SRA assistance continues on NIH cancer research

SRA International Inc. will continue providing bioinformatics support to the National Institutes of Health under a task order that could be worth as much as $17.9 million over five years if all options are exercised.

The NIH task order calls for SRA to continue its bioinformatics support of the Data Coordinating Center for The Cancer Genome Atlas, according to an announcement released Oct. 7.

A joint project of the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute, the Cancer Genome Atlas, or TCGA, is one of the largest collaborative efforts ever attempted for the molecular characterization of tumors to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention, the announcement states.

In addition to continued and expanded support of the Data Coordinating Center and the TCGA data portal, under the new award SRA will develop a Data Algorithm Repository, in addition to providing direct bioinformatics support to the TCGA Program Office.

SRA is responsible for collecting, transforming, disseminating and conducting quality assurance on all of the research study data generated by more than 60 organizations that make up the TCGA network of laboratories, universities, cancer centers and private companies that collaborate on the TCGA program.

The first 18 months of this task order are funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to help stimulate the economy through support of biomedical research, the announcement states.

SRA has supported TCGA since its inception as a pilot program in 2006.

TCGA has now expanded from a test program on two cancers to a full program to study more than 20 types of cancer.

SRA International, of Fairfax, Va., ranks No. 30 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.