The need for the database was recognized in the late 1990's when the predecessor of the Health Research Alliance, the Clinical Research Alliance, attempted to quantify the investment of the private, not-for-profit sector in the career development of clinical investigators. Obtaining such information currently requires an extensive search of myriad websites. The new database will pull this information together in one location.
gHRAsp is searchable using standard search tools, and organizations participating in the database are required to update their information annually. The new database should be of interest to policymakers (example: to examine the scope of the financial commitment by non-governmental not-for-profit grantmakers in the area of clinical cancer research in a given year), applicants and awardees (example: to view examples of clinical research awards made by different grantmakers), and grantmaking organizations themselves (example: to examine how many privately-funded grantees are conducting research in cancer genomics).
The early development of gHRAsp was under the auspices of the American Cancer Society, with leadership provided by T.J. Koerner, Ph.D., Director of Research Information Management. In 2008, the HRA Board of Directors selected Innolyst to implement and provide additional enhancements to the database. The further development of gHRAsp is overseen by the gHRAsp Oversight Committee, composed of representatives of member organizations.
