Continuation and Expansion of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank for Translational Research (U24)

The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB), funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Department of Health and Human Services, is being extended and expanded to enhance translational research for malignant mesothelioma. This initiative aims to broaden the collection of biospecimens including fresh frozen and paraffin-embedded tumor and control tissues, blood, DNA, RNA, and protein samples from patients, alongside comprehensive demographic data such as age, sex, race, and occupational history, and detailed clinical information including disease stage, treatment regimens, and survival outcomes. The NMVB functions as a virtual repository that provides researchers with centralized access to a growing library of biospecimens and associated genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets to accelerate scientific discovery. The program supports critical research goals such as identifying early indicators of mesothelioma, developing biomarkers for accurate disease staging and prognosis prediction, and facilitating the creation of new or improved therapeutic strategies. By integrating diverse data types and maintaining a shared resource accessible to the broader scientific community, the NMVB strengthens collaboration across biomedical and clinical research fields. This continuation and expansion effort is designed to increase the depth, breadth, and utility of the database, ensuring that researchers worldwide can leverage this resource to advance understanding and treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The opportunity is open for applications through the CDC’s grant mechanism, with scientific program oversight provided by Dr. Bridgette Garrett.