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Researchers and Staff
Cancer Center Update
May 31, 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
CANCER CENTER MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, was featured in a WCCO-TV news report about his research with zebrafish to study blood vessel growth for cancer. A link to the video is available on the Masonic Cancer Center web site at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/
CANCER CENTER BRAINSTORM AND TRANSLATIONAL BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
The following Cancer Center members are recipients of one-year research awards from the Masonic Cancer Center 's Internal Grant Program. The goal of these programs is to foster the development of and provide support for novel research ideas that focus on a problem in cancer. In turn, the Masonic Cancer Center expects that internal funding will lead to national peer-reviewed funding. Congratulations to all!
Brainstorm Awards
Paul Marker, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development and Kenneth Koeneman, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Urology – “Fgfr2 alternative splicing in prostate cancer progression.”
Edward Perkins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-UMD and Jon Holy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology-UMD – “Dual cyclin/triterpenoid imaging in prostate cancer cells."
Alice Shapiro, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Oncology Research Program, Park Nicollet Institute, Doug Yee, M.D., Professor, Department of Medicine, and Mary J. Nissen, Ph.D., MPH, Senior Health Services Researcher, Oncology Research Program, Park Nicollet Institute – "A pilot study to assess the efficacy of acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation in the prevention of taxol-induced peripheral neuropathy in women with breast cancer.”
Kylie Walters, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics and Duncan Clark, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development – “Revealing the role of UBA domains in cell cycle progression.”
Translational Breast Cancer Research Awards
Patricia Scott, Ph.D. , Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-UMD – “Investigation of the role of GGA adapter proteins in the endocytic trafficking of the ErbB2 receptor.”
Alice Shapiro, Ph.D. , Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Oncology Research Program, Park Nicollet Institute, Doug Yee, M.D. , Professor, Department of Medicine, and Mary J. Nissen, Ph.D., MPH , Senior Health Services Researcher, Oncology Research Program, Park Nicollet Institute – "A pilot study to assess the efficacy of acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation in the prevention of taxol-induced peripheral neuropathy in women with breast cancer.”
CANCER CENTER POSTER SESSION AND SYMPOSIUM AVAILABLE ON LINE!
The Sixth Annual Spring Poster Session and Symposium sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center Core Facilities was held Thursday, May 19, 2005. Susan Fautsch coordinated the event, while Drs. John Kersey and Tucker LeBien served as moderators. The oral presentations that are listed below were recorded and are available for viewing at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/postsess05.html.
Sarah Cooley, M.D., Miller Lab
Post-transplant natural killer cell function is affected by T cells and correlates with survival
Kathryn Brown, Murphy Lab
N-(hydroxymethyl)-norcotinine: A newly identified product of cotinine metabolism by P450s 2A6 and 2A13
Denis Clohisy, M.D.
Osteoclasts as a bone tumor-targeted gene delivery system
Lara Collier, Ph.D., Largaespada Lab
Cancer gene discovery using Sleeping Beauty-based somatic mutagenesis in the mouse
A lunch and poster viewing of a record 57 posters followed the presentations from noon to 1:30 p.m. within the Masonic Cancer Research Building .
Nasfat J. Shehadeh, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine/Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation
Area of clinical interest : Head and neck cancer; Urologic/prostate cancer
Area of scientific interest : Head and neck — organ preservation; prostate cancer
Marcie R. Tomblyn, M.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine/Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation
Program : Transplant Biology and Therapy
Area of scientific interest : Management of hematologic malignancies through the modality of cell therapy and stem cell transplantation, with a specific focus on immune reconstitution after transplantaion.
Area of clinical interest: Hematologic malignancies
THE J.P MCCARTHY FUND 2005 DEVELOPMENTAL GRANT PROGRAM
Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan
Application Deadline: September 1, 2005
The objective of the J.P. McCarthy Developmental Grant Program is to strengthen the base of high-quality research in hematological diseases in the major research universities and medical centers across the country. Innovative hypotheses-driven developmental projects in basic, translational and clinical research will be considered for funding. The maximum grant is $25,000 per year for each individual research project, or for each individual component application of an interactive program project grant.
Contact Roxy McCann at doni0007@umn.edu for application.
PILOT STUDIES IN PANCREATIC CANCER
PA-05-116
Application Receipt Dates: October 1 2005
This funding opportunity is intended to promote innovative research across multiple disciplines for better understanding of the biology, etiology, detection, prevention, and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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.
This PA involves use of the R03 and R21 mechanisms. The R03 mechanism supports small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources. The R21 mechanism is intended to encourage new exploratory and developmental research projects.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-116.html
To view all grants available through the Masonic Cancer Center, visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/grant/grantopp.html
Friday, June 3, 2005, 8:00 a.m., 450 CCRB
Advanced Breast Cancer
Doug Yee, M.D., Professor, Department of Medicine
For a complete schedule of lectures please visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/coreseminar.html
TRANSDISCIPLINARY TOBACCO USE RESEARCH CENTER LECTURE
Friday, June 3, 2005, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., 450 CCRB
Patterns of Smoking Uptake in Youth: Results from the MN Adolescent Community Cohort Study
Jean Forster, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health , University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule of lectures please visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/tturclec.html
ENGEBRETSON SYMPOSIUM ON DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT IN CANCER TO BE HELD JUNE 9
The 2005 Engebretson Symposium on Drug Discovery and Development In Cancer Experimental Therapeutics will be held on June 9, 2005. The symposium is free but advanced registration is required and space is limited. A registration form is available at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/docs/Eng_Reg.pdf . The agenda is also available for download at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/docs/Eng_Agenda.pdf .
ANNUAL SALUTE TO STAFF AND FACULTY AND CANCER CENTER PICNIC ON JUNE 20, 2005
Join the Masonic Cancer Center 's Salute to Staff and Faculty on Monday, June 20, at 8:00 a.m. Light refreshments will be served in the atrium areas on all four floors of CCRB. Cancer Center director Dr. John Kersey will present a State-of-the-Cancer Center address at 9:00 a.m. in 450 CCRB. He will review accomplishments of the past year and goals for the coming year and will present the Years of Service recognition awards.
The picnic will be held that same day at East River Flats Park (directly below CCRB on the river) from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Families are welcome.
CHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND — TIME TO FLY
June 25, 2005
Harriet Island, Downtown St. Paul
Registration begins @ 6:30AM; Events begin at 8AM
See:www.ccrftimetofly.com for race details, registration, and to pledge.
MARSHALL FIELDS GLAMORAMA TO BENEFIT CHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND
Friday, August 5, 2005, 7:30 p.m., Historic State Theatre
For ticket information contact Mary Schultze @ 6.2961 or schul032@umn.edu .
STEM CELL WORKSHOP TO BE HELD JULY 23
Cancer Center members will be among the presenters at the Stem Cell Workshop sponsored by the Society for Cryobiology, Biomedical Engineering Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering
The goals of the workshop are to:
• Review the present understanding of stem cell biology, plasticity as well as clinical and preclinical applications of stem cells.
• Contrast and compare adult stem cells with hematopoietic and embryonic.
• Provide background on processing of stem cells for human therapeutic applications.
• Review the current understanding of stem cell preservation.
• Summarize the opportunities and challenges for stem cell-based therapies.
Information and registration materials can be found at http://www.me.umn.edu/events/cryo2005/stemcell.html .