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Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
March 26, 1999 |
Communication to Grantees
From G. Iris Obrams, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Director
Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
The Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP) wants to keep you
informed about new research opportunities, grant application policies
and procedures, research resources, and related news at the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) that may be useful. This communication is to speed you
news of an Institute announcement about opportunities in breast cancer
research and of the Center for Inherited Disease Research's (CIDR) genotyping
and statistical genetics services for investigators.
You are receiving this communication by mail because we do not have your
e-mail address. For speedier delivery of these news bulletins, please
contact our offices and provide your address (telephone: 301-496-9600;
fax: 301-402-4279; e-mail: rm78q@nih.gov).
 NCI
Initiatives Applicable to Breast Cancer Research
NCI has issued an announcement to acquaint breast cancer investigators
with the diverse opportunities supported by the Institute that either
address general research themes, or are specific to breast cancer research.
The complete announcement, NCI Initiatives
Applicable to Breast Cancer Research, is available through the NCI
Web homepage. The announcement includes names of contacts and links to
further sources of information.
NCI's Breast Cancer Progress Review Group recently released its report,
Charting
the Course: Priorities for Breast Cancer Research. The report identifies
questions that still need to be answered and areas of research and care
to be further addressed in order to make progress toward reducing the
burden of breast cancer. NCI has a number of initiatives designed to strengthen
the nation's cancer research infrastructure, which are described in The
Nation's Investment in Cancer Research: A Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year
2000. Many of the research questions described in the breast cancer
research announcement can be addressed through the initiatives.
Center
for Inherited Disease Research CIDR
The Center for Inherited
Disease Research (CIDR) is a centralized facility established to provide
genotyping and statistical genetics services for investigators seeking
to identify genes that contribute to human disease. CIDR concentrates
primarily on multifactorial hereditary disease although linkage analysis
of single gene disorders can also be accommodated. The Center was established
in 1996 as a joint effort by eight institutes at the National Institutes
of Health (NIH). The facility is supported through a contract to The Johns
Hopkins University (JHU), with Dr. David Valle of the JHU Center for Medical
Genetics as principal investigator. Dr. Robert Nussbaum, of the National
Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), is the government Project Officer.
CIDR services are available to all investigators through competitive
peer review by a chartered CIDR Access Committee (CAC). These services
include:
Genotyping: CIDR carries out high throughput, genome wide scans
using samples provided by principal investigators. The Center uses automated
fluorescent microsatellite analysis at ~10 cM average spacing appropriate
for parametric and non-parametric linkage analysis. Genotyping is performed
as a service to the research community. Once the studies at CIDR have
been completed, all samples, data, and analyses are returned to investigators.
DNA Banking: For approved projects that are acquiring additional
samples for genotyping, CIDR can accept blood samples for DNA extraction
and storage. All DNA is returned to investigators at the end of the
study.
Statistical Genetics Consultation: As an additional, unique
option, CIDR offers investigators the opportunity to consult on study
design and statistical analysis. Investigators requesting such collaborations
with Center scientists should detail these collaborations in their application
and include appropriate letters of commitment from those involved. Investigators
seeking more information on CIDR personnel for potential collaboration
should contact Dr. Jerry Roberts, NHGRI; consultations need to be requested
and planned well in advance.
Direct inquiries about CIDR to: Jerry Roberts, Ph.D., National Institutes
of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, 38 Library Drive
MSC 6050, Building 38A, Room 609, Bethesda, MD 20892-6050; telephone:
301- 02-0838; fax: 301-480-2770; jerry_roberts@nhgri.nih.gov.
Dr. Roberts will have a booth at the annual meeting of the American Association
for Cancer Research this April, and questions can be also addressed to
him there.
Investigators who are seeking funding or who have funding from one of
the eight participating NIH institutes, may contact their CIDR liaisons
for more information about specific institute programs and priorities:
- National Human
Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), lead agency
- National Cancer
Institute (NCI)
- National Institute
of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- National Institute
on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
- National Institute
on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
- National Institute
of Mental Health (NIMH)
- National Institute
of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Other Web sites:
National Institutes of Health
NCI's Division of Cancer Control and
Population Sciences
DCCPS's Epidemiology and
Genetics Research Program
Johns Hopkins University
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