AAMC Research News
NCI Request for Information: Strategies for Matching Patients to Clinical Trials
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) posted a Request for Information seeking public comments on approaches to improve the ease and functionality of searching for cancer clinical trials, focusing on either how to find a cancer clinical trial to participate in or finding participants for clinical trials. The NCI is looking for input on six topics: 1) Structuring clinical trials information, 2) Facilitation of cancer clinical trials searching/matching, 3) Technologies and standards that may facilitate capture and transmission of information in structured format, 4) Methods for fostering agile interdisciplinary collaboration and public-private partnerships, 5) Approaches to facilitating and/or incentivizing structuring eligibility criteria in clinical trials protocols, and 6) Additional information, or factors, that should be considered. Comments can be submitted by email to FindingCancerTrialsCollaborative@mail.nih.gov.
NCI Launches New Resource for Specimens and Data from Cancer Clinical Trials
The National Cancer Institute this week launched a new resource for cancer researchers, which makes specimens and clinical data donated by patients from the NCI's National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) searchable and available for use. Investigators can search for specimens with specific characteristics using the NCTN Navigator, after which they can apply for approval to use the specimens along with the trial participants' clinical information.
Science: NIH Moves to Punish Researchers who Violate Confidentiality in Proposal Reviews
Previously reported by AAMC GRANDmail, the NIH had to re-review 60 grant applications after learning that confidentiality rules had been violated in review. Jeffrey Brainard in Science reports that the NIH is now moving to punish researchers who violate these confidentiality rules. The article quotes Richard Nakamura, PhD, director of NIH's Center for Scientific Review, "'We are beginning a process of really coming down on reviewers and applicants who do anything to break confidentiality of review...' Targets could include 'applicants who try to influence reviewers ... [or] try to get favors from reviewers.'" Dr. Nakamura also commented that they hope to have several cases of violations in the next few months.
STAT: Lab Animal Regulations can be Simplified without Weakening Welfare Standards
In response to an NIH Request for Information on Reducing Administrative Burden in Animal Use, the non-profit Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) wrote a STAT article to support review and reform of current federal polices while also remembering "the important role that oversight plays in ensuring the humane care and use of lab animals." The article by PRIM&R's executive director, Elisa Hurly, PhD, recommends that: 1) There should be one consolidated federal body for animal research oversight, 2) Policies should enforce the role of institutional review committees and veterinarians, 3) Any new federal advisory body should solicit a diversity of perspectives, and 4) Any new federal oversight body should have the independence and authority to ensure the ethical conduct of research with animals. Dr. Hurley cites a recent working group report by four associations, including the AAMC, on ways to make regulation of research animal welfare more effective.