CRAB is honored to partner with a diverse variety of other research consortia. Several of our long standing partnerships are described below.
International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
CRAB has been an integral collaborator with the IASLC since the 1990s, and will continue this partnership through at least 2016. In 2009, CRAB’s support enabled IASLC to fulfill the objectives of its Lung Cancer Staging Project via submission of evidence-based recommendations for the 7th revision of the tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging classification system for lung cancer to the Union Internationale Contra Le Cancer (UICC) and to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). We are now at work on the 8th revision, due in 2016, for which will be based on a combination of retrospective and prospective data collection. Similar efforts are also underway for malignant pleural mesothelioma and thymic malignancies.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy (MIRT)
The Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy (MIRT) continues to be an international leader for investigations into the treatment of multiple myeloma. MIRT sees more patients with myeloma and related diseases per year than any other institution in the world, and CRAB’s partnership and scientific collaboration with MIRT continues to deepen. CRAB’s contributions to MIRT projects include experimental design, data acquisition and database development, statistical analysis, interpretation, and presentation of findings. In 2010, the statistical summary of progress at MIRT has allowed, for the first time, the use of the word “cure” for this disease.
Pancreatic Cancer Research Team (PCRT)
Since 2003, our strategic partnership with PCRT has evolved and resulted in an expansion of CRAB’s role that now includes more broad support across most new PCRT projects. As the PCRT’s clinical trial program blossoms, CRAB is poised to grow this relationship and build upon the strong foundation we’ve established during the past decade. CRAB provides expanded clinical trial support for trials within the PCRT network, including both investigator-sponsored trials, as well as industry-sponsored projects. The services we provide for PCRT projects include statistical design and analysis, customization of an electronic data capture (EDC) solution, clinical monitoring, data management, and project oversight. Our experience with PCRT includes Phase I, I/II, and II clinical trials, support for the PCRT web portal infrastructure, and providing management and reporting for the ongoing PCRT Serum Bank project. With several new projects on the horizon, and a healthy pipeline of new opportunities, we envision this partnership continuing to expand well into the future.
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team
In 2009, CRAB joined the SU2C Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team, a 3-year collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, the Translational Genomics Institute (TGen), and the Salk Institute. This “Dream Team” is funded by Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C), a national fundraising effort supported by the American Association for Cancer Research. CRAB provides clinical operations, data management, and statistical support to these translational research projects aimed at improving the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.
International Myeloma Foundation (IMF)
CRAB’s collaboration with the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) began in the 1990s. The newest projects include an investigation into the prognostic information in specific chromosomal abnormalities as an addition to the International Staging System introduced by CRAB and the IMF. We are also collaborating on a new project to gather historical data on patients treated at relapse with newer targeted agents, to serve as controls for future phase II studies.
CRAB Clinical Trials Consortium (CRAB CTC) http://www.crabctc.org/
CRAB’s Clinical Trials Consortium (CRAB CTC) has grown to become a central resource for investigators, biopharmaceutical sponsors, non-profit foundations and others looking to develop novel cancer treatments for patients with lung cancer. 2010 was a landmark year for the CRAB CTC as we held our first annual investigator meeting, initiated our first clinical trial, and expanded our investigator membership. In the coming year, we expect to activate additional clinical trials, grow our leadership, and expand our geographical footprint. CRAB CTC is committed to providing objective expertise to support efficient drug development that makes a difference for patients.