Ancillary Studies
NEPTUNE welcomes and encourages investigators within and external to the network to use the observational clinical data, histopathology data, biosamples, whole slide images, and derived data sets from NEPTUNE patients for their own research. Investigators can also access NEPTUNE study participants to collect new data or biospecimens; or perform observational or interventional studies.
The NEPTUNE Ancillary Studies Program provides the mechanism for sharing NEPTUNE data and materials. This program is at the heart of the NEPTUNE mission as we consider NEPTUNE’s lasting impact on advancing the science of glomerular disease contingent on its ability to share its resources.
Ancillary studies using biospeciments, the NEPTUNE Digital Pathology Repository, or requesting access to NEPTUNE patients is subject to review by the NEPTUNE Ancillary Studies Committee
The main goal of the ancillary study review process is to ensure minimal burden to study participants and biorepository, manage project scope overlapy, and assess prudent use of limited NEPTUNE resources.
Biospecimens available for ancillary studies
(untreated)
(PI)
(NaN3)
(PI)
Datasets available for Ancillary Studies
Explore the NEPTUNE databases through tranSMART!
NEPTUNE tranSMART is a web-based platform that provides available clinical, biospecimen, and biomarker data in an organized ontology.
How to Submit an Ancillary Study Application
An ancillary study proposal should be submitted to the NEPTUNE Ancillary Studies Committee 8-10 weeks prior to the anticipated date of submission for external funding.
- To submit an ancillary study proposal, please fill out this ancillary studies application.
- To submit a joint NEPTUNE-CureGN ancillary applications, please fill out this joint-cohort application.
The review process

- Not interfere with the completion of the main objectives of NEPTUNE or with continued study participant participation and adherence to the NEPTUNE protocol and policies.
- Have adequate resources to effectively carry out the project, including sufficient budget and staff with requisite expertise.
- Be subject to a pre-determined, external peer review by an external funding organization.
If the nature of the proposed study is not subject to a pre-determined, external peer review (e.g. an NIH study section) by an external funding organization, the proposal will undergo a rigorous external peer review managed by the NEPTUNE Ancillary Studies Committee