SPOREs
Lung
Cores
Lung SPORE Cores
Core A: Tissue and Pathology
Director: Massimo Loda, MD (BWH)
Co-Director: Lucian Chirieac, MD (BWH)
Investigators: Neal Lindeman, MD (BWH) and William Richards, PhD (BWH)
Tissue resources are essential for studies of outcome markers, predictive markers, molecular epidemiology, and discovery of novel molecular therapeutic targets. Their importance is even more apparent in this evolving era of molecular imaging as well as high throughput technologies. The immense value of clinical biological sample collection is therefore readily apparent. Methods of harvesting, storage, and appropriate quality control are also vitally important to assure the high tissue quality required for advanced technology platforms. Finally, significant investments of skill, time and money have gone in to build these resources, and consideration and planning is given towards access and distribution of samples, so that these holdings have value-added as local, regional, national, and international resources. The Path Core will provide expertise and leadership for SPORE investigators in all areas of tissue acquisition and analysis. Human tumors are highly complex because of inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. The development and implementation of highly innovative technologies for the simultaneous assessment of multiple antigens/genes at the tissue level will also be an integral part of this Core, underscoring its constant drive to improve upon molecular pathologic analysis. Specifically, the technologies we have developed and are continuing to refine as well as sophisticated imaging technologies, will allow the identification of multiple antigens/genes. The Pathology Core is a critical component of the lung SPORE effort and is uniquely positioned to characterize the morphologic phenotype of lung neoplasms, relate these findings to their molecular characterization, and rapidly advance our understanding of human tumors of the lung. The understanding produced by these investigations should ultimately lead towards the development of novel therapeutic strategies for this heterogeneous group of diseases within the funding period of this SPORE.
Core B: Administration, Evaluation, and Planning
Director: Bruce Johnson, MD (DFCI)
Co-Director: David C. Christiani, MD, MPH (HSPH)
The purpose of the Administration, Evaluation and Planning Core is to ensure the coordination of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) Lung Cancer SPORE components and to provide oversight and leadership of the scientific, administrative, and fiscal aspects of the SPORE. The Administration, Evaluation and Planning Core allows for the provision of stimulating intellectual activities, organization of venues for planning future research through seminars and retreats, and the oversight of research and spending. This Core also provides the tools to work with institutions inside and outside of Harvard University to leverage the considerable power of the SPORE in order to raise more research funding for lung cancer. The responsibilities of the Administration, Evaluation and Planning Core are to: 1) Select research projects and evaluate research progress; 2) Foster collaborative research within the SPORE and between SPOREs; 3) Integrate the Lung SPORE into the DF/HCC structure; 4) Provide necessary resources and fiscal oversight and 5) Promote rapid dissemination of significant research findings and facilitate resource exchange.
Core C: Biostatistics
Director: Beow Yong Yeap, ScD (MGH)
Co-Director: Dianne Finkelstein, PhD (MGH)
Investigators: Yi Li, PhD (DFCI) and Xihong Lin, PhD (HSPH)
- Statistical expertise for design, planning and conduct of research studies.
- Statistical expertise for data analysis and interpretation, including interim monitoring and scientific reporting.
- Consultation on developing and implementing plans for data collection and database specifications, including forms design and data entry.
- Consultation on developing and implementing plans for data management, quality control and administrative reporting.
- Computing facilities and resources for statistical and related requirements, including data transfer, merging, sharing and security.
Core D: Genomics and Bioinformatics
Co-Directors: Matthew Meyerson, MD, PhD (DFCI) and David Kwiatkowski, MD, PhD (BWH)
Investigator: Cheng Li, PhD (DFCI)
Genetic and genomic analysis of lung cancer has yielded many important observations in recent years, including the identification of activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by this SPORE’s investigators. Recent studies have made it clear that there are numerous targets for both inactivating and activating mutations during lung cancer development, and there is steady progress in unraveling the nature and collective effect of these mutations on the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Genomic technologies have continued to develop at an impressive pace for the past 5-10 years, and it is expected that rapid technological progress will continue for at least the foreseeable future. These new technologies, approaches, and concepts require a high level of understanding and expertise for them to be applied for the most rapid progress by Lung SPORE investigators in their respective projects. This core will facilitate that use in several ways. First, it will provide access to state-of-the-art genomic technologies, with access to new technologies and approaches as they are developed, some of which cannot be foreseen at this time. Second, it will provide a high level of technical expertise in the application of these technologies, from laboratories with extensive experience with new and emerging technologies. Third, it will provide intellectual strength from seasoned genomics investigators to help SPORE investigators navigate choices among different technologies. Fourth, it will provide state-of-the-art bioinformatics and statistical support for SPORE projects. Fifth, through centralization of genomic data sets and provision of bioinformatics tools for SPORE projects, there will be synergies in data storage and sharing, enabling better integration of ideas and information across the various projects within the SPORE.
More specifically, the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core will deploy these resources to assist research progress by Lung SPORE investigators via three specific aims.
Aim 1: To assist SPORE projects with access to and guidance in the use of genomic and related technologies for utilization in SPORE research projects.
Aim 2: To support Lung SPORE investigators with bioinformatics and related expertise for design, data handling, and analysis of genomic studies.
Aim 3: To support data sharing within the DF/HCC Lung SPORE and the greater lung cancer research community.
