Researchers interested in using material, information, or data for research purposes must submit a proposal via the online application system, accessed through the search function. Researchers can refine their search by sample type and/or data required and obtain an instant report on the availability of samples and data that match the search criteria. Interested researchers can submit a request for data and materials using an application form and enter key information on the research question, study design, laboratory and analytic methods, as well as researcher qualifications.

The CTB will communicate with researchers who submit a request, if the questions in their proposal have been addressed by previous projects or questions or is likely to produce results that complement other studies.
List of projects which have used or are using CTB materials

The CTB does not provide funding for research projects.

Applications are evaluated for scientific merit and appropriate use of CTB resources by a Review Panel comprised of scientists from the centers contributing samples (currently V.P. Komisarenko Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism), the coordinating center, managed by the NCI, and other independent, multi-disciplinary senior researchers in the fields of thyroid cancer and radiobiological research.

Projects may be submitted at any time and the review procedures are, in most cases, completed by email. After evaluating applications according to the criteria below, each application will be: 1) approved for access, 2) returned with comments and reconsidered after the Principal Investigator responses to reviewers, or 3) rejected.

Researchers applying for CTB samples and data must provide evidence that the following criteria are satisfied:

• The research question is of considerable scientific and/or medical interest.
• The study design is appropriate to address the question.
• The requested sample size is sufficient to provide a good chance of answering the question.
• The researcher and research team have appropriate qualifications and experience to conduct the study, including fluency with the accepted standards and quality control relevant to necessary laboratory analytical procedures as well as appropriate permissions from human subjects’ research and/or research ethics committees.
• The researchers demonstrate familiarity with the relevant literature.
• The proposed work cannot be undertaken without the data and/or materials of the type available through the CTB.
• If case information other than the standard data set (date of birth, date of operation, sex, oblast of residence, calculated dose, and international Pathology Panel review diagnosis) are required, the costs of obtaining these data and ethical and consent should be adequately addressed.
• The researchers can cover the costs of shipping the material.
• The amounts of material requested are appropriate for the specified study, and not excessive, given the limited availability of material.
• The research can be undertaken within the time consistent with the researchers funding and the availability of the necessary data and materials.
• The researchers agree to share immediately with the CTB coordinating center any data that may be clinically relevant uncovered during the course of the study.
• The researchers agree to provide within three months of the completion of their project a brief report on their work, including the results of their investigations on each sample studied, using the CTB sample code number. This report will not be disseminated beyond the CTB without the agreement of the Principal Investigator. The aim of the CTB is to maximize the value of the research data derived from the unique tissue collection and researchers are therefore required to submit their research data back to the CTB.
• The researchers will inform the CTB coordinating center if any material has not been used in the performance of their study and will return this material, if requested, to the CTB coordinating center.