Shared Resource Management

Columbia University Health Sciences, New York NY

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) maintains eight NCI-approved Shared Resources (SRs) that focus on: Cancer Biostatistics; Confocal and Specialized Microscopy; Flow Cytometry; Genomics and High Throughput Screening; Genetically Modified Mouse Models; Molecular Pathology; Oncology Precision Therapeutics and Imaging Core; and Proteomics and Structural Biology. These SRs provide access to cutting-edge technologies, cost-effective and high-quality services, instruction on principles and best practices, and statistical analysis for the development and implementation of cancer clinical trials through the HICCC’s Clinical Protocol Data Management Office. Through these activities, the SRs are foundational to advancing the HICCC’s focus across its Strategic Plan pillars. During the project period, more than 78% of HICCC Members used the SRs, 81% of whom held peer-reviewed cancer relevant funding, underscoring their critical role. SRs contributed to 390 cancer-relevant research publications from HICCC Members, with 44% in journals with impact factor >10 and 18% with impact factor >20. HICCC SRs supported 442 peer-reviewed HICCC Members grants, including a subset of 153 from the NCI and 238 from other NIH agencies. SRs Management is led by Liza Pon, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology and HICCC Associate Director of SRs, who reports directly to Anil Rustgi, MD, HICCC Director, and is a member of the Cancer Center Leadership Team. Pon is supported by Aaron Viny, MD/MS, Assistant Professor of Medicine who serves as Assistant Director of SRs, and Ben Rhoades, MB, Assistant Director of SR Administration. Their overarching goal is to ensure that HICCC Members have access to novel technologies and services that advance innovative research across HICCC programs and that the HICCC SRs provide accessibility to best-in-class services at subsidized rates. They monitor scientific and technical advances, HICCC Member SR surveys, and work with the SRs to advance impact. Pon and her team work in a coordinated manner with two SR oversight committees. The SR Organizing Committee (SROC) comprised of basic, clinical, and population scientists, reviews instrumentation requests by SRs, and oversees technology acquisition. In turn, each SR has an Advisory Committee (SRAC), who meet with SR leadership and SR Faculty and Technical Directors to provide recommendations for technology upgrades and acquisition, development of new services, improvement on existing services, and effective SR operations. Over the project period, with guidance from SR leadership, the SROC and the SRACs, the HICCC (under Rustgi) has invested more than $16M to support SR instrumentation, services, and personnel, with $2.4M supporting new intramural awards for SR instrumentation and SR Service Development to develop SR technologies and services.