The PBC is an IRB certified Honest Broker facility and has served as the IRB GOLD standard since May 2003
This Honest Broker System has been developed primarily to support faculty, staff, and graduate students who perform collaborative research with the following inter-related groups: UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (HCC), Pitt Biospecimen Core (PBC) and UPMC Enterprises (UPMCe).
Mission of the Honest Broker Service
To assure OHRP, IRB and HIPAA compliance for the release of human tissues and related information involving data stored in applications developed, managed and/or utilized by UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (HCC), Pitt Biospecimen Core (PBC) and UPMC Enterprises (UPMCe).
Rationale for a Collaborative Honest Broker Service
- Enhance Collaborative Research Efforts Between Centers
- Monitor Requests for Tissue & Data Use Practices
- Quality Assurance and Process Improvement
- Preparation for Research
- Non-Human Subjects Research (IRB Exempt)
- IRB-Approved Research
- Purpose
- De-identification
- Honest research
- Functioning
- Tissue banker has the linkage codes
- Strips identifiers (de-identifies)
- Provides additional clinical/ pathology information
Management and oversight of the Honest Broker Systems/Process is regulated by:
Sharon B. Winters, MS, CTR
Director, Registry Information Services, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
UPMC Network Cancer Registry
Manager, HCC/PBC/UPMCe Collaborative Honest Broker System (IRB#HB015)
Adjunct Instructor, University of Pittsburgh
Past President, Pennsylvania Association of Cancer Registrars (PACR)
PACR Distinguished Member
Shadyside Place
First Floor, Suite 110
580 South Aiken Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
T 412-647-6390
F 412-623-2230
C 412-849-1478
Email: winterssb@upmc.edu
Website: http://cancerregistrynetwork.upmc.com/