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Researchers and Staff
Cancer Center Update
April 12, 2005
Cancer Center Update is sent to Cancer Center members and staff every Tuesday at 10 a.m. To submit an item for publication, send the information to Sandi Sherman by noon the Friday before publication.
In This Issue:
Professional Education and Seminars
Grant Information & Announcements
Cross-talk between TGF-beta Signaling and androgen axis in prostate cancer
Natasha Kyprianou, Ph.D., Professor of Surgery, Division of Urology, James F. Hardymon Chair of Urological Research, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky
Host: Khalil Ahmed
A peek at next week’s seminar:
No seminar due to AACR meeting.
For a complete schedule visit: http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/date.html
Tuesday, April 12, 2005, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 am, WBOB, Taylor Conference Rm. 364 (refreshments served at 10:15)
Why new approaches to the design and analysis of experiments are necessary in translational cancer research
Steven D. Mark, MD, ScD, Senior Research Investigator, Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, Candidate for Assistant, Associate or Full Professor/Cancer Epidemiologist position
Seminars sponsored jointly by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health and The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
ROSS RECEIVES NCI GRANT TO STUDY ADULT MYELOID LEUKEMIA IN MINNESOTANS
Congratulations to Julie Ross, Ph.D., epidemiology, who will be the principal investigator on a $2.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the causes of adult myeloid leukemia in Minnesotans. This five-year research project will be one of the largest and most comprehensive studies conducted on myeloid leukemia. It will aim to provide new clues into why Minnesotans have some of the highest rates of leukemia in the United States, and provide new information about possible ways to prevent the disease.
Ross and her Cancer Center colleagues will collaborate with Mayo Clinic, Minnesota Department of Health, as well as oncologists and hospitals in the metro area and throughout the state to conduct the study. They plan to enroll more than 700 Minnesotans between the ages of 20 and 79 who have been diagnosed with myeloid leukemia. The control group also will include over 700 people randomly obtain through public records.
STEM CELL FORUM
"From Stem Cells to Jail Cells"
Lecture Series on Law, Health & the Life Sciences
Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 11:30am-1:00 p.m., Coffman Memorial Union, Mississippi Room
Prof. Alta Charo, JD, Wilson-Bascom Professor of Law and Bioethics, University of Wisconsin, former member of the NIH, Human Embryo Research Panel and the National Bioethics Advisory Commission
This lecture will address the history of the legal and ethical debates surrounding embryo research, with special attention to the role of social movements and party politics in the construction of the ethical arguments. Prof. Charo will address evolving discussions concerning the moral status of the embryo, arguments concerning taxpayer complicity with federally financed research, and the interplay between social movements opposing new reproductive technologies or biotechnology and those associated with opposition to abortion. She will compare the U.S. experience with the experiences in other countries.
Commentary by:
Frank Cerra, M.D., University of Minnesota Senior Vice President, Academic Health Center
Bryan Dowd, Ph.D., Health Services Research & Policy
John Wagner, M.D., Director of Clinical Research, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program
APRIL 15 IS THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS TO THE CANCER CENTER INTERNAL GRANTS PROGRAMS
The deadline for submission of applications to the Masonic Cancer Center Internal Grants Program is Friday, April 15, 2005. All proposals should be hand-delivered to Sandi Sherman (654 CCRB), and must be received by 4:30 p.m. Awards will be made for one year, with an anticipated activation date of June 1, 2005.
The individual award mechanisms available are as follows
Brainstorm Awards – The objective is to foster new interdisciplinary collaborations encompassing novel, hypothesis-driven studies of cancer or a cancer-related topic. Proposals must be submitted by at least two members of the Masonic Cancer Center .
Cancer Etiology, Prevention and Control Awards – The objective is to foster innovative research in Cancer Etiology, Prevention and Control that have the potential to form the basis of future research initiatives. Proposals must be submitted by a member of the Masonic Cancer Center .
Translational Breast Cancer Research Awards –The objective is to support research on the biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and/or treatment of breast cancer. Proposals must be submitted by a member of the Masonic Cancer Center.
Please visit our website at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/grantoppcc.html for information requirements for each individual award application.
APRIL 16 WINE TAKING AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENT TO BENEFIT CANCER CARE AND RESEARCH
The Cancer Benefit Fund invites you to joint them for a wine tasting and entertainment event to benefit cancer care and research at The Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota and HealthEast Cancer Center. This year’s event, “Fiesta de Vino: A Wine Tasting Event with a South American Twist,” will be held at 7 p.m. April 16, 2005 at the Radisson Plaza in Minneapolis. Enjoy wines provided by The Cellars, South American entertainment and hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and chance to win a trip to South America from American airlines, and more. For tickets and more information call 651-464-6049 or visit www.cancerbenefitfund.com.
MORE PRESENTATIONS AT AACR BY CANCER CENTER RESEARCHERS
In addition to the Masonic Cancer Center researchers listed in last week’s Update, we wish to congratulate the following researchers who also will be presenting at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research:
- Catherine St. Hill, a postdoc in the lab of Bruce Walcheck, Ph.D., poster
- Yongjian Lu, M.D., who works with Cancer Center member Danuta Malejka-Giganti, Ph.D., poster
- Robert Kratzke, M.D., Cancer Center member and thoracic oncology physician-researcher, poster
- Vitaly Polunovsky, Ph.D. will discuss “Cap-dependent translation in cancer genesis and progression” at a symposium session on Akt-mTOR signaling in cancer.
Eileen M. Harwood, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Program: Prevention and Etiology
Area of scientific interest: Social epidemiology or the study of environmental and social risk factors for cancer; data collection and methodologies; health program and policy evaluation.
Patricia M. Scott, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Minnesota Medical School-Duluth
Program: Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer
Area of scientific interest: The role of membrane trafficking in the subcellular localization of membrane spanning receptors. Specifically, recruitment of receptors into endosomal pathways by the GGA adapter proteins. The role of defects in GGA-dependent trafficking in cancer.
Area of clinical interest: Breast cancer
GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please call Kamala Upadhyaya at 626-5326 for assistance with your application.
TOOLS FOR ZEBRAFISH RESEARCH
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): August 19, 2005, 2006, 2007
Application Receipt Dates(s): September 19, 2005, 2006, 2007
This Program Announcement (PA) is to encourage investigator-initiated applications designed to exploit the power of the zebrafish as a vertebrate model for biomedical and behavior research. Applications proposing to develop new tools or genetic or genomic resources of high priority to the zebrafish community that will advance the detection and characterization of genes, pathways, and phenotypes of interest in development and aging, organ formation, behavior, and disease processes are welcome. This funding opportunity will use the NIH Individual Research Project Grant (R01) award mechanism. This funding opportunity uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular as well as the non-modular budget formats. Specifically, if you are submitting an application with direct costs in each year of $250,000 or less, use the modular budget format described in the PHS 398 application instructions. Otherwise follow the instructions for non-modular research grant applications. There is no special set aside of funds for applications submitted in response to this announcement. The anticipated start dates for new awards will be July 1, 2006, 2007, and 2008. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-05-080.html
YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
Sponsor: Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT)
Deadline: September 15, 2005
The overall objectives of this grant are to advance gene therapy into the causes, treatment, and prevention of all types of cancer by promoting development of novel and innovative studies by young investigators. The emphasis of this initiative is to promote basic and pre-clinical research approaches utilizing cells and genes as medicine. ACGT will direct its grants into areas of gene therapy research that have demonstrated great promise. Candidates for a Young Investigator Award must hold an M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and be a tenure-track assistant professor within five years of their initial appointment to this rank at the time of award activation. The investigator must be conducting original research as an independent faculty member. The award provides up to a maximum of $500,000 distributed over three years, inclusive of a maximum of 10 percent indirect costs.
http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=79864
AACR-PanCAN CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD IN PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH
Sponsor: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Career Development Awards
Deadline: November 1, 2005
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Career Development Awards provide important transitional support as investigators move from postdoctoral studies to faculty status. The AACR-PanCAN Career Development Award supports investigators affiliated with U.S. institutions working on basic, translational, or clinical research projects with 100 percent applicability to pancreatic cancer. Candidates may be in the first, second, or third year of a full-time faculty appointment and hold the title of instructor, acting assistant professor, assistant professor, or an equivalent full-time faculty appointment at an academic or medical institution by the start of the grant term (July 1, 2005). Candidates must be nominated by their department head or dean. If the nominator is not an Active, Emeritus, or Honorary Member of the AACR, candidates must have a second letter of nomination from an Active, Emeritus, or Honorary Member of the AACR. The two-year grant provides $50,000 per year. The grant covers direct research expenses, which may include payments to research assistants. The grant is not intended to replace or supplement the salary of the primary investigator. Registration and support for travel expenses to the 2005 and 2006 AACR annual meeting to accept the award are provided.
http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=79772
AACR-GENENTECH BIOONOCOLOGY CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD FOR CANCER RESEARCH ON THE HER FAMILY PATHWAY
Sponsor: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Career Development Awards
Deadline: November 1, 2005
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Career Development Awards provide important transitional support as investigators move from the ranks of postdoctoral studies to faculty. The AACR-Genentech BioOncology Career Development Award supports investigators affiliated with U.S. institutions working on rearch projects focused on the HER Family Pathway. Candidates may be in the first, second, or third year of a full-time faculty appointment and hold the title of instructor, acting assistant professor, assistant professor, or an equivalent full-time faculty appointment at an academic or medical institution by the start of the grant term (July 1, 2004). Candidates must be nominated by their department head or dean. If the nominator is not an Active, Emeritus, or Honorary Member of the AACR, candidates must have a second letter of nomination from an Active, Emeritus, or Honorary Member of the AACR. The two-year grant provides $50,000 per year. The grant covers direct research expenses, which may include payments to research assistants. The grant is not intended to replace or supplement the salary of the primary investigator. Registration and support for travel expenses to the 2004 and 2005 AACR annual meeting to accept the award are provided.
http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=79776
LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION OFFERS RESEARCH AWARDS
Letter of Intent Due Date: May 13, 2005
LAF offers funding for Young Investigator Research Awards of up to $50,000 per year, and Research Awards of up to $75,000 annually. Proposals will be accepted in two areas: cancer survivorship and the basic and clinical science of testicular cancer. Young investigators are defined as within eight years of completing a terminal degree or within five years of initiating independent research within a mentored laboratory, while general research awards support new research projects initiated by established investigators. www.laf.org
To view all grants available through the Masonic Cancer Center, visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/grantopp.html
CANCER PROGRESSION AND METASTASIS PROGRAM MEETING
Wednesday, April 13, 2005, 12:00-1:00 p.m., 450 CCRB
Lef1 in osteoblast differentiation and extracellular matrix production
Rachel Kahler, Westendorf lab
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/cellbiol.html
CARCINOGENESIS AND CHEMOPREVENTION PROGRAM MEETING
Thursday, April 14, 2005, 12 Noon – 2 p.m.
AACR Dry Runs.
For a complete schedule visit
http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/carcinogen.html
Friday, April 15, 2005, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
Signals involved in human B lymphopoiesis
Sonja Johnson, LeBien Lab
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/grant7.html
Monday, April 18, 2005, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
To be announced
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/bmtlect.html
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR CANCER U: ASK THE EXPERTS SERIES
Familial cancer, cancer myths, and genetics and cancer will be the topics discussed at the spring Cancer U: Ask The Experts series, offered as a free community service by The Masonic Cancer Center. Speakers and presentations will include:
• April 16: Melissa Geller, M.D., Kristin Anderson, Ph.D., and Ruth Bachman, survivor, will sort out the facts from the myths about cancer.
• May 14: David Largaespada, Ph.D., and Paul Orchard, M.D., will explain what genetics have to do with cancer.
Each program will be held from 9-11 a.m. in Room 450 at The Masonic Cancer Center. For more information and to register call 612-624-2620
ON-LINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR CANCER CENTER SPRING POSTER SESSION AND SYMPOSIUM
Online registration is now open at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/postsess.html for the Sixth Annual Spring Poster Session and Symposium sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center Core Facilities. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., May 19, 2005. The schedule for the event includes oral presentations from 11 a.m. to noon followed by poster session and lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. Students, staff, post-docs and PIs are invited to participate by presenting a poster. The deadline for submitting an abstract is April 29, 2005.
Due to the increasing number (and size!) of posters and the limited amount of display space, we have decided to display the first 35 abstracts/posters that are submitted in the Masonic Cancer Center atrium areas. Other posters will be displayed as space permits in other areas of the Masonic Cancer Center. All abstracts will be printed in the program booklet.
For more information, call Sue Fautsch at 5-6955 or send an email to fauts001@umn.edu.
CLIMB FOR THE CURE
The Children’s Cancer Research Fund will be the beneficiary of a fundraising event, Climb for the Cure, to be held on April 23, 2005 from 5-10 p.m. at Vertical Endeavors in St. Paul. This will be a family-oriented, safe indoors rock climbing event for those of all ages and skill levels. Deadline for registration is April 17, 2005 and you can visit the Climb for the Cure website at www.climbcure.com or contact Cancer Center member Kathleen Conklin at 626-0445, email conkl001@umn.edu.