Secondary Research

Available Data and/or Specimens

IDCRC active and completed studies may be viewed on the studies page of our website. Click the button below to download the current listing of available specimens from IDCRC studies.

current listing of available specimens

Requesting IDCRC Data and/or Specimens for Secondary Research

IDCRC Secondary Research Proposal Form

Requests to use specimens and/or data from IDCRC protocols must be submitted to idcrc@emory.edu using the proposal form linked above. Key information about the process follows:

  • Specimens and data resulting from IDCRC protocols are typically owned by the institution at which they were collected. However, IDCRC policy governs the custody, management and access to all specimens and data collected as part of IDCRC clinical research studies, including specimens for secondary research.
  • Secondary research requests may be submitted at any time. These should be submitted by the proposing investigator(s) to the Leadership Operations Center (LOC) by email at idcrc@emory.edu.
  • Requests will be reviewed by the protocol-specific Secondary Research Committee on the basis of scientific merit, study design, and feasibility. Requests may be approved, not approved, or require revision.
  • The IDCRC does not support funding requests as part of this process, and requestors are expected to have identified the source(s) of funding to support their projects before submission, which may include the cost of transferring specimens and/or data.
  • If the request is approved, the transfer of data and/or specimens will typically occur after both clinical and non-clinical database locks for the parent protocol. 

Terms of Approval for Secondary Research

If approved, terms will be outlined in the approval letter issued to the investigator.  To proceed, the proposing investigator must sign and return the approval letter, indicating acceptance of the terms. Typical terms of approval for a secondary research request include:

  1. The proposing investigator is responsible for covering the shipping of specimens and the effort to prepare specimen picklists and data, if applicable. The proposing investigator will work directly with the unit performing these activities to develop a budget and funding mechanism to support these activities.
  2. Acknowledgement and agreement that only the secondary research described in the approved proposal will be conducted. Any additional analysis outside of the approved scope would require a separate request, even if specimens and/or data are already transferred.
  3. Execution of a Materials Transfer Agreement or Data Use Agreement, depending on the type of request, prior to the transfer of any specimens and/or data. IDCRC agreements will be executed by Emory University as applicable.
  4. Submission of local ethics approval or waiver (e.g., an Institutional Review Board letter) prior to transfer of specimens and/or data.
  5. Agreement to comply with the IDCRC Publication Policy and any publication terms from the parent study, if applicable.
  6. Submission of a final written report to the LOC administrator for IDCRC review of progress.
  7. Agreement on the residual specimen plan at the end of the study (typically, residual specimens will be destroyed).

Study Implementation

Upon receipt of the signed approval letter from the investigator acknowledging receipt and agreement of terms, the LOU and/or SDSU will coordinate specimen selection and shipment and/or data transfer.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit section 18 of the IDCRC Manual of Procedures.  Please reach out to idcrc@emory.edu with any questions.