators use BCSC data for
research. A project update form (PDF)
will be sent to the investigator by e-mail in March and September.
To assist us with tracking data requests, please complete this form by
checking the appropriate boxes and submit it to the SCC at scc@ghc.org within 2 weeks.
- [Return to top]
- Step 8: Present findings at twice-yearly BCSC meetings.
- The BCSC encourages investigators to present their findings at BCSC meetings. These
presentations on collaborative projects provide updates to the project as well as give
investigators opportunities to discuss and address scientific questions raised by the research.
- [Return to top]
- Step 9: Submit project results
- When the project is completed, investigators should submit results compiled in
abstracts for scientific meeting presentation, manuscripts, preliminary data for grant
proposals, descriptions of statistical methodology, or other formats to SCC at scc@ghc.org for review by Steering Committee or designee(s)
before presenting or submitting for review or publication. Investigators who wish to submit
results to scientific meetings should allow at least 2 weeks before an abstract deadline
for the Steering Committee or designee(s) to review an abstract and provide feedback. If
necessary, refine analyses to address Steering Committee or designee(s) feedback and
submit final analyses to the SCC for final BCSC approval.
- [Return to top]
- Step 10: Forward analytic programs, datasets and analysis files to the SCC after
the project is complete
- This step applies only to investigators performing their own data analyses using BCSC
data. Data should be sent to scc@ghc.org so that they can
be archived. Data must be destroyed after the project is completed.
- [Return to top]
|