Overview

A pioneering a model for biomarker discovery and developing the technologies and methodologies to make it possible, the International Cancer Biomarker Consortium (ICBC) seeks to leverage the knowledge and expertise of international researchers by establishing a global collaboration on biomarker discovery and encouraging adoption of international standards and data sharing. Led by a nine-person Steering Committee and coordinated by Lee Hartwell of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the ICBC is an official Pacific Health Summit project and is also endorsed by APEC’s Life Sciences Innovation Forum.

Teams and Research

Through a large-scale effort similar to the Human Genome Project, the consortium aims to make significant progress in the discovery of biomarkers by facilitating highly coordinated research and by leveraging resources and expertise from around the world to overcome the current obstacles in biomarker research. Each of the 14 international teams has chosen a cancer site(s) for study, functions independently, and secure its own funding. At the same time, the ICBC provides a structure for international teams to work together on global issues such as adoption of data standards and the sharing data as well as on scientific details such as the logistics of tissue sample sharing and investigation of mouse models of cancer.

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center coordinates the research endeavor by providing bioinformatics resources including software and tools for data management including storage, organization, analysis, and sharing.

Global Collaboration and Meetings

Another goal of the ICBC is to establish a global collaborative network of research teams to improve both biomarker discovery for various cancers and the processes to achieve such discovery.

The ICBC meets annually to discuss methods for biomarker discovery and new technologies, bioinformatics, and pilot projects. Throughout the year, videoconferences with expert advisory panels provide recommendations to each team on biomarker discovery methods and process. The second annual ICBC meeting took place in December 2006, and the third meeting is scheduled for Hawaii in February 2008. Smaller workshops provide additional platforms for collaboration and information-sharing. Possible workshops for 2008 include a Bioinformatics Workshop and MRM/SISCAPA Training Workshop. Visit the ICBC website: http://www.fhcrc.org/science/international_biomarker/