The Role of the NCI in Supporting Proteomic Technology Development and Discovery
Through the Clinical Proteomic Technologies for Cancer initiative, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is working to optimize proteomic technologies and reagents for the entire cancer community, to accelerate the identification and validation of cancer biomarkers and potential drug targets that can dramatically improve the detection, treatment, and ultimately the prevention of cancer.
In addition to the Clinical Proteomic Technologies for Cancer initiative, the NCI has established the following complimentary initiatives in the fight against cancer:
cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid® (caBIG®)
caBIG® is an information network enabling all constituencies in the cancer community – researchers, physicians, patients – to share data and knowledge to accelerate the discovery of new approaches for the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer, and to improve patient outcomes. The goals of caBIG® are to connect scientists and practitioners through a shareable, interoperable infrastructure; develop standard rules and a common language to more easily share information; and build or adapt tools for collecting, analyzing, integrating and disseminating information associated with cancer research and care.
Cancer Molecular Analysis Project (CMAP)
CMAP is a searchable database with information about different cancers and the molecular targets that are associated with those cancers, including proteins, protein complexes and antibodies. The database also contains information on relevant trials and morphological characteristics of various cancers.
Early Detection Research Network (EDRN)
The EDRN was designed to isolate and characterize potential disease biomarkers, including those protein biomarkers related to cancer. Through collaboration between molecular biologists, molecular geneticists, clinical oncologists, computer scientists, public health and clinical practitioners, leading to rapid information dissemination amongst participants, the EDRN seeks to enhance the means of early cancer detection.
Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies Program (IMAT)
The Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program is aimed at the inception, development, integration, and application of novel and emerging technologies in the support of cancer research, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. The IMAT Program serves as the discovery tool of a larger NCI technology initiative by soliciting and funding highly innovative, high-risk and cancer-relevant technology development projects associated with the molecular analysis of cancer.
Mouse Models of Human Cancers Consortium (MMHCC)
Genetic and proteomic similarities between humans and mice make them an ideal model for studying the development of cancer. The Mouse Models of Human Cancers Consortium aims to create and characterize mouse models of human cancer to generate information and resources that will aid in the basic research, animal studies and development of therapeutics to enter clinical trials.
NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer
The NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer is a comprehensive, systematized initiative encompassing the public and private sectors, designed to accelerate the application of the best capabilities of nanotechnology to cancer. To harness the potential of nanotechnology in cancer, the Alliance seeks to develop novel methods, research tools, diagnostics, and drug delivery agents to radically change the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer.
NCI Cancer Centers Program
The NCI Cancer Centers Program supports cancer research at 60 institutions throughout the United States. Research topics are varied, and cover both basic science and clinical research. Cancer protein biomarker discovery and validation, and technology development are conducted at many of these centers, with the goal of rapid clinical advancement and application.
NCI Center for Cancer Research (NCICCR)
The goal of the Center for Cancer Research is to ease the burden of cancer through innovative research and discovery, with rapid translation from the laboratory to the clinic. CCR's scientists and clinicians are finding better ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat cancer and related illnesses. The investigators collaborate to translate new scientific discoveries into state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and therapies for cancer patients. By characterizing dysregulated proteins in cancer, researchers can better understand cancer development.
Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research (OBBR)
The Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research (OBBR) was established in 2005 in recognition of the critical role that biospecimens play in cancer research. The OBBR is responsible for developing a common biorepository infrastructure that promotes resource sharing and team science, in order to facilitate multi-institutional, high-throughput genomic and proteomic studies.
Office of Cancer Genomics (OCG)
The mission of the Office of Cancer Genomics is to enhance the understanding of the molecular mechanism of cancer, with the ultimate goal of improving the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. The OCG provides information, technology, methods, informatics tools and reagents to serve the needs of the cancer research community. The OCG also supports, leads, and manages five major research programs, including: the Cancer Genome Anatomy Project (CGAP); the NIH Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC); the Initiative for Chemical Genetics (ICG); The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA); and the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility (CGEMS) initiative.
Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs)
The SPOREs program was created in 1992, and aims to promote interdisciplinary research in order to quickly move basic research findings to the clinic. The SPOREs are categorized based on organ and organ systems, and the cancers that are associated with them. Researchers within various SPOREs are attempting to identify cancer-causing proteins, and are creating the informatics systems needed to handle such large amounts of data. Reliable biomarkers will allow the earliest possible detection of cancer, so that clinicians have a greater chance of success in stemming the tide of tumor formation.
