Types of Assistance Available for Epidemiology Consortia

The Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP) has the following operating definition of a Consortium in epidemiology:

A consortium in epidemiology is a group of scientists from multiple institutions who have agreed to cooperative research efforts involving, but not limited to, pooling of information from more than one population study for the purpose of combined analyses. The consortium group is able to address scientific questions that cannot otherwise be addressed through the effort of a team of investigators at a single institution due to scope, resources, population size, and need for an interdisciplinary approach. The cooperation usually involves multiple projects over an extended time. Groups participating in a consortium may partner in the writing of research grant applications, but consortia activities are not limited to a specific grant/project.

EGRP is committed to fostering consortia from their initial formative stage through all the phases of development. It also will evaluate existing epidemiology consortia.

The creation of an epidemiology consortium is independent from funding mechanisms and does not indicate definite funding support. However, EGRP does provide supportive activities and tools for:

1. Conceptualization of consortia:
   1. Assistance in identifying possible partners and in linking groups with similar interests.
   2. Hosting of teleconferences to aid in the coordination and creation of consortia.
   3. Possibly providing limited support for initial meetings. This activity is limited to funding availability. However, since funds are limited and prioritization is needed, the following information is required to apply for this support:
      1. Evidence of commitment, i.e., proof of pre-initial meetings, correspondence, etc.
      2. Gap analysis on the proposed research area, taking into consideration NCI priorities.
2. Emerging consortia:
   1. Program advice on policies and processes that have proven useful and successful with other consortia (i.e., publication policies, tools and questionnaires, biospecimen policies, etc.). This information also will be placed on a public overall “EGRP Consortia Web site” that is being developed.
   2. Hosting of communication Web portals to aid in logistic coordination of scientific and other activities.
   3. Providing liaison to facilitate communication and collaborations between consortia, and inspiring groups to make them aware of the existence and accomplishments of other consortia.
   4. Identifying overlaps and synergisms among different consortia and working at maximizing resource utilization and scientific output with them.
   5. Providing limited support for initial meetings. These limited funds are provided from administrative sources, and applications are subject to administrative review only. However, because funds are limited and prioritization is needed, the following information is required to apply for this support:
      1. Scientific rationale and justification of need for a consortium and identification of the scientific questions that only the consortium can uniquely address.
      2. Preliminary rationale that large numbers are needed to address questions outlined in “i” above (i.e., preliminary power calculations).
      3. Outline of proposed initial internal leadership and organizational structure (i.e., steering committee, secretariat).
      4. Statement of commitment to sharing of data and specimen resources and developing written publication policies.
      5. Tabulation of similarities and differences in design, data variables, and specimen acquisition and storage, if applicable, across studies.
      6. Proposed plan to address informed consent issues.
   6. Programmatic assistance in the process of developing collaborative grant applications.
   7. Serving on the steering/executive committees or working groups.
   
   Note: This information will be used to describe the consortia on EGRP’s public Web site.
3. Established consortia:
   1. Programmatic and scientific involvement, as needed, in all phases of the implementation and conduct of a scientific consortium, with enhanced participation in the case of cooperative agreement-supported consortia.
   2. Serving on steering/executive committees/participate in working groups.
   3. Providing scientific and programmatic consultation and assist in the evaluation of ongoing activities, including the creation of policies and procedures documents.
   4. Advising intramural investigators regarding cooperative agreements and roles and responsibilities.

A fundamental EGRP role also is to provide visibility for consortia scientific accomplishments throughout NCI.

Contact Us

To discuss potential consortia arrangements, contact:

Daniela Seminara, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Consortia Coordinator, Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP)
phone: (301) 594-7347
fax: (301) 435-5477
e-mail: seminard@mail.nih.gov