MERGE: A consortium for male breast cancer genetics
Principal Investigator
Name
Thomas Ahearn
Degrees
PhD, MPH
Institution
NCI
Position Title
Staff Scientist
Email
About this CDAS Project
Study
PLCO
(Learn more about this study)
Project ID
PLCO-1423
Initial CDAS Request Approval
Dec 26, 2023
Title
MERGE: A consortium for male breast cancer genetics
Summary
The principal aim of MERGE (Male breast cancer genetics consortium) is to illuminate genetic risk factors for male breast cancer. This will be achieved by collaboration between research groups, worldwide, to assemble the requisite samples and data that will enable new insights into the genetics and pathology of this rare disease.
MERGE is organized and led by Queen's University Belfast (QUB; PI Nick Orr). PLCO does not have adequate sample size to investigate the etiology of male breast cancer, thus we would like to contribute male breast cancer data in PLCO to MERGE, which will harmonize data from multiple studies to study this disease. PLCO genetic and phenotype data that is shared with MERGE will be under the custodianship of QUB and the data will be re-shared by MERGE/QUB for additional studies that are approved by the MERGE data access coordinating committee (DACC). The overview by which MERGE/QUB will reshare PLCO includes:
1) A researcher submits a study proposal to the MERGE DACC. The DACC consist of investigators that are participating in MERGE.
2) Upon approval of the study proposal, the MERGE DACC will notify studies participating in MERGE of the study proposal and the studies (e.g., PLCO) will be given an opportunity to opt-in or opt-out of the study.
3) After the opt-in/-out period is complete, MERGE/QUB will give the approved research access to the data.
PLCO data will need to be harmonized to the MERGE data dictionary.
MERGE is organized and led by Queen's University Belfast (QUB; PI Nick Orr). PLCO does not have adequate sample size to investigate the etiology of male breast cancer, thus we would like to contribute male breast cancer data in PLCO to MERGE, which will harmonize data from multiple studies to study this disease. PLCO genetic and phenotype data that is shared with MERGE will be under the custodianship of QUB and the data will be re-shared by MERGE/QUB for additional studies that are approved by the MERGE data access coordinating committee (DACC). The overview by which MERGE/QUB will reshare PLCO includes:
1) A researcher submits a study proposal to the MERGE DACC. The DACC consist of investigators that are participating in MERGE.
2) Upon approval of the study proposal, the MERGE DACC will notify studies participating in MERGE of the study proposal and the studies (e.g., PLCO) will be given an opportunity to opt-in or opt-out of the study.
3) After the opt-in/-out period is complete, MERGE/QUB will give the approved research access to the data.
PLCO data will need to be harmonized to the MERGE data dictionary.
Aims
1: Discover susceptibility loci and advance knowledge of etiology of male breast cancer.
2: Develop polygenic risk scores and integrate them with known risk factors for personalized risk assessment for male breast cancer.
3: Discover loci for male breast cancer prognosis, long-term survival, response to treatment, and second breast cancer.
Collaborators
Thomas Ahearn, NCI/DCEG
Nick Orr, Queens University Belfast (PI of MERGE)