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AIDS Cancer Specimen Resource
The AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR) is a resource for investigators working in the fields of HIV/AIDS, cancer, virology, immunology, pathology, epidemiology, tumor biology assay development, and many others. It is a biorepository for HIV-infected human biospecimens from a wide spectrum of HIV-related or associated diseases, including cancer, and from appropriate HIV-negative controls.
The GW BIorepository was established by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1994 as part of the National AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR). The purpose of the ACSR is to acquire, store, and equitably distribute tumor tissues, biological fluids, and associated clinical information from patients with HIV-associated malignancies to the scientific research community-at-large.
The primary commitment of the ACSR is to encourage research in the field of HIV-associated malignancies, both AIDS-defining and non-AIDS defining. To that end, the ACSR not only provides historical biospecimens (both pre- and post-HAART), but in order to meet the emerging needs of the research community, it actively acquires new biospecimens from HIV-infected individuals from across the United States as well as from developing countries experiencing a high burden of the HIV epidemic and its associated malignancies. In addition to operating a large, existing biospecimen repository, the ACSR serves the research community as a resource for well-documented, disease-associated biospecimens that may not currently exist in the ACSR but may be acquired from an extensive network of outside collaborators.
The ACSR strives to be a partner with investigators working in research related to HIV-associated malignancies. It is prepared to provide relevant biospecimens (without cost) to the research community at large, including researchers in academia and industry. Given its track record on assisting research and advances in the field, the ACSR is optimistic about a continued contribution to the acceleration of drug development timelines and facilitation of the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to HIV-associated malignancies.
Finally, as research questions regarding the pathogenesis of AIDS and cancer evolve over time, the ACSR continues to evolve to reflect the needs of investigators involved in these critical fields of research.
Malignant and other tissues from HIV-infected patients are needed more than ever to provide opportunities for critical translational research. Translational research focuses on the pathogenesis of AIDS-related malignancies and other human tissue for study. Scientists now have the ability to ask and answer more questions than during the early phase of the AIDS epidemic.
The GW Biorepository also accepts blood and tissue donations from ACSR sites. Researchers interested in obtaining specimens for study may contact the national ACSR for further information and application forms.
AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC)
The AIDS Malignancy Clinical Trials Consortium (AMC) is a National Cancer Institute-supported clinical trials group founded in 1995 to support innovative trials for AIDS-related cancers.
The AMC is composed of over 37 Clinical Trials Sites worldwide, five Working Groups, an Administrative Office, a Statistical Office, and an Operations and Data Management Office. Collectively, these components develop and oversee the scientific agenda, manage the groups’ portfolio of clinical trials and other scientific-based studies, and help to develop new protocols.
AMC information can be accessed directly through their official website.
The GW Biorepository acts as the AMC Biorepository and as such, receives, processes, stores, and ships protocol specimens pertaining to current research studies. The AMC Biorepository is actively engaged in almost a dozen ongoing research studies that are being conducted by the AMC. Areas of research include, but are not limited to, anal-cancer precursors for HIV-infected women, HIV-related B-cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome in HIV infected individuals, and the analysis and genetic progression of HIV-1 associated malignancies.
The AMC Biorepository also accepts blood and tissue donations for the ACSR from participants at AMC sites. Researchers interested in obtaining specimens for research may contact the national ACSR for further information and application forms.
Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS)
The Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) is an NIH-funded project aimed at improving knowledge on how HIV impacts women’s lives. Beginning in August 1993, participants (both HIV infected and uninfected), staff and researchers have worked together to accomplish this goal across a broad range of topics both medical and psychosocial.
The GW Biorepository has previously collaborated with the WIHS and holds excess cervical biopsy tissue, whole blood, and oral rinse donations from both HIV positive and HIV negative WIHS participants for future HIV research. Researchers interested in obtaining specimens for study may contact the national ACSR for further information and application forms.