Science and Technology Resources

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Strategic Resource Planning and Cost Optimization A strategic goal for this fiscal year was a methodical evaluation of centralized technology programs and resources with the goal of meeting budget reduction targets. OSTR developed and implemented, following leadership approval, a strategic realignment plan focused on preserving high-growth, emerging technologies, consolidating centralized technology resources to remove duplication, and pursued outsourcing options for certain routine services. This proactive approach enabled the OSTR to achieve significant reduction in the overall cost of specific technology support programs while safeguarding complex, mission-critical technical services that are best provided through collaborative support from internal central labs. Data Analysis: Bioinformatics Collaboration, Software tools and Training OSTR continued its commitment to expanding access to advanced bioinformatics tools, training, and collaborative support. This year, the office funded and maintained access to nine specialized scientific software platforms used for: Bioinformatics and statistical analysis, Pathway interrogation and network biology and Large-scale 'omics data visualization. Together, these tools supported a user base of over 1,300 distinct NCI researchers, with the most widely used platform serving more than 700 users. Others had adoption levels ranging from 20 to 250 users. Training and Workforce Development: In partnership with Leidos Biomedical Research (LBR), OSTR supported a dedicated Bioinformatics Training Program, offering hands-on training in both commercial and open-source tools. The goal is to empower CCR biologists to perform their own data analysis, accelerating scientific discovery and insight. Collaborative Analysis Support: For more complex or long-term data needs, OSTR oversees a team of embedded informatics analysts who work directly with CCR research labs. These collaborations focus on multi-omics integration, pipeline development, and end-to-end data interpretation. In the past year the group completed 59 collaborative projects were completed while an additional 24 projects are underway. A detailed overview of these activities is available in the CCBR report. Oversight of Technologies and Cores: OSTR continues to explore and implement new technologies and assays, including establishing an MTA to access an emerging spatial omics technology that can be used to reveal cell states and functions of immune cells. The Office also provides strategic oversight of key technology labs both in Bethesda and and in Frederick. These include the Single Cell Analysis Facility and the Spatial Imaging Technology Resource (SpITR), which are available to all CCR investigators. Both cores provide complementary services for spatial transcriptomics and proteomics that enable study of tumor heterogeneity, the tumor microenvironment and enable biomarker discovery and quantification (these are reported separately) and served over 60 different PI groups. The CCR Genomics Core (also reported separately) is also managed under OSTR. This central lab is an open core for NGS, Sanger sequencing, targeted gene expression analysis using NanoString and droplet digital PCR assays. In addition to the core labs listed above, OSTR also led oversight of and strategic direction for other technology cores (imaging, electron microscopy, proteomics and high throughput genomics) within the CRTP/Frederick National Lab (these are reported separately). Technology Subsidy Program: To expand access to high-cost technologies, OSTR administers a Technology Subsidy Program that provides supplemental funding for advanced genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, spatial, and bioinformatic studies. In FY25, 74 CCR laboratories received support. This program: 1) Extends limited research budgets 2) Reduces financial barriers to adopting new technologies. 3) Mitigates risk for pilot studies. Large requests are further vetted for scientific merit, technical appropriateness, and potential scientific impact in the field. The funding has empowered CCR researchers to pursue ambitious projects that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive, resulting in numerous high-impact publications in top-tier scientific journals. Web Resources and Databases: To enhance transparency and promote collaboration, OSTR continued to improve and expand its suite of informational websites-including those for CRTP, confocal labs, bioinformatics resources, and OSTR itself. These platforms serve as hubs for sharing information on centralized scientific resources, tracking emerging technologies, and monitoring both technology subsidies and service-related expenditures. This also included development and management of a data portal that contains content on over 200 NIH core labs, technology hubs and repositories. These OSTR-affiliated web resources collectively received over 130,000 visitors and over 370,000 page views this fiscal year. A major achievement this year was the launch of the CCR PI Core Expenses Dashboard in June 2025. Developed in partnership with the web development team, the dashboard empowers CCR principal investigators and their delegates to 1) Monitor spending across CCR/NCI core labs, including contractor-operated cores in Frederick 2) Access a unified view of financial commitments and invoiced charges 3) Plan and manage research budgets with confidence. Since launch, the dashboard has been viewed 640 times by 115 individual users, reflecting strong initial engagement.