National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) believes that comprehensive molecular profiling of specific pediatric tumor types would transform the research landscape for these tumor types. NBTS recognizes the challenges involved in such projects including: the acquisition of sufficient annotated high-quality tumor and matched normal samples; the utilization of cutting-edge profiling technologies; and proven computational skills.
Important areas have been identified:
- Biospecimen – acquisition of good annotated samples with matched normal tissue.
- Genomics and Bioinformatics – cutting edge genomic profiling and data analysis.
- Validation of Study Results on cohort of samples.
NBTS understands that proposed funds may not allow one project to provide in depth analysis for all of the identified areas. Furthermore, all of the expertise required for comprehensive molecular profiling is not typically found in one laboratory. As such, we encourage submission of LOIs from collaborations and consortia working together to meet this challenge, as well as from individual investigators focusing on only one of these areas. Please indicate if you are working as a collaborative group but submitting separate LOI applications. PIs working independently in one of the identified areas must articulate how their findings will be used to further the remaining areas for that tumor type.
The potential catalytic impact of this work on pediatric brain tumors requires that NBTS's already high standards be surpassed by all applicants. For further questions, contact NBTS Director of Research Grant Programs, Carrie Treadwell, at ctreadwell@braintumor.org or 617.924.9997 ext 1520.
