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Researchers and Staff
Cancer Center Update
April 26, 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
Targeting tumors with genetically enhanced T lymphocytes
Michel Sadelain, M.D., Ph.D., Immunology Program , Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Host: Bruce Blazar
A peek at next week’s seminar:
Chemically assisted screen identifies novel angiogenic mutations in the zebrafish
Joanne Chan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School , Program in Vascular Biology, Children's Hospital, Karp Family Research Laboratories
Host: Steve Ekker
http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/date.html
Tuesday, April 26, 9:00 — 9:50 AM, 114 Lillehei Heart Institute
Semiparametric Splines Methods for Effect Modification in Bi-directional Case-Crossover Studies
Inyoung Kim, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics, University of Texas at Austin , Candidate for Research Associate position in Cancer Center Biostatistics Core
Host: Dr. Chap T. Le
Thursday, April 28, 1:10 — 2:00 PM, 114 Lillehei Heart Institute
Time-Varying Functional Regression for Predicting Remaining Lifetime Distributions from Longitudinal Trajectories
Ying Zhang, Department of Statistics, University of California . Candidate for Research Associate position in Cancer Center Biostatistics Core
Host: Dr. Chap T. Le
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION TO PRESENT AT THE CANCER CENTER SPRING POSTER SESSION AND SYMPOSIUM THIS FRIDAY
The deadline to register to present a poster or oral presentation at the Sixth Annual Spring Poster Session and Symposium sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center Core Facilities registration is this Friday, April 29, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. Students, staff, post-docs and PIs are invited to participate by presenting a poster. Be sure to register at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/postsess.html . 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.
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 .
CANCER CENTER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HOSTS BREAST CANCER RESEARCH UPDATE RECEPTION
The Development Department is holding a Breast Cancer Research Update reception on Monday, May 2, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the University's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR). Doug Yee, M.D., Breast Cancer Research Program Leader, and Michael Garwood, Ph.D., Associate Director, CMRR, will be discussing breast cancer research taking place at the Masonic Cancer Center and how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) is being used as part of this research. Tours of the center will be conducted throughout the event. If you have a friend or family member who may be interested in attending, please contact Rebecca Schubring at 612-625-5192 or r.schubring@mmf.umn.edu .
CANCER CENTER RESEARCHER WILL BE FEATURED IN IMF's BANK ON A CURE CAMPAIGN
Brian Van Ness, Ph.D., will be featured in a national media campaign that the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will launch May 9 in New York to announce Bank on a Cure, an effort to encourage people with myeloma to donate their DNA.
Bank on a Cure is the world's first databank specifically for myeloma patients. The bank aims to collect DNA samples from between 10,000 and 15,000 people with myeloma to use for research that leads to more understanding of the disease and improved treatments. Van Ness, head of the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, and myeloma researcher, is co-chair of Bank on a Cure. He will be featured along with a local myeloma patient in a news video that will be distributed to media and used for communications marketing by IMF. The University of Minnesota is one of two sites in the world banking the DNA samples; the other site is in the UK .
CANCER CENTER PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
- Michael Garwood, Ph.D., associate director, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, wrote an article about MRI/MRS research for breast cancer detection and treatment for the April issue of Minnesota Physician.
- Jeffrey Miller, M.D., co-leader, Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, Matthew Mescher, Ph. D., director, Center for Immunology, and Philip McGlave, M.D. , co-leader of the Translational Research Program, were quoted in the lead article, titled “The Contenders – Vaccines and Viruses Take Aim at Cancer Cells,” April issue of Minnesota Medicine .
- Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., member, Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, was featured in an article about his research on tumor growth using zebrafish, April issue of Minnesota Medicine.
- Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., leader, Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program, and Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., co-leader, Prevention and Etiology Program, wrote an article summarizing some of the research done at the University's Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC), April issue of Minnesota Medicine.
- Leslie Robison, Ph.D., co-leader, Prevention and Etiology Program, wrote an article about long-term outcomes among adult survivors of childhood cancer, April issue of Minnesota Medicine .
- Donald Connelly, M.D., Ph.D., director, Informatics Core, was quoted in an article about the prostate cancer research project, part of the University, Mayo and state of Minnesota Genomics Partnership, April issue of Minnesota Medicine.
- Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., was featured in a WCCO-TV news report about his recent study, “Light Cigarettes as Harmful as Regular Cigarettes.”
- Doug Yee, M.D., Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., and Todd Tuttle, M.D., were quoted in an article about breast cancer, “Forging Ahead on Scientific Advances Provides More Options for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment,” May issue of Mpls/St. Paul magazine.
- John Kersey, M.D., Doug Yee, M.D., Carol Lange , Ph.D., and Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., were quoted in another article, "A Research Epicenter", and in a related sidebar article about clinical trials, May issue of Mpls/St. Paul magazine.
- Mary Aherns, M.S., C.G.C., Adult and Pediatric Genetic Counselor, was quoted in an article about genetics counseling for breast cancer, May issue of Mpls/St. Paul magazine.
COLORECTAL SURGEONS PRESENT ABSTRACTS AT ASCRS MEETING
The following colorectal surgeons and Cancer Center members will present abstracts and lectures at the annual meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, April 30-May 5 in Philadelphia :
- Rocco Riccardi, M.D., Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., and David Rothenberger, M.D., two posters: “Patterns of Care for the Surgical Management of Ulcerative Colitis” and “Publication Rates from the Annual ASCRS Meeting.”
- Kelly Bullard, M.D., research forum presentation: “Hyaluronan Increases Colon Carcinoma Cell Growth in Vivo.”
- Stanley Goldberg, M.D., memorial lectureship: “Perineal Approaches for Rectal Procidential: What is the Data?”
- David Rothenberger, M.D., Robert Madoff, M.D., Stanley Goldberg, M.D., and Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., symposium presentations: “Long-term Outcome of Local Excision for Early Rectal Cancer,” “Management of Recurrent Rectal Prolapse: Surgical Approach Influences Outcome,” “Sexual Function in Women after Ileal-Pouch-Anal Anastomosis,” and “Crohn's Colitis: Does the Incidence of Dysplasia or Cancer Support an Aggressive Approach to Colonoscopic Surveillance?”
GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please call Kamala Upadhyaya at 626-5326 for assistance with your application.
AFAR/PFIZER INNOVATIONS IN AGING RESEARCH AWARDS PROGRAM
Sponsor: American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)
Deadline: December 15, 2005
The Pfizer/AFAR Innovations in Aging Research Awards provide support for promising scientists who wish to start highly innovative projects focused on the basic biology of aging and its relationship to human disease. The research proposal must exploit insights from basic biogerontology to address new questions related to one or more major diseases that afflict the elderly, including cardiovascular illnesses, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Translational research projects, in which findings and ideas from animal and cell culture models are evaluated for efficacy in human clinical settings, are particularly encouraged.
The applicant must hold an M.D., D.O., D.V.M., or Ph.D. degree. The applicant must have a junior faculty appointment (assistant professor, instructor, or equivalent) and must demonstrate an established independent research program. Associate Professors within three years of receiving their appointment (at the time of application) are also eligible. Those junior faculty that have already received tenure are not eligible. The applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States . Awards include $150,000 total costs in the first year, plus an additional $50,000 in second year costs. No more than 10 percent of these funds may be used for institutional overhead (indirect) costs. It is anticipated that six awards will be made.
http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=83623
Sponsor: Cancer Treatment Research Foundation (CTRF)
Deadline: Continuous
The overall goal of the Clinical Investigation Grant program of Cancer Treatment Research Foundation (CTRF) is to stimulate innovative research relevant to cancer therapy (e.g., new agents, immunotherapy, biological response modifiers, gene therapy), clinical nutrition, quality of life, and cancer education. CTRF hopes that the Clinical Investigation Grant program will be a mechanism to encourage investigators directly focused on clinical problems and clinical applications of basic research. CTRF is particularly interested in identifying and funding young investigators working in established research programs relevant to clinical research who are without support from the NIH or other cancer research agencies; and established clinical researchers who wish to embark on innovative studies directly relevant to the mission of CTRF with novel, new, or pilot projects distinctly removed from their currently funded research projects.
New projects may be an extension of other work, but cannot overlap any funded projects unless the applicant clearly demonstrates that new funding will not duplicate existing support. The amount of the award varies with the availability of funds.
http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=51759
Sponsor: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Cancer Research Fund
Deadline: July 1, 2005
This award has been established to support the development of outstanding biomedical scientists as independent investigators in the cancer field by ensuring the continuity of their research productivity at the critical transition from their research training to their first faculty position. The primary qualification for this award is that the applicant's scientific accomplishments show promise of future contributions that will lead to understanding the causes and mechanisms of cancer and to developing more effective cancer therapies and preventions.
Candidates must be at the assistant professor or equivalent level. The institution and department must guarantee, in written form, a commitment to the individual and the development of their laboratory and career.
Five Damon Runyon Scholar Awards at $100,000 each for three years are granted annually.
http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=148
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR BASIC AND PHYSICIAN SCIENTISTS
Sponsor: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Cancer Research Fund
Deadline: August 15, 2005; December 15, 2005
The Cancer Research Fund of the Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Foundation sponsors theoretical and experimental research relevant to the study of cancer and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies, and prevention. These scholarships are offered to encourage promising young investigators to pursue careers in cancer research.
Candidates must apply for the fellowships under the guidance of a sponsor who is a senior member of the scientific research community. Award stipends are $41,000 for level I and $55,000 for level II in the first year. In the second year, award stipends are $43,000 for level I and $56,000 for level II. Third year stipends are $44,000 and $57,000 respectively.
http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=7716
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATOR RESEARCH GRANTS
Sponsor: The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, INC.
Deadline: July 15, 2005
OCRF Individual Research Grants provide funding for basic and translational ovarian cancer projects. These grants can be used as seed money to generate preliminary data that can then be used to apply for other larger grants. Alternatively, these awards may be used to augment the scope of research projects that are already funded and ongoing. Areas of emphasis include screening and early detection, prevention, molecular therapeutics, cancer biology and genetics. Support of $100,000 to be used over two years will be awarded to the institution in which the recipient will conduct the research.
http://www.ocrf.org/research06a.shtml
PROGRAM PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANT
Sponsor: The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, INC.
Deadline: July 15, 2005
The purpose of this program is to provide funds that can be used by groups of investigators seeking to develop program project grant applications for submission to peer-review funding agencies (eg NCI PO1, SPORE, DOD). This may involve several investigators within one institution or collaborations between groups in multiple institutions. Areas of emphasis include screening and early detection, etiology and prevention, molecular therapeutics, cancer biology and genetics.
Support of up to $300,000 annually for three years will be awarded to the institution(s) in which the recipients will conduct the research.
For information and applications please email your requests to Craig Rosati at crosati@ocrf.org
AMENDMENT TO PAR-03-089 "CENTERS FOR AIDS RESEARCH: (CFAR)”
Application Receipt Date(s): June 16, 2005
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AI-05-036.html
Application Receipt Date(s): February 1, 2005; June 1, 2005; October 1, 2005
This funding opportunity is intended to promote research on all aspects of tumor stem cell biology, and on the genes and proteins responsible for the tumor stem cell phenotype. Research studies on the characterization of tumor stem cells from the broad spectrum of solid and liquid tumors not already examined, on markers potentially shared by tumor stem cells and normal stem cells, and on the biochemical and molecular regulation of normal and tumor stem cell function are encouraged. Such research can and should include research on in vivo assays for the functional identification of such cells. Studies of the genes regulating self renewal, and studies of regulation of stem cell division by the stem cell niche and/or microenvironment are also encouraged. Investigators working on the cell and molecular biology of embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and tumor stem cells are encouraged to apply for support under this funding opportunity.
This funding opportunity will use the R01 and R21 award mechanisms. No set -aside funds are available for this funding opportunity. Applicants may request up to 5 years of support for R01 awards with costs appropriately tailored to the proposed work. An R21 applicant may request a project period of up to 2 years with a combined budget for direct costs of up $275,000 for the 2-year period.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-086.html
UNDERSTANDING AND TREATING TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS COMPLEX
Application Receipt Date(s): February 1, 2005; June 1, 2005; October 1, 2005
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance invite research grant applications aimed at understanding or treating Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). The participating organizations intend to commit a total of approximately $2,000,000 to this PAS in addition to funds available for applications sent in response to this initiative that score within the paylines of the participating NIH Institutes.
This PAS will use the NIH R01, R21 and R03 mechanisms. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-05-085.html
INTERACTION BETWEEN STEM AND PROGENITOR CELLS AND THE MICROENVIRONMENT IN VIVO
This is a reissue of PAS-03-172
Application Receipt Date(s): February 1, 2005; June 1, 2005; October 1, 2005
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Eye Institute (NEI), the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) invite applications for studies on the cellular and molecular signaling between the local environment within organisms and stem and progenitor cells that are either introduced as transplants or are normally resident within host tissues and organs. The objective of this initiative is to promote a thorough exploration and characterization of the bi-directional communication between multipotent cells and the three-dimensional local milieu or niche that they encounter in vivo under normal and compromised states, such as with aging or following injury, disease or drug exposure. This funding opportunity will use the NIH Research Project Grant (R01), NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant R21and the NIH Small Grant Program R03 award mechanism(s). The participating organizations intend to commit a total of $2,700,000 to this Program Announcement with set-aside funds (PAS). The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism, duration, and costs of the applications received, and are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-05-092.html
To view all grants available through the Masonic Cancer Center, visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/grantopp.html
GENETIC MECHANISMS OF CANCER PROGRAM MEETING
Thursday, April 28, 2005, 4:00-5:00 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower
Slugging away at head and neck cancer
Patrick Gaffney, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/gensem.html
Friday, April 29, 2005, 3:30-4:30, 450 CCRB
The role of PI3K gamma in leukocyte migration
Andrea Martin, Shimizu Lab
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/grant7.html
Monday, May 2, 2005, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
BMT Program meeting
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/bmtlect.html
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR CANCER U: ASK THE EXPERTS SERIES
The final presentation for the spring Cancer U: Ask The Experts series, offered as a free community service by The Masonic Cancer Center is as follows:
• May 14: David Largaespada, Ph.D., and Paul Orchard, M.D., will explain what genetics have to do with cancer.
The 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