CTSC:TTIC.090908

Back to Collaboration:Harvard_CTSC
Action Items (details below)

1. Update from the CTSC retreat: Consultation Service Website
2. Job positions to be created and filled: triage consultant, imaging navigator, IT expert
3. Sharing imaging data among sites

Harvard Translational Imaging Consortium Meeting Minutes September 9, 2008

In Attendance (in person):

• Gordon Williams
• Laura Alice
• Steven Voss
• Randy Gollub
• Clare Tempany
• Ann Schlesinger
• Zeke Bernstein-Hanley
• Bruce Rosen

1. Consultation Service web page
Genetics and Biostatistics have already created a web-page on the Harvard Catalyst website outlining their consultation services. The web pages include:

• key contacts within the consultation service
• the consultation services that are and are not provided
• an explanation of who is eligible to utilize these services
• a form for requesting consulting services that should be downloaded and sent to the triage consultant

The Imaging group's consultation web-page will be posted on the Harvard Catalyst website soon. It will include all the features listed above. Randy Gollub volunteered to serve as the triage consultant until an official consultant can be hired. There was universal agreement among the Imaging Consortium that requests for consultation services should be submitted online via an RSS feed. This idea will be proposed to Genetics and Biostatistics and discussed with the IT experts, Douglas MacFadden and Seanne Hanke. A system of tracking consultation requests should be developed, and requests should be answered within a reasonable time frame.

2. Job positions to be created and filled

1. Imaging Navigator:

Potential job responsibilities include: updating content, work with the Research Navigators, and serve as the imaging consortium's go-to person. Discussion of the qualities wanted in a candidate as well as the time commitment necessary for the position will be discussed at the next meeting.

• Presentation of XNAT proposal and integration into CTSC informatics.

They responded favorably to the imaging consortium's ideas and suggested that the imaging consortium's consultation service website could be a model for other CTSC groups.

1. Informatics expert

The Imaging Consortium is looking for a PhD level informatics expert. This candidate may be recruited from with the hospitals that participate in the Imaging Consortium. When hired, this person will provide support to the Imaging Consortium and develop a way of sharing imaging data across sites while maintaining the existing security measures .

3. Image Data Management and Shared Imaging Data
Sharing imaging data between sites is difficult due to HIPAA regulations. For each study that requires sharing data between institutions, a policy must be developed to regulate it. It is unlikely that a central archive of imaging data can be developed. However, IT will likely be able to develop a system that works with each hospital's individual firewall so that imaging data can be shared between sites. An IT person will likely have to be hired to accomplish this goal.

3. Update on Pilot Grants

The Pilot Grant core has announced that there will be two tracks for pilot grants.

1. A large grant (75-250K) will be available for larger projects. These proposals will require a full grant application, which will be reviewed scientifically.
2. Smaller grants (5-15K) will be available for investigators seeking funding for more limited services. The application for these funds will be shorter and review can be expedited. Requests for these smaller grants for imaging projects would be facilitated if a member of the imaging consortium signs off on the project.

These pilot grants are broadly applicable to all biomedical research fields, such as imaging and genetics.

Gordon Williams reported that CTSC central investigated a common cost structure for services, but found that it will not be feasible in the near future. There is speculation that unified imaging rates may be possible by 2015.

Investigators are encouraged to use the scanning facilities at their own site. The CTSC will connect investigators to scanning facilities if none exist at their own institution. In order to scan at other institutions, it is necessary for investigators to find a collaborator there, and the CTSC Research Navigators may be able to assist investigators in forming collaborations.