Active CRN Scientific Interest Groups

• Obesity
• Survivorship
• VDW-Chemotherapy
• Family History
• SIG Guidance

Obesity Scientific Interest Group

The Obesity Special Interest Group (Obesity SIG) is an HMO Research Network SIG. It was established to foster collaborative research to address questions that HMORN obesity researchers are uniquely positioned to answer given our access to integrated data systems (i.e., ability to link EMR, claims, and pharmacy data) as well as the ability to conduct multi-level observational and intervention studies at the level of individuals, families, clinics, and health plan policy.

How to join: Request membership online.

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Survivorship Scientific Interest Group

The goal of the Survivorship Interest Group is two-fold. First, we aim to facilitate survivorship research by providing an opportunity to discuss ideas, identify collaborators, and access prior survivorship research experience. Second, we serve as a venue to exchange news and perspectives on survivorship research. The Group involves scientists from the CRN and from other institutions, and communicates via email listserv and teleconference.

How to join: Request membership online or contact the CRN PI Office.

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VDW-Chemotherapy Scientific Interest Group

Tasks for the chemotherapy group, as defined at first meeting:

1. Develop a draft version of a data structure for chemotherapy for the CRN's VDW that takes into account the details of chemotherapy likely to be required for CRN studies.
2. Identify sources of electronic data that will provide the identified data elements for studies of past, present and projected future chemotherapy use.

How to join: Request membership online or contact the CRN PI Office.

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Family History Scientific Interest Group

The group plans to identify proposals and to work with NCI, DHHS and the CDC's Family Healthware tool.

How to join: Contact the CRN PI Office.

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SIG Guidance

Purpose

Scientific Interest Groups (SIGs) are initiated and led by investigators with shared interests in emerging areas of high-priority research. See list of CRN's research themes on pages 6-7 of the CRN Brochure. The purpose of SIGs is to offer a venue for investigators to discuss shared interests and provide space to develop opportunities. A SIG is a forum for investigators to identify new ideas and partners.

Goal

The goal of SIGs is to enable investigators to identify opportunities to virtually meet investigators from other organizations, share ideas, problem solve, develop manuscripts, and/or prepare grant proposals. A sub-group of a SIG can focus on a manuscript or a grant proposal.

SIG Roles & Responsibilities

A SIG involves many people, including internal and external from CRN organizations.

• The Convener (or Facilitator) is a member of the SIG and the person responsible for organizing conference calls, setting the agenda with input from SIG members, developing an action plan, identifying whether resources are required for the SIG (e.g., identifying a conference phone number) and identifying where to find them, and ensuring that the SIG completes the agreed upon aims and goals. The facilitator encourages conversation and everyone's participation and breaks logjams. In the event that differences arise and attempts to find a common ground are not reached, the Convener resolves to take the matter to the CRN Executive Committee. With input from the SIG members, the Convener can decide when to inactivate the SIG.
• The SIG Members are responsible for suggesting ideas for the agenda, participating in conversations, and deciding whether they want to participate in activities such as manuscripts, proposals, or other work that derives from a SIG. SIG members are also representatives of their organization. We ask that SIG members inform their institutional leaders and colleagues about their participation in SIG activities. All participants should demonstrate respect and integrity for their colleagues. Members of SIGs are expected to share research concepts and describe proposed and ongoing research activities in the SIG's area of interest.
• The VDW Expert is a member of the SIG and is generally a site's Data Manager. There can be more than one VDW expert participating on a SIG. This expert helps the SIG answer VDW-related questions including data methods and access.
• The CRN PI Office's role on a SIG is to provide a distribution list and to keep track of SIG's progress and vitality. NCI requests periodic updates about the progress of CRN activities from the CRN PI's Office.
• The CRN Infrastructure Site PI's role on all SIGs is to inform site investigators about how to join SIGs and CRN-related scientific opportunities including responses to funding agencies, responses to funding announcements, and opportunities to collaborate on multi-site research projects of which some are developed by SIGs.

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