Issue3Winter2017 CleanCompetition.

org

Research Insider
From the Desk of the ED
What's Our2015Conferencewillbeatoughacttofollow.Luckily,the

Inside
investigatorswefundneverceasetoamazeuswithincredible
technologicaladvancementsthatwecan'twaittosharewithyou.
Afterhearingthat100%of2015conferenceattendeeswouldrecommendoureventto
friendsandcolleagues,weknewtwothings:
HowScientific First,PCCfundedinvestigatorsareleadingthechargetoscientificallydeterdopingin
Collaborationis sportthroughtheirbrilliantapproachestopervasivechallenges,andit'samazingtowatch.
FightingGrowth Second,in2017we'dneedtostepupourgameevenfurthertomatchtheexcitement
HormoneAbuse catalyzedbyour2015event.
P.2
Afterconfirmingthisyear'sspeakers,I'venodoubtwe'vedonejustthat.

The2017PCC
Thisyear,we'reunveilingsomefascinatingnoveltechnologiesand,equallyimportant,the
Conference:
factorssurroundingtheirimplementationinrealworldantidopingsettings.I'malsothrilled
Speakers, 2017 thatnearly10yearssincethereleaseoftheMLBMitchellReportthedocumentthat
Agenda, Conference
catalyzedtherobustantidopingprogramsweseeinMajorLeagueBaseballtoday
andAttendees
CommissionerRobManfredwillbediscussingMLB'sinspiringjourneytoridtheleagueof
P.512
PEDs.WearealsohonoredtohearfromMr.RichardMcLarenregardinghistakeonthe
recentdopingscandals,andaredelightedtopresentthePCCContributiontoAntiDoping
Congratulations AwardtoYuliaStepanovaforhercourageousandimportantcontributionstoclean
Corner sport.WhilethePCCConferenceisnowsoldout,Iurgeyoutotakealookatthefullagenda
P.13 startingonpage5toseeifyou'dliketogetonthewaitinglist.

Thismonth,wearealsoexcitedtopresentabehindthesceneslookatoneofourmost
Sponsorship uniqueandsuccessfulapproachestosolvingaglobalantidopingchallenge:theIGF1
Update WorkingGroup.Startingonpage2,thismonth'sfeaturedresearchhighlightsthevital
&UpcomingDates importanceofacollaborativeapproachtoscientificinquiry.
P.7
Lookingforwardtoallthat2017hastooffer,
MichaelPearlmutter

The Conference Issue!

A First Look at Speakers, Topics, and Highlights.
 FunFact:InDecember2016,thePCCsurpassed$18Mawardedsince2008.

Page2

Research Spotlight: Growth Hormone

Biomarkers Test

Dr.AndyHoofnagle,MD,PhDtalkstothe
PCCabouttheIGF1WorkingGroup,
whichdesignedabiomarkerstestfor
growthhormonedetectionimplemented
inWADAlabslate2016.

PhotoCredit:msacl.org
In2012,thePCCassembledateamofresearchersrepresentingfivedistinctlaboratoriesaroundtheworld:Dr.David
CowanofKingsCollegeLondonDrugControlCenter,Dr.AndrewHoofnagleoftheUniversityofWashington,Dr.
MarioThevisoftheSportUniversityCologne,Dr.DanielEichneroftheSportsMedicineResearchandTestingLab,
andDr.AnthonyButchoftheUCLAOlympicAnalyticalLaboratory.In2013,Dr.RichardHoltfromtheUniversityof
Southamptonwasaddedtotheteam.

Theirgoal?Todevelopatesttopreciselyandreliablydetectgrowthhormone(GH)abuseinsamplesanalyzedby
WADAAccreditedandclinicallaboratoriesworldwide.Morespecifically,thegroupsetouttodevelopamass
spectrometrymethodtoimproveuponaserumbasedGHbiomarkersassaypreviouslyapprovedfortheLondon
2012Games,aswellasimproveuponandofferanalternativetotheGHisoformsassayalreadyinplaceatWADA
Accreditedlaboratoriesforanumberofyears.

IfthehistoryofGHdetectionattemptswereanyindication,thetaskwouldbechallenging.

ABriefHistory
ThePCCWorkingGroupwasnotthefirstattempttoridthesportingworldofGHabuse.AccordingtoDr.Larry
Bowers,USADAsChiefScienceOfficerfrom20002016,arenaissanceinGHdetectionwasledbyhisteamviathe
USADAgrantprogramin2001,whichresultedinaGHisoformsmethodusedatthe2004OlympicGamesinAthens.
Knowingyetmoreworkwasneeded,aUSADAWADAGHWorkingGroupwasformedin2005,withUSADA
supportingdevelopmentofabiomarkersapproachtoGHdetection,andWADAsupportingtheisoformstest.Yet,
manyissuesexistedwiththeavailableimmunoassaysforGHdetection.Finally,in2011,massspectrometry
techniquesbecameadvancedenoughtoapplythetechnologytotheGHproblem,andwithDr.Bowersleadingthe
charge,fivelaboratorieswereinvitedtojointhenewlyformedPCCIGF1WorkingGroup.

ARenewedApproach
WhileantidopingscientistswereawareahormonecalledInsulinlikegrowthfactor1(IGF1)wasawell
characterizedbiomarker(ormeasurableindicator)ofgrowthhormoneabuse,researchershadyettodevelopatest
thatcouldproducestandardizedresultsacrosslaboratories.(continuedonpage3)
 FunFact:ThePCCfundedmoremicrograntsin2016thanin2014&2015combined.

Page3

Research Spotlight: Growth Hormone (Contd.)

Interlaboratoryagreementisintegralwithinthecontextoftheantidopingmovement,asthereliabilityofinitiatives
suchastheAthleteBiologicalPassport(ABP)restupontheabilitytocollectandcomparelongitudinaldatafrom
individualathletesinmultiplelaboratories.

Tobesuccessful,thenewlyformedPCCIGF1WorkingGroupwouldneedtobothenhancescientificmethodsof
quantificationofIGF1serumandassureinterlaboratoryagreementacrosstests.Theyprovedequaltothe
assignment.

LedbythesignificantexpertiseofDr.LarryBowers,whohelpedwithidea
This was one of the most
generation,ensuringequaldisseminationofPCCfunding,anddata
collaborative projects I
summationthroughouttheproject,thegrouppooledtheknowledgeoftheir
multidisciplinarybackgroundstoaddressthecomplexresearchquestions
have ever worked on. We
posedbytheproject. were truly "developing"
and "implementing" a
TheWorkingGroupfocusedtheireffortsonusingLiquidChromatography standard operating
tandemMassSpectrometry(LCMS/MS)todetectIGF1serumwiththe procedure that could be
knowledgethismethodwasproventoachieveusefullimitsofquantificationin launched in any
smallmolecules.Aftermonthsofcombinedeffort,theteamwassuccessfulin laboratory in the world."
creatingandvalidatinganewIGF1MSmethodwhichmadequantificationof
IGF1mucheasiertoachieve,whileprovinginstrumentalincalculatingnew
- Dr. Andy Hoofnagle
decisionlimitsfortheGHbiomarkersassay.

ThePowerofPartnership
WhilethecreationofthenewIGF1MSmethodwasimpressive,itwastheWorkingGroupsabilitytocollectand
compareaccurateresultsacrosslabsthatwastrulyunique.EachlaboratoryuseddifferentLCMS/MSequipment
duringthestudy,mirroringtherealityoffluctuatinginstrumentationacrossWADAAccreditedlabs.LedbyDr.
HoofnagleandDr.HollyCoxofSMRTL,interlaboratorycomparisonbegan.

Theteamsabilitytoworkcollectively,yetremotely,provedinvaluable.SaysDr.Hoofnagle,Thiswasoneofthe
mostcollaborativeprojectsIhaveeverworkedon.Weweretrulydevelopingandimplementingastandard
operatingprocedurethatcouldbelaunchedinanylaboratoryintheworld.Itwasonlyoneofmanyprojects
ongoinginallofourlaboratories.Wecommunicatedviateleconference(andthenbyemail).Thereweresome
experimentsthatwereonlydoneinoneorafewlabs,butpartofwhatweneededtodowasprovethatwecoulddo
theassayinanylab.

Toshowcasethelevelofcollaboration,differentlabswereresponsibleforperformingdifferentpiecesofthe
project.Dr.Hoofnagleexplains,Whiletheyhaven'tbeenpublished,thegroupatKing'sCollege(ledbyDr.David
Cowan)didalotofimportantvalidationstudieswhile[Dr.Cox]andIledtheeffortstoperformtheinterlaboratory
comparisonstudyalongwithperformingmanyoftheexperimentstoidentifywhatthemostusefulcalibratorswould
be.Inparticular,afterdeterminingthatvariationduetoinstrumentationwasminimal,Dr.Hoofnagleandco.
assessedvariationduetotheexternalcalibrationofinstruments,findingsinglepointcalibrationtoproducethe
mostconsistentinterlaboratoryresults.Ourfocusoncalibrationwasparamountingettingsimilarresultsacross
laboratories,heconfirms.(continuedonpage4)
 FunFact:ThePCCreceivedapplicationsfromeightcountriesinRound3of2016.

Page4

Research Spotlight: Growth Hormone (Contd.)

AccordingtoDr.Hoofnagle,itwastheWorkingGroupsdiligenceindiscerningthecauseofimprecision,notthe
methodologyalone,thatcontributedsogreatlytoadvancinggrowthhormonedetection:Truly,thequantification
methodcouldhaveappliedtoanyprotein.LCMS/MS[]isanimportant,noveltechnologythatwillhelpclinical
andantidopinglabsingeneral,butithasbeenaroundforawhile.Thecollaborativevalidationoftheassay[across
labs]wasthemostimportantcontributortosuccess.

Throughconsolidatingtheirscientificacumenanddiverseresources,theIGF1WorkingGroupsuccessfully
decreasedinterlaboratoryvariabilityforGrowthHormoneDetectionfrom33.5%(asmeasuredbytheCollegeof
AmericanPathologistsfrom20112013)to11.1%,whichisbelowthegoalof15%totalallowableerrorsuggestedby
theRoyalCollegeofPathologistsofAustralasia.

ThetestdevelopedbytheIGF1WorkingGroupwasinstitutedinWADAAccreditedlabsinlate2016.We
congratulatethePCCIGF1WorkingGrouponprovidingthisadvancetothedeterrenceeffortsofallstakeholdersof
theCleanSportMovement.

Formoreinformation,pleaseemailjcelmer@cleancompetition.org,oraccessthepublishedworksoftheIGF1
workinggroup,includingtheirmostrecentarticleinClinicalChemistryviahttp://www.cleancompetition.org/funded
projects/.

PCC Working Groups

Speedingthepaceofdiscoveryinpriorityareas

ThePCCprovidesfundingforteamsofantidopingresearchexpertstoworktogetheronsomeofthemost
importantchallengesfacingcleansport.CalledPCCWorkingGroups,suchteamsconsistofbothWADA
AccreditedLabDirectorsandleadingscientistswhopooltheiracumenandresourcestoaddressanti
dopingchallengesfacedbyprofessionalsportingleaguesandtheOlympicMovement.Theprogramoffers
theopportunitytofosterandpromoteinternationalcollaborationbetweendistinguishedscientistsacross
theglobe,ensuringaninterdisciplinaryapproachtocomplexresearchquestions.Thischallengeled
fundingmechanism,fueledbytheidentificationofprioritychallengesbyPCCSponsorsandtheScientific
AdvisoryBoard,complementsindividualresearchprojectsandstrengthensthePCC'scapacityfor
researchandinnovation.Todate,PCCWorkingGroupshaveresultedinenhancedtestingmethodologies,
increasedsubstanceknowledge,andincreasedanalyticreliabilityacrosslaboratories.
 FunFact:The2017PCCConferencewassoldoutbeforeEarlyBirdRegistrationclosed.

Page5

The 2017 PCC Conference

April 11 & 12, 2017
Major League Baseball HQ, NYC

- Sold Out -
The2017PCCConferencewillbringtogetherantidopingstakeholdersfrom
aroundtheworldforacollectivediscussionsurroundingtheyear'sbiggest
advancesinantidopingscience,andthebestwaystoimplementnew
technologiesintothelabs,sports,andagenciesfightingforcleansport.
Microgrants Quick
RegistrationFacts
Includes:
ConferencefeesincludeaccesstoallsymposiumsanddemonstrationsheldinMajorLeague
BaseballHeadquartersApril11and12(includingbreakfastbothdaysandlunchTuesday,April
11),aswellasentrancetotheWelcomeReceptiontheeveningofTuesday,April11,andCME
creditthroughtheUCLADavidGeffenSchoolofMedicine.

Sponsorship Accomodations Wait List

Limitedsponsorship
opportunitiesforthe2017PCC
Conferenceareavailable.
PleasecontactJennaCelmervia
jcelmer@cleancompetition.org
fordetails.
ThePCChasreservedalimited
numberofroomsattheNewYork
MarriottEastSideforattendees
wishingtostaynearMLBHQ.
Tobookaroom,visit
cleancompetition.org/conference/
accommodations/
Duetooverwhelmingresponse,we
havecreatedawaitlistforthose
wishingtoattend#PCC2017.Please
contactJennaCelmervia
jcelmer@cleancompetition.orgto
getplacedonthelist.
 FunFact:USbasedresearchhasmadeup49.6%ofPCCfundedprojectssince2008.

Page6

PCC Conference Agenda

Tuesday, April 11:

Registration and Breakfast

7:00AM8:30AM

Welcome Announcements & PCC Update

8:30AM8:50AM

8:55AM9:25AM
Mr. Michael Pearlmutter, PCC

2016 in Review: A Look at Anti-Doping

8:55AM9:25AM

8:55AM9:25AM
Dr. Larry Bowers, USADA (Ret).

Logistics, Benefits, and Challenges of

Alternative Matrices
9:30AM10:10AM

Dr. Marilyn Huestis, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Mr. Matthias Kamber, Anti-Doping Switzerland

 FunFact:ThePCCfiledforitsfirstpatentin2016.

Page7
Tuesday, April 11 (Cont.):

Alernative Matrices: Dried Plasma Spots

10:15AM10:55AM

8:55AM9:25AM
Dr. Jack Henion, Q2 Solutions

Break
10:55AM11:10AM

Alternative Matrices: Breath Technology

11:10AM11:55AM

8:55AM9:25AM
Dr. Mario Thevis, German Sport University Cologne

Policy Considerations Panel: Alternative

Matrices
12:00PM12:45PM

Mr. Andy Levinson, PGA TOUR

Mr. Jeff Novitzky, UFC

Mr. Dan Halem, MLB

 FunFact:ThePCCwillbecelebratingitsninthyearoffundinggrantsinMay2017.

Page8

Tuesday, April 11 (Cont.):

Lunch
12:45PM1:45PM

PCC Awards
1:45PM2:30PM

8:55AM9:25AM
Yulia Stepanova, Athlete and Whistleblower

8:55AM9:25AM
TBD

The Five Most Important Things that Came

Out of Research in 2016 for Labs
2:35PM3:10PM

Dr. Daniel Eichner, SMRTL

Dr. Peter Van Eenoo, DoCoLab Ghent

Next Generation Technologies

3:15PM4:00PM

8:55AM9:25AM
Dr. Chris Harrison, SDSU
 FunFact:ThePCChasmorethan35researchprojectsinprogressaroundtheworld.

Page9

Tuesday, April 11 (Cont.):

Anti-Doping's Next Generation: PCC Fellows

4:05PM4:35PM

Dr. Geoff Miller, SMRTL

Dr. Liying Jiang, King's College London

Break
4:35PM4:50PM

Olympic Athlete Perspective on Doping

4:50PM5:20PM

8:55AM9:25AM
Alysia Montano, US Olympian

Networking Reception
5:30PM7:00PM
Locationtobedetermined

Pleasenote:ThePCC2017Agendaissubjecttochangewithoutnotice.
 FunFact:Rejectedgrantapplicantshaveoneyeartoresubmittheirprojectforfundingconsideration.

Page10
Wednesday, April 12:

Breakfast
7:30AM8:30AM

PCC Translational Research Fund

8:30AM8:55AM

8:55AM9:25AM
Mr. Michael Pearlmutter, PCC

Translational Research Talk

9:00AM9:30AM

8:55AM9:25AM
Dr. Tom Brenna, Cornell

Doping Scandals: Implications for Research

9:35AM10:20AM

8:55AM9:25AM
Mr. Richard McLaren, University of Western Ontario

8:55AM9:25AM
Dr. Bryan Finkle, NFL

8:55AM9:25AM
Dr. Gary Green, MLB
 FunFact:2014wasthePCC'slargestfundingyeartodate,withmorethan$4Mawardedtoresearchers.

Page11

Wednesday, April 12 (Cont.):

Panel of Scientific Advisory Board members

10:25AM11:05AM

Dr.MikeSawka,PhD Dr.AlMatsumoto,MD
GeorgiaInstituteofTechnology UniversityofWashington
SchoolofMedicine

Dr.SteveElliott,PhD Dr.GaryGreen,MD
Amgen(ret). MajorLeagueBaseball

Dr.LarrySilverman,MD Dr.JohnYates,PhD
UniversityofVirginia TheScrippsResearchInstitute

Dr.BryanFinkle,PhD
Dr.LarryBowers,PhD
NationalFootballLeague
USADA(ret).
(consultant)

Closing Speaker
11:15AM12:00PM

Commissioner Rob Manfred, MLB

 FunFact:ThePCCsponsorsyounginvestigatorawardsviatheAmericanPhysiologicalSociety.

Page12

PCC Conference Patronage

AselectionoftheorganizationsthatwillberepresentedatthePCCConference

Microgrants Quick
Facts

Under$75,000
Under6months
Relevantresearchtopic

Send2pageproject
overview(including
projectbudgetand
scientificmethodology)
tompearlmutter@
cleancompetition.org
 FunFact:MembersofthePCCScientificAdvisoryBoardrepresentmorethan12fieldsofscience.

Page13

Congratulations Corner
Travel Grants Awarded
Weareexcitedtoannouncetherecipientsofthe2017PCCTravelAwards.Awardeeswerechosenfroma
poolofcandidatesshowcasinggreatinterestinantidopingandpotentialinthefield.Wethankallofour
applicantsfortheirinterestintheconferenceandcontributiontothecleansportmovement.

Dr.TomBassindaleisaForensics Dr.LauraGarvicanLewisisaResearch Dr.JacobBejderisaDanishPhDScholarat

Microgrants
andAnalyticalScienceLectureratUK's
SheffeldHallamUniversity.Tomcompletedhis
Quick
FellowattheAustralianInstituteofSport
andAustralianCatholicUniversityandwas
theUniversityofCopenhagen,Department
ofNutrition,Exercise,andSports.Hebegan

PhDattheUK'sWorldAntiDopingAgency
accreditedlaboratoryatKing'sCollege
London,underthesupervisionofDr.David
CowanandDr.AndrewKicman.
Facts
awardedaPCCgrantin2015tostudythe hisworkwithinthefieldofantidopingduring
combinedeffectsofaltitudeandiron completionofhisbachelordegreeinSports
supplementationontheAthleteBiological andHealthattheUniversityofSouthern
Passport. Denmarkin2012.

ACS Program in a Box SAB Keynote Address

Dr.LiyingJiang,PCCFellowatKing'sCollegeLondonwill
presentfortheAmericanChemicalSociety'sFebruary
PrograminaBox!Theprogramisaninteractiveevent
designedforyoungchemiststolearnaboutthediverse
SABmemberDr.Bryan
applicationsofchemistry.Dr.Jiang,alongsidementorDr. Finklehasbeen
DavidCowan,willhighlighttheimportantroleofchemistryin chosentogivethe
theworldofantidopingandshowhowanalyticalchemistry
isadvancingtodetectperformanceenhancingsubstances. keynoteaddressatthe
50thAnniversaryofthe
Formoreinformationvisitacs.org/content/acs/en/acswebinars/programinabox.html
CaliforniaAssociation
ofToxicologists.
Experimental Biology 2017
CurrentlyChiefConsultingToxicologisttotheNationalFootball
PCCSABmembersDr.LarryBowersandDr.SteveElliott,andantidoping League,andconsultanttotheWorldandU.S.AntiDoping
researchersDr.DanielEichner,Dr.JohnHiggins,andDr.YorckOlaf Agencies,Dr.FinkleisafoundingmemberoftheCalifornia
Schumacherwillparticipateinthesymposium"BloodDoping:Physiology, AssociationofToxicologists.Hisaddresswillspeaktothe
Pharmacology,andDetectionChallenges"attheAmericanPhysiological historyandadvancementsintoxicologyinCaliforniaduringthe
Society's2017AnnualMeeting.Thegroupaimstoreviewthecurrentstatus 1960s90s,aswellasthecreationofimportantnewfieldsfor
ofblooddopinginsports,promotediscussionregardingimproveddetection toxicologists,suchassportsantidopingscience,andthe
anddeterrenceapproachesagainstblooddoping,andencouragescientists researchendeavorsofthePCC.
toapplyforavailablefundingtoconductnovelantidopingresearchfromthe
PartnershipforCleanCompetition.
Formoreinformationvisitcaltox.org
Formoreinformationvisitexperimentalbiology.org
 FunFact:ThePCCreceived29grantapplicationsin2016.

Page14

Grant Deadline
Reminder
In2016,43%ofgrantapplicationssubmittedduring
regularcycleswererecommendedforfundingbythe
PCCScientificAdvisoryBoard.

ApplyforaPCC
GrantorFellowship:
PreApplicationsDueMarch1,2017

FullApplicationsDueApril1,2017

CleanCompetition.org

FutureCycles:July/August2017andNovember/December2017
Page15
CleanCompetition.org
#beyondresearch
The PCC Congratulates
the PGA TOUR
ThePGATOURhasrenewedits
commitmentasaPCCContributor.
Thefouryearinvestmentwillfund
researchintegraltotheprotectionof
authenticcompetitionandplayer
healthandsafety.

Upcoming Dates
2017 Round One
March1,2017
Pre-Applications Due
Get in Touch:
Athlete Biological
Passport Conference
March1112,2017
MichaelPearlmutter
ExecutiveDirector
2017 Round One mpearlmutter@cleancompetition.org
Full Applications Due April1,2017
JennaCelmer
ENDO Annual Meeting April14,2017 StakeholderEngagementManager
jcelmer@cleancompetition.org
2017 Conference in NYC April1112,2017
CleanCompetition.org
APS Annual Meeting April2226,2017

ACSM Annual Meeting May30June3,2017

International Network of
Doping Research (INDR) August2425,2017 /PCCantidoping
2017 Conference