What is a ListServ?

ListServ is brand name of a software package for managing email mailing lists. It is also the term used to refer generally to the lists that are being managed. ListServs allow subscribers to send email messages in a way similar to the way distribution lists work in programs like Outlook, but they also provide a suite of centralized functions and enhanced features. These include:

• The management of all of the email addresses of subscribers in one place for all of the subscribers.
• Every email message sent to the specific ListServ address is distributed to each subscriber on that list.
• The list of subscribers is not part of the messages that are distributed, so the message headers are less cluttered (and privacy is maintained).
• Only the contact information for the person who is posting a message is displayed.
• Archives of the the discussion "threads" are kept in a central archive for future reference by Onsemble members. Click here to access the ListServ archives.
• All of the Onsemble ListServs are members-only and only subscribers to a specific ListServ can post to that list.

How to Sign-Up for a ListServ

To subscribe to one of the above ListServs, send an email to Kerri at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

To request an Onsemble.net account, click here.

Available ListServs

There are two types of ListServs for Onsemble members:

1. For job role-based discussions.
2. For special project communications related to activities like collaborative initiatives and SIGs.

ListServs for Job Role-Based Discussions

Clinical Trials Office Administrators

This ListServ provides a forum for members of cancer center clinical trials office leadership teams. For the most part, centers are represented on this list by the CTO Director or equivalent job role. In some cases, managers from areas like the Clinical Trials Office or Regulatory also participate. Discussions on this list relate to clinical trials operations management at cancer centers and provide an opportunity for people to network with their peers at other OnCore centers.

OnCore Coordinators

This email list server provides a forum for OnCore Coordinators, and other people with an interest in OnCore set-up and administration. Discussions on this list will relate to the OnCore Coordinator job role at cancer centers and provide an opportunity for people to network with their peers at all OnCore centers.

Regulatory

This email list server provides a forum to discuss the operational issues facing regulatory management personnel. Discussion topics include, but are not limited to best practices and some of the common challenges encountered in this area. Subscribers include regulatory coordinators, regulatory and compliance managers, clinical trials office administrators & managers, directors of regulatory affairs, and others concerned with regulatory compliance.

ODEAN

ODEAN is a community of IT professionals who are committed to improving research informatics at their centers. This ListServ provides a forum for these people to reach out to their peers at other OnCore centers to ask questions, share their ideas, and share their innovations. Discussion topics will include, but are not limited to, study data extraction, custom reports, and systems integration.

ListServs for Collaborations and SIGs*

*Refer to the Collaborations section for more information on resources available to support these groups.

Biospecimen Management Collaborative Initiative

An initiative initially launched to develop a biospecimen management system that is integrated with OnCore. This system supports all aspects of the general biospecimen management process including collection, processing, annotation, storage, distribution, and the associated quality assurance mechanisms. This successful collaborative initiative resulted in the OnCore-BSM system which becaue generally available in 2007. Participating centers continue to meet regularly to provide operational feedback and to help guide the continuing evolution of the system.

OnCore caBIG Collaborations

As part of their commitment to facilitating collaborative clinical and translation research, PercipEnz is providing resources to assist OnCore centers who are participating in the Getting Connected with caBIG program. This assistance includes liaisons at PercipEnz who are knowledgeable about caBIG technology and integrating caBIG and Oncore technologies. The liaisons will also facilitate communications and information sharing with a goal of leveraging the combined efforts of the participating centers.

Compliance Collaborative Initiative

A collaboration with select cancer centers to enhance the auditing capabilities and functionality of OnCore. The goal is to develop functionality to support all aspects of the auditing process from the initial selection of subjects and data elements to be audited to presenting this information to the auditors and capturing the auditor's responses.

OnCore Financials SIG

An effort to create an understanding of the complex requirements of clinical research informatics in regards to financials. Participants discuss issues and concerns regarding billing compliance, budgeting, invoicing, receipt reconciliation, payables and financial deviations caused by expected and unexpected events along with financial reporting needs. Participants also share information about their processes and their relationships with sponsors, hospital billing, and other entities both within and outside of their organization.

OnCore Software Development Toolkit (SDK) Collaborative Initiative

During the ODEAN (OnCore DEveloper and Adopter Network) workshop that was part of the Spring 2009 Onsemble conference in Stanford, California, participants shared business cases for using and extending the existing framework for programmatic access to OnCore. As a result of the interest generated by this workshop, PercipEnz launched this collaborative initiative to guide the further development of the OnCore Software Development Toolkit (SDK).

OnCore Protocol Submission Collaborative Initiative

The goal of this collaborative initiative is to get all OnCore centers connected to Crescendo services so they can share and transmit select protocol information as needed. Initially projects will include providing seamless integration with the NCI Clinical Trials Reporting Program (CTRP) and the ability to list investigator initiated trials in the Crescendo IIT Search database.

OnCore Working Group

The OnCore Working Group is a forum to discuss issues that affect the majority of the OnCore centers. Discussions will include such topics as: enhancements to OnCore functionality, training resources, OnCore release schedules, regulatory issues, reporting requirements, operational issues, and conference updates.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) SIG

The Standard Operating Procedure SIG was created with the charter to create an online SOP library that all centers can utilize. Initially, the group will focus on five primary categories of SOPs: (1) Clinical, (2) Regulatory, (3) Quality Assurance, (4) Protocol Writing, and (5) Finance. To start, all Onsemble cancer centers are encouraged to share sample SOPs from their centers.

Onsemble Metrics Collaborative Initiative “Metrics & Beyond”

Observations at Onsemble institutions indicated the need for a concerted effort to understand the magnitude of difficulties encountered regarding protocol performance, protocol implementation and research staffing metrics. Twice yearly Onsemble workshops addressed these issues. A poster based on the work done in this group will be presented at the ASCO meeting in May, 2009.

Registries Collaborative Initiative

This ListServ supports this initiative which has been launched to develop a registries management system that is integrated with OnCore.

Onsemble Program Committee

This ListServ supports the group of dedicated individuals who help plan the program and develop much of the content of the semi-annual Onsemble conferences.