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. 2008 Oct 1;113(7):1705-15.
doi: 10.1002/cncr.23768.

A multidisciplinary approach to honest broker services for tissue banks and clinical data: a pragmatic and practical model

Rajiv Dhir  1 , Ashok A Patel, Sharon Winters, Michelle Bisceglia, Dennis Swanson, Roger Aamodt, Michael J Becich
Affiliations

A multidisciplinary approach to honest broker services for tissue banks and clinical data: a pragmatic and practical model

Rajiv Dhir et al. Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Honest broker services are essential for tissue- and data-based research. The honest broker provides a firewall between clinical and research activities. Clinical information is stripped of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-denoted personal health identifiers. Research material may have linkage codes, precluding the identification of patients to researchers. The honest broker provides data derived from clinical and research sources. These data are for research use only, and there are rules in place that prohibit reidentification. Very rarely, the institutional review board (IRB) may allow recontact and develop a recontact plan with the honest broker. Certain databases are structured to serve a clinical and research function and incorporate 'real-time' updating of information. This complex process needs resolution of a variety of issues regarding the precise role of the HB and their interaction with data. There also is an obvious need for software solutions to make the task of deidentification easier.

Methods: The University of Pittsburgh has implemented a novel, IRB-approved mechanism to address honest broker functions to meet the specimen and data needs of researchers. The Tissue Bank stores biologic specimens. The Cancer Registry culls data and annotating information as part of state- and federal-mandated functions and collects data on the clinical progression, treatment, and outcomes of cancer patients. The Cancer Registry also has additional IRB approval to collect data elements only for research purposes. The Clinical Outcomes Group is involved in patient safety and health services research. Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology provide critical treatment related information. Pathology and Oncology Informatics have designed software tools for querying availability of specimens, extracting data, and deidentifying specimens and annotating data for clinical and translational research. These entities partnered and submitted a joint IRB proposal to create an institutional honest broker facility. The employees of this conglomerate have honest broker agreements with the University of Pittsburgh and the Medical Center. This provides a large group of honest brokers, ensuring availability for projects without any conflict of interest.

Results: The honest broker system has been an IRB-approved institutional entity at the University of Pittsburgh since 2003. The honest broker system currently includes 33 certified honest brokers encompassing the multiple partners of this system. The honest broker system has handled >1600 requests over the past 4 years with a 25% increase in volume each year.

Conclusions: The current results indicate that the collaborative honest broker model described herein is robust and provides a highly functional solution to the specimen and data needs for critical clinical and translational research activities.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Breakdown of research requests received and their associated annotation requirements.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A screen capture of the login screen for the Honest Broker tool. It shows the multiple processes involved in serving a request by the Honest Broker.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A screen capture of the query tool showing the multiple types of data and biological specimen requests that it can handle.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A screen capture showing the “completed request” summary generated by the Honest Broker tool.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
An example of a de-identified report created by the “De-identification” engine.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Pictorial representation of process of data request, structure of information generation, retrieval, storage and encryption.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Quarterly volume of cases handled by the Honest broker facility from 2004-Nov. 2007.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Details of case volume handled by the Honest broker facility, delineated by organ type.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Details of the many different reasons for requesting Honest broker services by researchers focused on the various organ systems.
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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