The Partnership for Clean Competition (PCC) made a big announcement on the awarding of the very first-anti doping research grant. This is in relation to the formation of the collaborative research in 2008. J. Thomas Brenna, Ph.D., of Cornell University is the recipient of the $500,000. The grant proposal is entitled, “Characterization of the Human Urinary Steroidome for Anti-Doping Applications.” The PPC was founded by collaborative agencies and organizations including the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Football League (NFL). The organization pledges to hand out periodic grants to scientists conducting anti-doping research.

Brenna’s research aims to describe the entire steroid profile in urine using comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry. This research will reveal the use of synthetic steroids such as designer steroids. The researcher also plans to extend steroid separation approach to carbon isotope ratio testing which can verify whether the steroid is natural or synthetic. “In selecting Dr. Brenna as our first grant recipient, the PCC and this country’s major sports organizations have collectively taken a major step forward in supporting high-level anti-doping research,” said USO Acting Chief Executive Officer and PCC Board of Governors Chairperson Stephanie Streeter. She also added the research has a great potential in maximizing the sample throughput and detection limits. This way, it would be very useful to sports entities in enhancing its existing testing techniques. “We are impressed by Brenna’s research and look forward to his finding and recommendations over the next several years,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Brenna feels honored that the PCC has selected the Cornell University laboratory as the very first grant recipient. “Our research group looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to the important efforts of the PCC to maintain the integrity of sports.”

For the second round of grant funding, the PCC is now accepting applications to interested groups or individuals. Pre-applications are due by July 1 of this year. Applicants who will be selected will be asked to fill out a full application by August 2009. PCC will be conducting three grand application rounds each year. Each application will be reviewed by the PCC’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which is mainly composed of internationally-recognized experts and is headed by USADA Chief Officer Larry Bowers, Ph.D.

PCC will be supporting researches that has a great potential of resulting in methods or products that will maximize the anti-doping field and guarantee the integrity in sport. It is also expected that Brenna’s research would advance the current testing methods by enabling a broader analysis of urinary samples for steroids.

“The approach proposed by Brenna shifts targeted identification requirements to a non-targeted analysis of all urinary steroid,” Bowers said. “The technique hopefully will enable the detection of previously uncharacterized or unknown designer steroids in urine. In addition, this technique has the potential to broaden CIR testing.”

To those interested to apply for the PCC funding, pertinent information can be found at www.cleancompetition.org. The National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and the PGA Tour are also supporting the PCC.

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