SBIR-STTR Award

The Pharmaceutical Resources Branch (PRB) of the Division of Cancer Treatment of the National Cancer Institute is responsible for the provisions of pharmaceutical services to the clinical programs within the division. These services include the synthesis of drugs, as well as the storage and distribution of the drugs to various contractors. This proposal describes a tracking system to support the PRB in these efforts. The initial effort of Phase I will define the complete PRB requirements for tracking samples and monitoring the progress of its various projects so that the remainder of Phase I can generate a detailed software and hardware specification capable of meeting those requirements. These specifications from Phase I will be the basis of the system implementation to be accomplished during Phase II.Because of the nature of the PRB programs, it is anticipated that pharmaceutical firms with programs similar to the PRB would have an interest in such a tracking system. With this in mind, both phases will place an emphasis on the flexibility of the tracking system, so that the resulting system, designed explicitly for PRB needs, can be easily adapted to the needs of other similar, but not identical, organizations as well.National Cancer Institute (NCI)

The aim of this project is to provide complete computerized support for activities directed at developing and producing drugs that have potential for treating cancer in humans. The activities for which specific computer support is to be provided include bulk chemical preparation and procurement, chemical analysis, dosage form development, sample tracking, inventory control, and project monitoring. The system, to be known as the NCI Pharmaceutical Data System (PDS), will make extensive use of the software and databases that comprise an existing computer system, the NCI Drug Information System (DIS). PDS development will rely particularly on DIS features in those areas related to sample tracking, inventory control, and chemical structure information processing. PDS will also bear a number of significant improvements. These enhancements include several new software modules and databases as well as distributed, microcomputer-based data entry operations.National Cancer Institute (NCI)