FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award?

The FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award (W81XWH-09-PCRP-PCPRNA) is a Department of the Army (USAMRAA) funding opportunity under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP). It supports building shared infrastructure for a multi-institution prostate cancer biorepository consortium.

What is the main purpose of this award?

The award is intended to stand up and operate a coordinated network that can collect, process, document, store, and distribute high-quality, well-annotated human prostate cancer biospecimens, and manage the associated data in a standardized way so researchers can reliably access specimens and datasets for a broad range of prostate cancer research needs.

Does this award fund a single research project?

No. The focus is not on funding one specific research study. The purpose is to create and operate a shared resource network (repository plus data practices) that enables many downstream research projects across the broader prostate cancer research community.

What is the basic structure of the pilot network?

The pilot network is centered on a Coordinating Center plus two additional Pathology Resource Network Sites. Together, they develop and operate the repository and implement common standards for biospecimen handling and data practices across participating institutions.

What roles can applicants apply for?

Applicants must clearly state whether they are applying as the Coordinating Center or as a Pathology Resource Network Site. Coordinating Center applicants may also choose to be considered as a Pathology Resource Network Site if they are not selected as the hub.

What are the Coordinating Center responsibilities?

The Coordinating Center serves as the administrative and operational hub for the network. Responsibilities include planning, network-wide policy development, data management, and supporting implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the other sites. It is expected to have multidisciplinary expertise and a strong history of managing complex, multi-institution collaborations in prostate cancer research.

What are the Pathology Resource Network Site responsibilities?

Network sites are expected to contribute to developing and operating the repository by collecting, processing, documenting, storing, and distributing specimens under common standards. Sites must have serious pathology and biorepository capability, including the ability to derive analytes (DNA, RNA, and proteins) from human samples.

What kinds of biospecimens is the network expected to collect?

The network is expected to collect both cancerous and normal prostate biospecimens across the full spectrum of disease stage and progression, with strong access to patients and samples demonstrated by the applicant institutions.

What does "well-annotated" biospecimens mean in this opportunity?

Based on the opportunity description, "well-annotated" refers to specimens that have associated documentation and datasets captured in a standardized way across the network, supporting reliable use by researchers and consistent data practices among participating institutions.

What processing and technology capabilities are expected at the sites?

In addition to standard biospecimen processing, the program explicitly calls for advanced processing technologies that expand downstream research uses. Examples mentioned include laser capture microdissection and tissue microarray construction. Sites are also expected to be able to derive DNA, RNA, and proteins from human samples.

What qualifications are expected of the Principal Investigator (PI)?

PIs are expected to have demonstrated expertise in human pathology and a track record of successfully procuring, annotating, storing, and distributing human biospecimens, along with experience building or running repository operations.

What institutional capabilities are expected to already be in place?

Institutions are expected to already have key resources such as equipment and facilities for biorepository functions, pathology and histochemistry infrastructure, and informatics capacity to support secure connectivity and data transfer among the Coordinating Center and network sites.

How does the opportunity address diversity and prostate cancer health disparities?

A major emphasis is placed on collecting high-quality biospecimens from ethnically diverse patient populations, including disproportionately affected groups. The goal is to enable research that can address prostate cancer health disparities by ensuring the repository reflects real-world variation in populations and clinical care.

Are applicants expected to provide a variety of tumor types and disease states?

Yes. Applicants are expected to demonstrate the ability to obtain a broad range of tumor types and disease states, and to draw from different clinical procurement procedures so the repository captures variability in prostate cancer presentation and care.

What are the data-sharing expectations tied to using network biospecimens?

Use of the repository comes with a data-sharing expectation. Investigators who access biospecimens must agree to share the resulting data as a condition of access. Data generated from the use of network biospecimens must be deposited into a common information grid.

Do researchers who generate data get time to publish before the data are released broadly?

Yes. The opportunity indicates that researchers who generate data typically have an initial window to publish first. After a defined time period (set by the network and aligned with journal policies), datasets are to be released for wider distribution to the prostate cancer research community through an internet-accessible database.

Who controls access to the repository data overall?

The network retains control over access to repository data overall, while still requiring that users who generate data share those datasets under the program’s expectations.

Where are datasets expected to be released for community access?

After the defined publication window, datasets are expected to be released for broader distribution through an internet-accessible database for the prostate cancer research community.

Does the program encourage sharing of protocols and methods?

Yes. The opportunity encourages openness in methods, stating that protocols and techniques used to generate data from repository specimens should be made available via an open-source approach (for example, public websites) to help standardize practice and improve reproducibility.

What informatics standards or systems must the network align with?

Network informatics are expected to align with the national Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIG) and specifically interact with the caTissue Core tissue bank tool for inventory, tracking, and basic annotation.

Do all sites need to run caTissue Core locally?

Not necessarily. Even if individual sites do not run caTissue Core locally, they must be able to input data into it and work with the system to support interoperability and consistent data structure across the network.

What is the funding mechanism used for this opportunity?

This opportunity used a discretionary cooperative agreement grant mechanism in the science and technology/research and development category.

Is cost sharing required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing requirement.

What was the estimated total funding level and number of awards?

The estimated total funding level was $3.8 million across an anticipated four awards.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA listing is 12.420, titled Military Medical Research and Development.

Who is the funding organization?

The funding opportunity is issued under the Department of the Army through USAMRAA, within the CDMRP Prostate Cancer Research Program framework.

What were the key dates for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on April 17, 2009. The original and final closing date was August 5, 2009. The opportunity was archived on September 4, 2009.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. Based on the provided information, the closing date was August 5, 2009 and the listing was archived on September 4, 2009.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open broadly to entity types), subject to any specifics that would have been provided in the full announcement.

Is there an expectation for sustainability after the award period ends?

Yes. The program signals an expectation that institutions will pursue additional external funding to keep the network operating after the PCRP award period ends.

What should a Coordinating Center application emphasize?

Coordinating Center applications are expected to articulate a clear mission for how the repository will guide biospecimen distribution and data collection, describe network-wide standards and operations, and explain how the network services will help the broader research community address multiple FY09 PCRP focus areas.

What does the network ultimately provide to the research community?

The intended output is a reliable, standardized, multi-institution biorepository and associated data infrastructure that supports broad prostate cancer research by enabling access to high-quality biospecimens and shared datasets under consistent operational and informatics practices.