International Cholangiocarcinoma Research Network (ICRN)

The ICRN is a global collaboration of research groups from renowned institutions who are working in concert to improve knowledge about cholangiocarcinoma etiology, prevention, early detection, treatment, and prognosis. The network is comprised of highly talented individuals from a spectrum of disciplines, perspectives, and research methods who share a passion to make significant scientific advances to improve outcomes for patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

The goal of ICRN is to accelerate the clinical translation of scientific discoveries to impact the lives of patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

Mission Activities Working Groups Membership Eligibility Membership Benefits

Mission

Our core mission is to rapidly translate scientific discoveries into practice for cholangiocarcinoma patients through a collaborative, highly translational international research network
Improve the prognosis and quality of life for patients with cholangiocarcinoma, and ultimately cure this disease
Advance the pace of cholangiocarcinoma research
Provide a platform for investigators to work collaboratively on cholangiocarcinoma-related projects
Foster promising clinical and translational studies relevant to cholangiocarcinoma
Catalyze and expand patient access to clinical trials for promising new treatments
Enable scientists to rapidly share discoveries and accelerate the drug development landscape
Provide scientifically valid consensus opinions on the diagnosis and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma

Activities

Identifying specific areas of expertise within the ICRN institutions and/or engaging key stakeholders
Convening participating institutions and/or stakeholders to support the identification, design, and implementation of multi-center clinical research initiatives focused on cholangiocarcinoma
Attracting and supporting the training of the next generation of cholangiocarcinoma investigators and incentivizing senior researchers to focus in the field
Identifying critical research gaps and establishing priority areas in cholangiocarcinoma research
Avoiding unnecessary duplication and reducing regulatory burden involved in network studies
Enabling ethical research and collaboration between academia and study sponsors
Consolidating state of the art information and sharing network resources (biobanks, databases, preclinical models and repositories)
Stimulating rapid progress by integrating multiple researcher efforts and strategies
Facilitating collaborations between industry, regulatory, academia and relevant stakeholders
Providing peer-review and vetting of clinical trial protocols to expedite development of novel and effective therapies
Creating online searchable resources for patients looking for innovative research options
Building molecular databases with clinical annotation to define ‘targetable’ disease subsets

Working Groups

Surgical and Transplantation Working Group
- Role: To spearhead efforts in surgical research and liver transplantation for cholangiocarcinoma patients and international surgical trials
Radio-diagnostic and Radiation Oncology Working Group
- Role: To increase utilization of radiation for treating cholangiocarcinoma patients in Asia and Europe, radiotherapy clinical trials, retrospective studies
Genomic and Database Research Working Group
- Role: To initiate genomic research projects, RedCap database for clinical research
Biliary Cancer Alterations Predict Therapy Choice (BATCH) Working Group
- Role: To explore new targeted therapy approaches for various cholangiocarcinoma subtypes across multiple parallel single arm trials
Immuno-oncology Working Group
- Role: To coordinate immune-oncology trials and study immune biomarker expression in cholangiocarcinoma
Translational Working Group
- Role: To study and implement translational initiatives
Biorepository Working Group
- Role: Coordinate the ICRN tissue and blood banking repository

Membership Eligibility

Membership is free and open to properly credentialed scientists and researchers whose clinical/research interests are focused on cholangiocarcinoma
Members must sign a Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA) and agree to participate actively in ICRN meetings and initiatives
Members must acknowledge the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation within publications stemming from ICRN work
Members agree to share de-identified patient data and cholangiocarcinoma lab resources, including cell lines and PDX models after signing Data and Research Material Ownership, Access and Use Terms (DUAs) with the Cholangiocarcinoma

Membership Benefits

Convene regularly with a global network of elite cholangiocarcinoma clinicians and researchers
Access to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation International Cholangiocarcinoma Patient Registry (ICPR) database
Collaborate with other members from worldwide institutions on a multi-center clinical trials and projects facilitated by the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Develop a cohesive industry strategy through working with CCF’s industry network
Leadership opportunities by presenting ideas to the ICRN leadership and
Accessing funding streams facilitated by CCF

Membership Application

If your industry or biotech company or organization is interested in partnering with the ICRN for the purposes of cholangiocarcinoma research and potential collaboration, please fill out the ICRN Industry Request for Engagement form.