For researchers

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The Janus Serum Bank secretariat assists in scientific issues and study design.

The secretariat, consisting of both technicians and researchers, has considerable experience in biobanking and has also an important role in the daily administration of the biobank. Our ambition is to be a reliable consultative body for researchers regarding scientific issues, study design, laboratory analyses and help to improve applications, when necessary.   

Steering committee

The Janus Bank has a multidisciplinary steering committee including 5 members with qualifications on epidemiology, molecular biology, virology, biochemistry and statistics. The steering committee is responsible for the scientific evaluation of the project applications, in order to secure the best use of the material in the Bank.

Coding system

All samples within a research study are given different codes, enabling blinded analyses. This coding system has been routine for several decades in the Janus Serum Bank. The case control status and other information on the cancer diagnosis will first be issued when the laboratory analyses are completed and the results returned to the secretariat.

Data delivery

The Cancer Registry’s Data Delivery Unit links the cancer information and ensures that all necessary documents are available before the de-identified data file is delivered to the researcher. The coding system assures the privacy of the donors and prevents research misconduct.

The application process

  • Fill out the online application form and attach the necessary documentation. The application form can be found in the Cancer Registry's metadatabase, ELVIS.
  • The grant application must describe the research questions to be studied, the analyses to be carried out, and planned publications to emerge from the project
  • The application will not be processed until it is complete. A complete application contains
    • Completed application form
    • A detailed scientific protocol, containing the background and objectives of the study, method description, description of data flow (data management) and a data analysis plan, justification for desired serum volume and strength calculations
    • CVs of the project manager and other key participants in the project group (maximum four pages)
    • Information about financing the project
    • Approved data protection impact assessment or a reasoned assessment of why this is not necessary. The investigation shall contain a description of the basis for processing pursuant to Articles 6 and 9 of the GDPR
  • If the project manager is from Norway REK approval must be attached to the grant application
  • The Project Manager will receive confirmation of the application received from janus@kreftregisteret.no

 Application processing

  • Applications to the Janus Serum Bank are processed by Janus' steering committee every six months.
  • If the application is approved, the applicant will receive an email from the Janus serum bank about an approved project. The Cancer Registry of Norway enters into an agreement with the research institution to which the project manager is affiliated, which sets out the conditions for approval
  • In the event of partial approval/approval under conditions, the applicant will be asked to rectify or elaborate on the application. This is processed by the steering group, and the applicant receives an email from the Janus serum bank with a final decision.

Prices 

The user payment includes a fixed standard fee, as well as sample and data management/ processing fees.

Standard fee

The standard fee is NOK 50.000 (excl. VAT) per project, and covers, among others, the following elements:

  • Processing of serum applications to the Janus Serum Bank
  • Scientific support in setting up the research protocol (study design, criteria for selection of study population)
  • Research administration (application to Regional Ethics Committee, application to the Cancer Registry of Norway’s Data Delivery Unit, and potential other data sources)
  • Costs relating to management of data delivery from the Cancer Registry

Sample fee

The sample fee is a combination of a serum volume dependent price, and labour costs (see table below). Shipment costs are charged separately.

Serum volume

Price incl. labour costs* (excl. VAT)

≤ 100 μl

NOK 200

100-150 μl

NOK 225

151-300 μl

NOK 250

301-400 μl

NOK 300

*Labour costs (sample picking, pipetting and material costs) is per 25.04.2018 estimated to NOK 50,- per sample

 

Data management

The hourly rate for data management is NOK 900 (excl. VAT). The workload is estimated to 30-50 hours per project, depending on the complexity.

Data management includes:

  • Linkages to the Cancer Registry of Norway for identification of study population (selection of specific cancer diagnoses and healthy controls)
  • Linking of project specific covariates
  • Compiling the final research file
  • Quality assurance and documentation

 

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