Requesting Samples
- Contact the tumor bank manager to discuss your request. This is the most important part of the process because practical issues (such as availability of tissue, number of specimens, need for clinical information, etc.) can be discussed.
- Obtain institutional review board (IRB) approval for your study. Also, you will need to obtain a Material Transfer Agreement (from Office of Research Administration) if samples will be sent to another institution.
- Fill out the request form and submit the completed form along with the IRB-approved protocol.
- Upon request, a tumor bank meeting will be scheduled for the requester to present and discuss your request with the Oversight Committee.
- Once approved, please notify tumor bank manager to arrange obtaining the samples.
Guidelines
- Samples will be provided for specific projects, which should be clearly outlined by each investigator.
- All studies should be approved by the IRB.
- Samples should be used only for the purposes outlined.
- All requests will be made in writing on the forms provided by the tumor bank.
- All investigators involved in the study should be included on the request.
- The principal investigator should formally agree to the authorship guidelines before samples are transferred.
- The principal investigator is bound by the MD Anderson Material Transfer Agreement set in place by this institution.
- The Oversight Committee will review all requests on a monthly basis. Investigators will be notified of tissue availability shortly after each committee meeting.
- For abundant tissue (defined as those diagnoses that are seen frequently and include normal ovary and high grade papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary) the following prioritization scheme will be used:
- Principal investigators at MD Anderson whose projects receive peer-reviewed funding
- Principal investigators at MD Anderson
- Outside investigators
- For rare samples, the Oversight Committee will decide prioritization. Rare tissues are defined as those diagnoses that are less frequently seen and include (but are not limited to): serous borderline ovarian tumors; low grade serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell carcinoma of the ovary, endometrial cancer. Rare tissues include borderline cancers, invasive cancers of non-serous histotype, samples from clinical trials and samples with more than two years of follow-up.
- In the event of a dispute, written requests for reconsideration should be submitted to the Oversight Committee.
- Requests for 20 or fewer samples of abundant tissues may be distributed without approval by the Oversight Committee.
- Requests for tissue from investigators involved with biotech or pharmaceutical companies should first be approved by the Oversight Committee. If approved, one of the co-directors of the tumor bank must be included in budget discussions with the sponsoring company and MD Anderson Sponsored Agreements. Potential commitments of tissue for grant applications or for use in projects funded by biotech and pharmaceutical companies should first be approved by the Oversight Committee. The budget to be submitted should also be approved by the Oversight Committee.
- All requests for tissue and serum must get prior IRB approval. Anyone requesting tissue will also be given a date to present their information to the ovarian working group for advisory comments.
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