Building the Network of Rare Ovarian Tumors (NRTO), an intercontinental initiative

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Network of Rare Ovarian Tumors (NRTO) is an international strategy led by researchers at McGill University and IDIBELL to set up a public registry and biobank for rare tumors of the ovary that will aid in the classification and diagnostics of these tumors as well as in the generation of an open source PDX model registry. In particular, our laboratory will be in charge of the registry and study of SCSTs as well as bridging clinicians and patients from Europe and Latin America to the other members of the NRTO.
The main hub of the NRTO is located at the McGill University Health Center Research Institute and led by Dr. Foulkes whose aim is to create a registry and a biobank of SCCOHT and perform longitudinal studies in standardized data from SCCOHT patients, the third hub, located at the Goodman Cancer Institute at McGill develops PDX models of SCST and SCCOHT patients referred to the NRTO.
The NRTO builds on the complementary life experiences, skill sets and knowledge of the participants, and could overcome some of the challenges experienced by patients, families, their doctors and researchers whose discoveries will ultimately lead to improved outcomes. For very rare tumors, creating an interdisciplinary network of stakeholders and centralizing global data and material collection will be key to build a resource of sufficient magnitude to benefit the entire research community and patients everywhere.