The Translational Research Core (TRC) enables clinical research at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center(Case CCC) by providing services that are critical for the generation of correlative data associated withclinical trials. Services include (1) consultation or full service writing of methods sections and budgets forCTEP letters of intent (LOI), protocols, and grants; (2) acquisition, logging, processing, storing, and shippingof patient samples to assay laboratories as specified by each protocol; (3) endpoint assays such as Westernblotting, enzyme (e.g., telomerase) and ELISA assays, and non-standard flow and laser-scanning cytometryor microscopic imaging; (4) data collection and entry into the central ONCORE database, data submission ofadministrative units, and completion and submission of reimbursement forms as per CTEP TranslationalResearch Initiative (TRI) guidelines. The core is directed by John Pink with a staff of 6, occupies 650 sq. ft.of dedicated laboratory and office space in the Wolstein Research Building, and shares an additional 1025sq. ft. of laboratory and office space in Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, and University Hospitals.The TRC was developed within the last funding cycle, and has become fully functional within the last year.Since inception in 2002, the core has participated in 158 clinical trials. In 2006-2007, this workload isexpected to increase to -4500 samples. The current total operating budget is $257,000.The Cleveland Clinic has a Clinical Pharmacology Program (CPP) directed by Ram Ganapathi, PhD. Thislaboratory, with a staff of 5, performs a similar function for clinical trials open at the Taussig Cancer Center.Currently this facility supports -125 trials with -1750 samples/2005 (past 5 year average, 1200samples/year). The majority (75%) of samples are associated with industry sponsored trials; the remainderprimarily investigator-initiated, cooperative group trials.Taussig investigator-initiated trials are expected to increase during the next five years, and as the Case CCCintegrates investigators from both the Ireland and Taussig Cancer Centers, investigator-initiated trials will beopen at both institutions. Therefore, the TRC will take a lead role during this time, coordinatingcommunication and function within both the present TRC and the CPP to accommodate a smooth andseamless rendering of TRC services to all eligible trials. The operating budget will increase in year 2007 toaccommodate this integration.
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