Director's Update: November 18, 2003
The development of infrastructure to support cancer research took an important step forward this week with the publication of a report that outlines a new model for a nationwide biospecimen network and database. This proposed new resource is specifically designed to optimize and accelerate the development of genomic/proteomic-based cancer interventions. This multi-sector report is entitled the National Biospecimen Network (NBN) Blueprint. The NBN Blueprint, developed through the National Dialogue on Cancer's Cancer Research Team in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is currently available for public comment on the National Dialogue on Cancer (NDC) Web site. The Blueprint development process was informed by a second report, Case Studies of Existing Human Tissue Repositories: "Best Practices" for a Biospecimen Resource for the Genomic and Proteomic Era, prepared by the RAND Corporation. A pre-publication version of this second report is also available from the NDC Web site. The public comment period for both reports will last until December 31, 2003, and a summary of comments received will be posted on the NDC Web site.
Over the past year, NCI has collaborated with the NDC to develop the NBN Blueprint. More than 100 experts from all sectors involved in cancer research, drug development and patient advocacy - including NCI representatives - contributed to the Blueprint development process. NCI was pleased to be able to collaborate on this important project, as we have a significant interest in biorepositories and want to ensure that all NCI investigators who conduct genomic and proteomic research will have access to the highest quality biospecimens that are uniformly collected, stored, and annotated.
The NCI currently supports several human tissue resources, including the Cooperative Human Tissue Network, Clinical Trials Cooperative Groups, Cancer Family Registries, and tissue banks located at individual Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs). These resources provide thousands of valuable biospecimens annually to researchers for many types of scientific investigations. The NBN Blueprint differs from the design of existing repositories in that it proposes to standardize most of the key aspects of tissue collection, processing, annotation, access, and distribution to facilitate comparison of genomic and proteomic data derived from biospecimens collected at different institutions. A new networked biospecimen resource with these qualities will allow investigators to compare data and eventually to search the developing in silico resources to support both discovery and development research. National resources of this type are being developed in several other countries, and the NBN was planned in collaboration with similar efforts in the United Kingdom.
The NBN Blueprint describes a "best practices"-based system to manage standardized collection, processing, and storage of biospecimens (i.e., tissue, blood, plasma, and serum) as well as the collection of associated pathology, clinical (including longitudinal), and genomic data. The NBN Blueprint proposes that biospecimens be available to public and private researchers without intellectual property restrictions. In addition to establishing a centralized, peer-review process for distributing biospecimens to researchers, the NBN recommends the creation of a secure, Web-based bioinformatics platform to allow broad access of NBN data and related analysis tools to the scientific community. The NBN Blueprint also includes detailed recommendations to protect patient privacy and how to conduct effective educational outreach activities to researchers, patients, and the general public. The NBN model was designed to be compatible with similar international efforts that are currently under way.
The NBN report recommends the initiation of one, or a number of, pilot projects to test the feasibility of this new concept. One approach recommended to accomplish this goal is through the application of the NBN concept, "best practices" and specific operational plans for existing high-quality tissue resources. The NCI is supportive of this strategy. We are willing to join with other organizations to plan and implement the NBN model by harnessing the best of current resources. We are committed to the objectives outlined in the NBN Blueprint and to implementing the concept to leverage the promise of genomics and proteomics as quickly as possible to support the achievement of our goal to eliminate the suffering and death due to cancer.
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.
Director, National Cancer Institute
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