CBTN FOUNDATION PARTNERS REPORT-OUT
January 2021

To our CBTN partners,

Happy New Year! We are embracing this new year and are looking forward to sustaining the growth of the network and strategically advancing our shared goals. As you know, we are piloting new partnership levels this year, and with that change, we want to make sure that we continue communicating with all of you transparently and continue to meet your needs.

Based on your feedback, insight, and advice, we'll continue to pilot strategies to communicate CBTN progress. With that in mind, please note the following: 

1. This will be the last iteration of this monthly report. Based on feedback, we will move these items to quarterly communications, with the CBTN website available for current information.
2. We will continue to communicate with all partners regularly, providing clear calls to action, and/or newsworthy updates, both with the hope that we all remain connected and can support one another’s goals.  
3. We will rely on your continued feedback to determine what works and doesn’t. Please reach out to Gerri, Whitney, or Jena with your questions and concerns. 

Additionally, in the coming week CBTN will be issuing a press release that recognizes Swifty Foundation’s recent $1.75M gift. This gift has been transformational on multiple levels and has provided much-needed infrastructure support for CBTN and ultimately ensured our ability to apply for the NIH SPORE grant in the fall. As you will receive the release in your inboxes, we wanted to make sure that you were aware of it in advance.

We recognize that, in the past, we have not always been consistent in how we’ve recognized your support. We are striving to eliminate confusion moving forward and hope to collaborate with you in the process. Later this month, the Executive Committee will have the opportunity to review revised donor recognition levels designed to ensure consistency and transparency, while meeting each of your unique needs.      

Thank you for your partnership and ongoing support. We are excited to speak with all of you in the weeks and months ahead! 

Please find the report for December below. 

KEY HIGHLIGHTS: CBTN has collaborated on close to 200 research projects with over 100 investigators across 9 countries. Approximately 50 are CBTN investigators and over 70 are non-CBTN investigators. This includes three collaborations with the PNOC disease working groups for the pre-clinical work required for the development of a new clinical trial.



BIOSPECIMEN REQUESTS:
Our FY21 goal is to have 30 new approved biospecimen requests. As of January 5, we have had 12 new projects approved. In an attempt to increase the utilization of biospecimens, CBTN has recruited additional scientific experts to review proposals and formed two committees. You can find information on these projects here https://cbtn.org/projects

All-time total number of requests: 84

• 71 total requests approved
  • 50 sample requests approved
  • 21 cell line requests approved
• 4 requests changed to data access requests (data was already generated)
• 4 requests were withdrawn from consideration by the investigator
• 4 requests are being reviewed by the operations center for sample availability
• 1 request is with the investigator for revisions or under further review

REQUESTS FOR RAW GENOMIC DATA:
Our goal is to increase the number of requests and utilization of data. In addition, we aim to have 60 new data projects, and as of January 5, we have had 21 new projects approved. Additionally, “processed data” is available anytime without request has been utilized thousands of times. You can find more information on the data projects here https://cbtn.org/projects

• 121 total requests approved

MAP OF CURRENT CBTN USERS:

OPEN PBTA landscape analysis phase one is complete.  All data are available on request and CBTN is providing the PNOC/CBTN working groups with an overview of the data. A data/specimen request can be submitted using the form:
https://redcap.chop.edu/surveys/?s=A7M873HMN8. 


RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES:
We are looking for opportunities to empower and accelerate brain tumor research. Please let us know if there any other researchers you’ve connected with that you would like us to reach out to?


RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS:

CBTN has several key publications occurring now, with new submission to 13 different scientific journals.
Total Accepted: 19

See All CBTN publications here

CELL LINE DATA GENERATION EFFORTS:
Currently the CBTN has 80+ cell lines that are available for pre-clinical testing. To enhance these pre-clinical models researchers perform genomic testing WGS and RNA Seq on the cell lines in addition to the tumor samples. Currently, this genomic characterization has begun for specific brain tumor types but is funding-dependent to continue. Please reach out to Jena Lilly (lillyj@gmail.com) if you would like to sponsor.

Events/Communications:
Do you need any resources, collateral materials, or participation from the CBTN for any scheduled event or any other activity.
Reach out to our Communications Team at communications@cbtn.org. We're happy to support your work!


SOCIAL MEDIA & WEB METRICS - DECEMBER 2020:

• Audience Reach: 4,964 users (5,434 impressions)
• Users Directly Engaged: 300
• Engagement Rate: 6.04% (1-3%: industry avg.)
• Followers Gained: 30
• Current Followers: 644
   

Twitter

• Audience Reach: 15,995 users
• Users Directly Engaged: 536
• Engagement Rate: 3.35% (0.33% industry avg.)
• Followers Gained: 26
• Current Followers: 697
   

Instagram

• Audience Reach: 486 users (420 impressions)
• Users Directly Engaged: 44
• Engagement Rate: 11.39% (2.4% industry avg. for non-profits)
• Followers Gained: 28
• Current Followers: 125

CBTN Website Traffic

• 716 Unique Users, visiting from 31 countries around the globe
  (87% New Users)
• 936 Sessions
• 1,229 Pageviews