title: A Federated Network for Translational Cancer Research Using Clinical Data and Biospecimens.
abstract: Advances in cancer research and personalized medicine will require significant new bridging infrastructures, including more robust biorepositories that link human tissue to clinical phenotypes and outcomes. In order to meet that challenge, four cancer centers formed the Text Information Extraction System (TIES) Cancer Research Network, a federated network that facilitates data and biospecimen sharing among member institutions. Member sites can access pathology data that are de-identified and processed with the TIES natural language processing system, which creates a repository of rich phenotype data linked to clinical biospecimens. TIES incorporates multiple security and privacy best practices that, combined with legal agreements, network policies, and procedures, enable regulatory compliance. The TIES Cancer Research Network now provides integrated access to investigators at all member institutions, where multiple investigator-driven pilot projects are underway. Examples of federated search across the network illustrate the potential impact on translational research, particularly for studies involving rare cancers, rare phenotypes, and specific biologic behaviors. The network satisfies several key desiderata including local control of data and credentialing, inclusion of rich phenotype information, and applicability to diverse research objectives. The TIES Cancer Research Network presents a model for a national data and biospecimen network.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. rebeccaj@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Becich
authors.affiliation: Georgia Regents University Cancer Center, Augusta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Roni J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bollag
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chavan
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corrigan
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dhir
authors.affiliation: Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.affiliation: Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaudioso
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legowski
authors.affiliation: Georgia Regents University Cancer Center, Augusta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Nita J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Maihle
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors.forename: Mayurapriyan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakthivel
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tseytlin
authors.affiliation: Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: JoEllen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D014481:United States