Public and Patients
- About Us
- Cancer Information
- Clinical Trials
- Events & Outreach
- Make a Gift
- News & Feature Stories
- Survivorship
Researchers and Staff
Cancer Center Update
September 27, 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
Discovery of a predictive marker for supersensitivity to adjuvant Herceptin in breast cancer
Soonmyung Paik, M.D., Director, Pathology Section, National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project
Host: Doug Yee
Co-sponsor: Genomic Health Inc.
A peek at next week’s seminar:
Identification of a novel small-molecule inhibitor for the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) pathway
Chalet Tan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota-Duluth
For a complete schedule visit: http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/date.html
SPECIAL SEMINARS – CANCER CENTER DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
Monday, October 3, 2005, 12:00-1:00 p.m., 2-530 Moos Tower
Bruce Johnson, M.D.
Director, Dana Farber/ Harvard Cancer Center Lung Program
Director, Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
“The Role of the Masonic Cancer Center in Facilitating Team Science and Translating Discoveries into Patients ”
Wednesday, October 5, 2005, 12:00-1:00 p.m., 450 CCRB
Philip McGlave, M.D.
Associate Director, Experimental Therapeutics, Cancer Center and Co-Program Leader, Translational Research, Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota
Director, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine
Professor, Department of Medicine
"Advancing Research and Care Through a Comprehensive Cancer Center"
CANCER CENTER RECOGNITION PROGRAM SEEKING NOMINATIONS
The Masonic Cancer Center Recognition Program was created to inform/update staff and faculty about Cancer Center activities and research, and to honor outstanding contributors to the Masonic Cancer Center mission. Outstanding contributor awards are given to recognize employees for their performance. Examples might be:
- Continued/sustained excellent job performance.
- Contributions to the Masonic Cancer Center resulting, for example, in increased efficiency, increased quality of service, cost savings, or successful crisis management.
- Significant contribution to a Cancer Center program, project or operation; and/or
- Special service to a Cancer Center program, project or operational unit.
Nominations are now open for the outstanding contributor award in Basic Sciences. Persons working in Cancer Progression & Metastasis, Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer, Immunology and Research Core Facilities as well as other staff and faculty contributing to the Masonic Cancer Center in these areas are eligible for this award. Nominees do not need to be Cancer Center employees. The Basic Sciences Recognition Program will be held in October.
Nominations may be submitted online at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/recogform.html. Hard copies of the nomination form also are available from Melissa Daufelt at cchr@umn.edu. Return the completed form to Cancer Center Human Resources at MMC 806.
NIH ANNOUNCES PLANS TO ELIMINATE MAILING OF PAPER NOTIFICATIONS: SUMMARY STATEMENTS & PEER REVIEW OUTCOME LETTERS
Beginning October 1, 2005, NIH will no longer send hard copies of the Summary Statements to Principal Investigators (PIs) and Individual Fellows Applicants. Summary Statements are accessible electronically to PIs and Fellows in the eRA Commons within approximately 8 weeks of the Scientific Review Group (SRG) meeting. Beginning February 1, 2006, the NIH will no longer send hard copies of the notification letter (also known as a “mailer”) to PIs and Fellows regarding the review outcome of an application by the SRG. When the SRG rosters and meeting dates become available, they may be accessed through http://www.csr.nih.gov/Committees/rosterindex.asp (Center for Scientific Review [CSR] reviews) or http://era.nih.gov/roster/ (Institute/Center reviews). Scores will be posted in the eRA Commons approximately 5 working days after the SRG meeting.
At this time, the NIH will continue to send assignment and change of assignment mailers. However, this information is also accessible on the eRA Commons. NOTE: This process does not apply to applications for the Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-075.html
NOTICE OF INSTITUTIONAL CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE AWARD
RFA AND PRE-SUBMISSION MEETING
Meeting Date: October 17, 2005
The purpose of this Notice is to announce the NIH's intention to issue a Request for Applications (RFA) on or about October 12, 2005, to solicit grant applications for Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) with a receipt date of March 27, 2006. An RFA for Planning Grants for CTSAs will be issued with approximately the same time frame. These are initiatives of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. The intent of the CTSA program is to enable applicants to engage in innovative and transformative efforts appropriate to their own environment that will develop and advance clinical and translational science as a distinct discipline within a definable academic home. This Notice encourages institutions that believe that they have the necessary expertise and resources to participate to begin consideration of applying for this initiative. After the CTSA RFA is issued, a pre-submission meeting will be conducted at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia on Monday, October 17, 2005 from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. At the meeting, NCRR and other NIH staff will explain the goals and objectives of the CTSA program and answer questions. All prospective applicants are invited to attend the meeting or view the meeting through either videocast (webcast) or videoconference.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-RM-05-013.html
COMPLETION OF A COMPREHENSIVE MOUSE KNOCKOUT RESOURCE
RFA-HG-05-007
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): October 20, 2005
Application Receipt Dates(s): November 22, 2005
The ultimate aim of the Knockout Mouse Project is to generate a null-mutant mouse resource comprising a null mutation marked with a reporter of high utility for each gene in mouse strain C57BL/6. The purpose of this RFA is to make maximum progress toward this goal using gene targeting, transposon-mediated mutagenesis or gene trapping. Up to $50 million in total costs over 5 years is to be awarded through this RFA. It is anticipated that 1 to 4 awards will be made. It is anticipated that the awards will be funded in July 2006. Awards will be made using the Cooperative Agreement (U01) mechanism. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-05-007.html
EXPLORATORY STUDIES IN CANCER DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND PROGNOSIS
PA-05-165
Letter of Intent Receipt Date(s): Not applicable
Application Receipt Dates: February 1, June 1, October 1
The major goal of this initiative is to promote the initial evaluation of new molecular or cellular characteristics of pre-malignant cells or tumors or the development of assays that will be useful for cancer detection, diagnosis, and/or prognosis. New biomarkers and laboratory assays are needed for cancer screening and risk assessment, for pathologic characterization of malignant tumors and assessment of disease prognosis, and for prediction and measurement of response to treatments, particularly with novel therapeutic or chemopreventive agents. Investigators are encouraged to pursue new clinical insights and to consider the full array of potentially informative biological characteristics of tumor cells and tissues. The investigator should provide a strong rationale for proposing that a particular biomarker or assay has the potential to address a significant clinical problem.
This PA will use the NIH exploratory/developmental (R21) award mechanism. As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this PA may not exceed 2 years. These grants are non-renewable. Although the size of award may vary with the scope of research proposed, it is expected that applications will stay within the budgetary guidelines for an exploratory/developmental project; direct costs are limited to $275,000 over the 2 years of the R21 award, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year. NIH grants policies will apply to the applications received and awards made in response to this Program. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-165.html
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH GRANT
American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant applications are being accepted until October 17, 2005. This grant is for assistant professors who have no independent national funding and are engaged in cancer-related research. Cancer-related research includes genetic mechanisms of cancer, molecular mechanisms of cancer progression and metastasis, development of novel cancer therapeutic models and translational research, cancer immunology and immunotherapy.
Funding is available up to $20,000. Applications may be obtained by calling 612-626-1926 or sending email to micek003@umn.edu.
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
Thursday, September 29, 2005, 4:00-5:00 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower
Breast Tumor Kinase (Brk): All Brk and no bite?
Carol Lange, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/gensem.html
CORE CURRICULUM SEMINAR
Friday, September 30, 2005, 10:00 a.m., 450 CCRB
Testicular Cancer
Dr. Nasfat Shehadah
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/coreseminar.html
CANCER BIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUB
Friday, September 30, 2005, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
The role of the PTAP motif in HTLV-1 Gag targeting and virus release
Susan Ruone , Mansky Lab
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/grant7.html
BMT CONFERENCE
Monday, October 3, 2005, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
Infectious complications following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Jo-Anne van Burik, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious , Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/bmtlect.html
REMINDERS
“TARGETING CARCINOGENESIS” COURSE TO BE HELD IN ROCHESTER, MN OCTOBER 6-7, 2005
The Mayo School of Continuing Medical Education and Hormel Institute/University of Minnesota will be jointly sponsoring an upcoming CME course, entitled "Targeting Carcinogenesis", which will be held in Rochester, MN on October 6-7, 2005. The course faculty includes 25 nationally- and internationally-renowned experts in cancer-related research. Course registrations and abstract submissions can be made on-line through the Mayo CME website. (http://www.hi.umn.edu/symposium.html ).
ATTENTION BENEFITS ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES: UPLAN MEDICAL OPTIONS ARE CHANGING FOR 2006.
Employee Benefits is sponsoring informational sessions on your new UPlan medical options for 2006. Medica and HealthPartners will be the medical plan administrators for 2006 and will provide a comparable range of plan types from which to choose. Plan options from Medica will be the new low-cost plans throughout the state. RxAmerica will provide the prescription drug coverage for all the plan options. Because the plan options and low-cost plans are new for 2006, you must make an online election during Open Enrollment in order to have medical coverage for the 2006 plan year. The schedule for informational sessions can be viewed at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/eb/uplan/openenroll/forums.html. Plan representatives from Medica, HealthPartners, and RxAmerica will be on hand to answer your questions. Delta Dental and HealthPartners Dental will also be represented at the sessions.
CHILDREN’S CANCER RESEARCH FUND (CCRF) ANNOUNCES DAWN OF A DREAM BENEFIT
The annual Children’s Cancer Research Fund’s Dawn of a Dream benefit is scheduled for Saturday, November 5, 2005 at the Depot in Minneapolis from 6:00 p.m. — 12:00 a.m. The featured entertainer for this year’s silver anniversary gala is Kenny Loggins. KS95 Morning Show hosts Cheryl Kaye and Greg Thunder will emcee the night. The CCRF has announced that one goal of the benefit is to raise $90,000 to completely outfit a lab for a new faculty member at the Masonic Cancer Center.
Advanced tickets for the event are on sale now at www.childrenscancer.org, or by calling the office at 952-893-9355. Individual ticket prices are $250 or $500 for premier seating. Table Sponsorships are also available starting at $5,000 (10 tickets).