NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases has established a biosample and data repository using samples from many of the clinical studies and trials it has funded, and it now aims to fund researchers exploiting this resource to develop new assays and disease-related biomarkers.
NIDDK will provide researchers studying diseases that are relevant to its mission with access to these samples and corresponding clinical information, as well as up to $250,000 to pursue their projects, the institute said in a new request for applications on Wednesday.
These projects should pursue discoveries on the underlying mechanisms of diseases and their pathogenic processes, progression, and related clinical responses. The institute is particularly encouraging efforts that make use of the associated data from the trials and studies, as well as exploratory projects, so long as the sample pool is not severely limited, the project is justified, and the goal of the work is in line with the original study.
These projects may include efforts to analyze samples for biomarkers that indicate normal and pathogenic responses, as well as those that indicate pharmacologic responses. This could include searching for new biomarkers or validating established ones. Investigators also may seek to develop assays that are proteomic, epigenetic, metabolomic, RNA-based, or cell-based.
The researchers will have access to samples and information from around 40 studies, including the Maryland Genetics of Interstitial Cystitis study, the Childhood Liver Disease Research and Education Network, the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcome Study, the Genetics of Kidneys in Diabetes project, the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Genetics Consortium, and a range of others looking into diabetes, liver failure and transplantation, and kidney diseases.