The Steering Committee (SC) is the governing body in SPRINT. The following rules apply to the SC:

1. The SC consists of one Principal Investigator (PI) each from the Coordinating Center (CC) and the laboratories participating in SPRINT (i.e., Network Member, NM).

2. All decisions concerning the SPRINT platform are based on majority vote, either after discussion at SC meetings or via messaging (e.g., Wiki, email discussions and vote).

3. Each SC member Institution has one vote to cast, even when more than one independent laboratory participates from the same Institution. It is assumed that a vote cast by each Institution reflects the consensus within that institution, including laboratory PI(s) and entire study staff. Each SC member is responsible for assuring all NM personnel understand and follow SPRINT SOPs and all decisions agreed upon during the SC calls.

4. The SC meets regularly (frequency to be determined) and as often as needed to address urgent issues. The agenda and relevant data for the SC meeting are circulated the week before the meeting. The CC PI chairs all SC meetings and is tasked with keeping the meeting in order and allowing ample time to discuss the issues at hand before a vote is cast.

5. SC meetings are restricted to SC members and key personnel. Occasionally, PI-only meetings may be called to discuss sensitive issues. Investigators from outside the SPRINT network may be invited to join on certain meetings with prior SC approval. Only staff that sign the Confidentiality and Disclosure Agreement are permitted to join SC meetings.

6. Majority presence is not required for SC to meet and vote. SC members who cannot attend the meeting can send in their votes (and arguments forming the basis for their votes) to the CC, who can present it for the group and cast their vote on their behalf. Any SC member who is not present at the meeting and does not send their vote in advance are required to abide by the results of the vote.

7. Minutes for SC meetings are finalized within 1 week of the meeting. Each SC member is responsible for reviewing the meeting minutes for additions and corrections.

8. To maintain the rigor of the study, when an intervention is selected for testing in SPRINT network, an intervention PI is assigned to interface with the CC in an advisory role. The intervention PI might be an investigator who discovered the intervention or represent the company developing the intervention, proposed the intervention to be tested in SPRINT network, or generally be knowledgable about the intervention with some scientific investment. The intervention PI is not a member of the SC and do not have direct contact with SPRINT network. All communication between the intervention PI and the SC will be facilitated through the CC. To avoid the risk of bias, if a SPRINT NM PI assumes the role of an intervention PI, they no longer vote on decisions concerning the specific trial in hand, nor their labs contribute subjects to the trial testing the intervention. It is implied that if an intervention PI is at the same institution as an SC member, they must refrain from discussions about SC issues or intervention issues independently from the SC. Intervention PIs are given an opportunity to review and comment, but not vote, on all SOPs.