A Protocol Review and Management System (PRMS), as defined by the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), must be utilized by a cancer center to receive National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation.
NCI Guidelines for a PRMS include the following:
- A qualified committee of and adequate size and with the breadth of expertise necessary to conduct a critical and fair scientific review of all institutional clinical cancer protocols;
- A committee with sufficient authority and processes for initiating, monitoring and terminating all cancer clinical research protocols in the institution(s) comprising the Center;
- Clear criteria and processes for scientific review, taking into account the rationale and study design, potential duplication of studies elsewhere, adequacy of biostatistical input, and feasibility for completion within a reasonable time;
- Appropriate processes for ensuring prioritization of competing protocols from all sources and optimal use of the Center’s scientific resources; and
- Robust criteria for monitoring trials to ensure they are making sufficient scientific progress;
- Adequate and appropriate criteria and process for terminating trials that do not meet scientific goals (trials involving rare diseases are excluded)
The Scientific Review and Monitoring Committee (SRMC) is a joint multidisciplinary committee comprised of researchers from the across the UF campus. The committee’s mission is to enhance the quality of cancer research by providing scientific oversight for cancer-relevant research conducted on our campuses.
The committee will ensure effective allocation of UFHCC resources to support research protocols by evaluating each protocol for:
- Scientific merit
- Risk/benefit ratio
- Biostatical soundness
- Resource utilization