The Alliance supports additional research by making eligible clinical trial data and biospecimens available to qualified investigators. Approved researchers can request access to these resources for secondary analyses and correlative studies that build on Alliance clinical trials and advance scientific discovery.
Investigators may submit research concepts that propose the use of existing Alliance biospecimen resources. The submission process depends on where the study and specimens are cataloged.
- Studies in the NCI NCTN Navigator: The NCI NCTN Navigator is a centralized, web-based inventory and matchmaking system for locating biospecimens—including tissue, blood, and plasma—from NCTN clinical trials. If the study and biospecimens you are seeking are available through the Navigator, submit your request directly through the platform.
- Studies not in the NCI NCTN Navigator: Search the NCTN Biospecimen Catalog for additional eligible studies, including Alliance legacy studies. For assistance identifying available Alliance biospecimens or submitting a request, contact Alliance Translational Research, at TRP@AllianceNCTN.org.
In accordance with NCI guidelines, qualified investigators may request clinical data from published Alliance trials and eligible legacy trials conducted by the Alliance’s predecessor groups:
- American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)
- Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB)
- North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG)
Some Alliance data sets may already be publicly available through the NCTN Data Archive or Project Data Sphere. Check these resources first. If the data you need are not publicly available, follow these steps:
- Submit your request: Complete the Alliance Data Sharing Request Form and e-mail it to DataSharing@AllianceNCTN.org.
- Feasibility review: The Alliance Statistics and Data Management Center, relevant disease committee, and applicable data repositories review the request to determine data availability and feasibility. Fee may apply, and requesters may be responsible for associated costs.
- Agreements and regulatory reviews: The Alliance Data Sharing team reviews applicable agreements and obtains any required regulatory approvals.
- Data use agreement: If the data are available, the research team receives a Data Use Agreement for review and signature.
- Data release: Once the agreement is fully executed, the Alliance Data Sharing team authorizes release of the approved data to the research team.
Special Considerations
- Alliance-sponsored studies: Data requests sponsored by Alliance committees or programs require prior approval from the relevant Alliance committee or program leadership.
- Cancer Control Program data-only studies: Data-only study requests involving the Alliance Cancer Control Program (CCP) should be submitted to Niveditha Subbiah, LLM, MA, CCP Senior Program Manager, at niveditha@alliancenctn.org.