EGRP Cancer Epidemiology News

October 2024

• Existing Biospecimen Collections Can Open Doors to New Cancer Research
• New Funding Opportunities
• Grants Policy Announcements
• Requests for information
• NCI Training Opportunities
• News and Blog Posts

Existing Biospecimen Collections Can Open Doors to New Cancer Research

As cancer research becomes increasingly multidisciplinary, the ability of researchers, especially trainees and early stage investigators, to access data and specimens from multiple sources can be key to success.

Cohort studies in particular, such as the NCI-supported cohorts in the Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program’s (EGRP) grant portfolio, can provide opportunities for these types of collaborations.

For example, the Colon Cancer Family Registry, provided samples that aided in the generation of premarket accuracy data for an automated system (the Idylla™ Test) for determining microsatellite instability status in colorectal cancer patients to screen for Lynch Syndrome.

As another example, data and resources from two prospective cohort studies, the Black Women’s Health Study and Southern Community Cohort Study, enabled research into the role of the oral microbiome in pancreatic cancer in African Americans. Leveraging data from these studies allowed analysis of a rare cancer in an understudied population.

How can I find and access existing data, biospecimens, and potential collaboration partners for my cancer epidemiology study?

EGRP maintains a web page with information and links to biospecimen resources that may be of interest to cancer epidemiologists.

Two databases that are supported by NCI to facilitate sharing of data and biospecimen resources and findability of data (according to FAIR principles) include:

• Cancer Epidemiology Descriptive Cohort Database (CEDCD): This database allows users to search by “Biospecimen Count” and filter on the epidemiologic cohort, cancer site, and biospecimen type.
• Specimen Resource Locator (SRL): This resource allows users to search by specimen type and cancer site/histology, and filter on “Specimen Annotations” to identify collections with the desired criteria.

Investigators are advised to check both databases because they may contain different studies. Access to data or biospecimens is dependent on procedures outlined for each individual study or resource, and you are encouraged to reach out to the individual study/cohort.

How can I publicize that biospecimens from my study are available to other researchers?

• If the biospecimen resource/collection is part of a cancer epidemiology cohort, the biospecimen information, including details regarding how to access the biospecimens, can be entered into the CEDCD. Even if your resource is in the CEDCD, it is also beneficial to list the resource in the SRL since the databases tend to attract different audiences, as well as have different study and biospecimen search criteria.
• Any biospecimen resource/collection (it does not need to be funded by NCI) can be entered into the SRL. Repository managers of domestic and publicly funded repositories that wish to make biospecimens more widely available to the cancer research community may submit an inquiry to add their repository to the SRL collections.

Please contact Dr. Danielle Carrick (Danielle.Carrick@nih.gov) with any biospecimen-related questions, Crystal Lane (crystal.lane@nih.gov) with CEDCD-related questions, and Joanne Demchok (peterjo@mail.nih.gov) with SRL-related questions.

New Funding Opportunities

Grants Policy Announcements

Requests for information

NCI Training Opportunities

News and Blog Posts