The translation and validation of pre-clinical findings is often hampered and delayed due to the unfamiliarity of researchers with trial cohorts providing valuable patient materials. The CRC catalogue aims to change that, by connecting researchers and clinicians and allowing the sharing of clinical samples to be used for proof-of-concept and validation studies, and by that exploiting available data to its full potential.
‘Our main purpose is to provide an overview of available patients samples and data from clinical studies in the field of colorectal cancer in order to make them easy to find and accessible. Through our platform, colorectal cancer researchers and clinical researchers can make a connection and start new collaborations. This way, data and samples that are gathered within clinical studies, can be optimally found and used for research projects ‘ says Jelena Medic (UMC Utrecht), Data Manager of the catalogue.
The samples and data are not only useful for research, but clinicians benefit from providing them too. ‘It is nice to see what happens through such a collaboration. Both researchers and clinicians can learn from each other and get new perspectives on how to go about their data, so to get more information out of it’ adds Medic.
The CRC catalogue has existed for a while but was recently improved in light of the feedback received from the community. Many more search items have been added, such as experimental data, molecular data, diagnosis, and tumor stage, but also availability of patient derived organoids. Furthermore, we keep expanding the catalogue, and till date, more than 40 studies encompassing 30,000 biological samples of CRC patients are included.
Accessing the CRC catalogue, you can search your samples of interest and find relevant clinical studies. To start your new collaboration, you can apply through the website directly, using the Podium request portal. ‘Both clinical providers and researchers who request the materials can login the system.’ says Medic. ‘The clinical providers can check if they received any requests and the researchers requesting materials get a ticket through the portal, so they can follow the process. And I as a Data Manager can see how the process goes. If it gets stuck, I get in touch and push it forward’ she adds.
‘We have an up and running catalogue, and at the same time a catalogue that is in constant development, because we always listen to the needs of the community. We will continue to improve it, foster more collaborations, and continue to add even more studies’ she concludes.
The CRC catalogue is supported through Oncode’s Equipment and Infrastructure program and is the result of the collaboration between Oncode Investigator Louis Vermeulen (Amsterdam UMC) and clinician Mirjam Koopman (UMC Utrecht). The catalogue is available to all researchers. You can access it here. For more information, contact Jelena Medic ([email protected]) or Jacqueline Staring ([email protected]).
Read more about the background of this project here and here.