Request for Use of COG Biospecimens
Biospecimens donated to COG for research are a limited and highly valuable resource. COG’s request and review process for the use of legacy biospecimens is designed to ensure these materials are used responsibly, supporting scientifically rigorous studies while maximizing their potential to advance discoveries for children with cancer.
Investigators initiate the application process by submitting a completed COG Pre-Inventory Biospecimen Request Form (PIBRF), outlining the samples needed and the goals of the study. Each request is reviewed to assess its scientific merit and determine whether the available biospecimens can support the proposed research.
If needed, COG works with investigators to refine the request to ensure it is feasible and aligned with available data. Once the request is approved, investigators submit a full proposal using the NCTN Core Correlative Science Committee (CCSC) Proposal Submission Form, along with a comp
Review of Biospecimen Proposals and Requests for Use
Expedited review by the applicable disease committee is available for exploratory or pilot investigations involving small numbers of non-rare biospecimens. Eligibility is determined based on the scope of the request and the rarity of the disease.
Requests involving larger numbers of legacy biospecimens, more complex study designs, or rare and limited samples undergo a full review by COG’s disease-specific biology subcommittee and Scientific Council. These proposals receive a more comprehensive evaluation, often involving multiple expert reviewers to assess scientific merit, feasibility, and the responsible use of available resources.
Review of proposals is approximately 6-8 weeks. Rejected proposals may be resubmitted with a documented response to reviewer feedback. The specific NCI review group depends on the clinical trial from which the samples originated.
Some proposals are subject to review by Correlative Science Committee (CCSC) using NCTN Navigator (https://navigator.ctsu.org/navigator/login), based on the type of trial the samples came from. These reviews will be scheduled at the first available monthly NCTN-CCSC monthly review date at least 6 weeks after the proposal is received and accepted. Non-Navigator approved proposals undergo review by the Scientific Council and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP).
Proposals submitted through the CTEP expedited review process are generally reviewed by NCI within 4 weeks.
Agreements with COG/Biospecimen Bank
When an application is approved, the requester must sign a Materials Transfer Agreement (MTA) and agree to credit COG in any resulting publications using COG biospecimens.
If clinical outcome data is requested in addition to biospecimens, a COG Data Use Agreement is also required.
For proposals involving legacy biospecimens, requesters must also sign the Pediatric Division of the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) Agreement for Use of Tissue, along with CHTN’s Data Use Agreement.
