| AJTR Copyright © 2009-All rights reserved. Published by e-Century Publishing Corporation, Madison, WI 53711 |
Am J Transl Res 2009;1(1):35-43
Review Article
Developing a multidisciplinary prospective melanoma biospecimen
repository to advance translational research
Lindsay G. Wich, Heather K. Hamilton, Richard L. Shapiro, Anna Pavlick, Russell S. Berman, David Polsky, Judith
D. Goldberg, Eva Hernando, Prashiela Manga, Michelle Krogsgaard, Hideko Kamino, Farbod Darvishian, Peng
Lee, Seth J. Orlow, Harry Ostrer, Nina Bhardwaj, Iman Osman
The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and the Departments of Surgery, Medicine, Pathology,
Environmental Medicine,Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine and NYU Cancer Institute, New York,
NY, USA
Received November 4, 2008; accepted November 12, 2008; available online November 30, 2008
Abstract: Several challenges face the development and operation of a biospecimen bank linked to clinical
information, a critical component of any effective translational research program. Melanoma adds particular
complexity and difficulty to such an endeavor considering the unique characteristics of this malignancy. We
describe here a review of biospecimen bank and our experience in establishing a multi-disciplinary, prospective,
integrated clinicopathological-biospecimen database in melanoma. The Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative
Group (IMCG), a prospective clinicopathological and biospecimen database, was established at the New York
University (NYU) Langone Medical Center. With patients’ informed consent, biospecimens from within and outside
NYU, clinicopathological data, and follow-up information are collected using developed protocols. Information
pertaining to biospecimens is recorded in 35 fields, and clinicopathological information is recorded in 371 fields
within 5 modules in a virtual network system. Investigators conducting research utilizing the IMCG biospecimen
resource are blind to clinicopathological information, and molecular data generated using biospecimens are
linked independently with clinicopathological data by biostatistics investigators. This translational research
enterprise acts as a valuable resource to efficiently translate laboratory discoveries to the clinic. (AJTR811002).
Key Words: Melanoma, clinical database, specimen bank, translational medicine, model
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Iman Osman, MD,
NYU School of Medicine
522 First Avenue
SML 405, New York,
NY 10016, USA
Phone: (212)263-9076, Fax:(212) 263-9090
Email: iman.osman@nyumc.org
Review Article
Developing a multidisciplinary prospective melanoma biospecimen
repository to advance translational research
Lindsay G. Wich, Heather K. Hamilton, Richard L. Shapiro, Anna Pavlick, Russell S. Berman, David Polsky, Judith
D. Goldberg, Eva Hernando, Prashiela Manga, Michelle Krogsgaard, Hideko Kamino, Farbod Darvishian, Peng
Lee, Seth J. Orlow, Harry Ostrer, Nina Bhardwaj, Iman Osman
The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and the Departments of Surgery, Medicine, Pathology,
Environmental Medicine,Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine and NYU Cancer Institute, New York,
NY, USA
Received November 4, 2008; accepted November 12, 2008; available online November 30, 2008
Abstract: Several challenges face the development and operation of a biospecimen bank linked to clinical
information, a critical component of any effective translational research program. Melanoma adds particular
complexity and difficulty to such an endeavor considering the unique characteristics of this malignancy. We
describe here a review of biospecimen bank and our experience in establishing a multi-disciplinary, prospective,
integrated clinicopathological-biospecimen database in melanoma. The Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative
Group (IMCG), a prospective clinicopathological and biospecimen database, was established at the New York
University (NYU) Langone Medical Center. With patients’ informed consent, biospecimens from within and outside
NYU, clinicopathological data, and follow-up information are collected using developed protocols. Information
pertaining to biospecimens is recorded in 35 fields, and clinicopathological information is recorded in 371 fields
within 5 modules in a virtual network system. Investigators conducting research utilizing the IMCG biospecimen
resource are blind to clinicopathological information, and molecular data generated using biospecimens are
linked independently with clinicopathological data by biostatistics investigators. This translational research
enterprise acts as a valuable resource to efficiently translate laboratory discoveries to the clinic. (AJTR811002).
Key Words: Melanoma, clinical database, specimen bank, translational medicine, model
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Iman Osman, MD,
NYU School of Medicine
522 First Avenue
SML 405, New York,
NY 10016, USA
Phone: (212)263-9076, Fax:(212) 263-9090
Email: iman.osman@nyumc.org
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