Regional Consortia of Cancer Center Shared Resources: Models for Collaborative Infrastructure and the Emergence of a National Alliance

Shared resource facilities are foundational to the scientific productivity of National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers, yet institutional silos frequently constrain member access to specialized instrumentation and expertise. Interinstitutional consortia of shared resources offer a pragmatic solution, enabling reciprocal service access at internal rates while preserving institutional autonomy. Here we describe two established regional consortia, the Mid-Atlantic Cancer Center Shared Resource Consortium (MACCSRC) and the Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium—examining their organizational frameworks, operational outcomes, and lessons learned. Finally, we introduce the recently organized National Alliance for Cancer Center Shared Resources and discuss how it may serve as an integrating infrastructure connecting regional networks on a national scale. Key considerations for consortium formation, including governance, intellectual property, pricing harmonization, and cost allocation, are addressed.