Minutes to EDRN Steering Committee Call 2026-01-21

EDRN Bi-Monthly Steering Committee Call 

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 pm CT/1:30 pm PT 

Present (in BOLD):

Discussion

Action Items from this call:

  1. NIH Priorities: Sudhir Srivastava will send this document to the Committee, which outlines what the priorities of the NIH are and the ways it impacts the review and funding of grants.

Minutes to August 20th Call: Approved as written. 

NCI Updates: Sudhir Srivastava 

Review Criteria for Scientific Applications: noted that for scientific applications, review criteria include whether it meets the objectives of NCI and the current administration and the requirements of funding. The policy on funding is ever changing, and Sudhir wants people to be informed.  There is a document that outlines the priorities of the NIH and Dr. Srivastava will send this to the Committee. He noted that not just division leaders are looking at applications but also higher up administration leaders as well.

CSRN: Christos Patriotis reported that he has not heard back from CSRN regarding the joint meeting in Seattle and that there are no further updates. He noted that CSRN doesn’t want to allow its specimens for testing at the moment while accrual on their Vanguard study continues.  Karen Anderson said that there is a well-flushed out proposal design involving supplemental biospecimen collection for people who are MCED positive with evaluation of different EDRN-based markers on those different biofluids, but it needs more input from the group.  Identifying funds and a mechanism for conducting the study needs to be identified—don't want to wait until CSRN collects all the specimens for the Vanguard study.

EDRN Steering Committee Meeting, March 4-6, 2026, Houston Texas: Sudhir Srivastava said that the meeting will focus more on discussion and less on presentations. The discussion topics include challenges in biomarker discovery and the challenges the investigators have faced bringing their biomarkers forward. He also suggested conducting very small trial with smaller sample sizes and alternative endpoints. He also wants to have a “fireside chat” on the last day. Other topics include return on investments from collaborations, publishing negative results and letting the public know about EDRN’s accomplishments. The agenda will be discussed further at next week’s EDRN Executive Committee meeting. The draft agenda will be out soon. Robert Bresalier mentioned the Houston Rodeo is going on at the same time.

Patient Advocates:  Karen Anderson asked if we could expand the number of patient advocates.  Sudhir Srivastava said that it would be good to have one advocate for each organ site.  Wants a high-level advocate who is vocal and talks about EDRN outside of EDRN.  He also noted that some DCP Directors like patient advocates and some do not. Karen Anderson complimented Merel Nissenberg for her advocacy in the prostate collaborative group. Will discuss further at the March meeting.

Upcoming EDRN Meetings:

Next Meeting: 45th EDRN Steering Committee Meeting, March 4-6, 2026 in Houston, TX at MD Anderson Cancer Center