October 18, 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.

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In This Issue:

Today's Cancer Center Seminar

News

Events

Professional Education and Seminars

Grant Information & Announcements

Reminders

TODAY'S CANCER CENTER SEMINAR

A multi pronged approach to cancer immunotherapy using mRNA transfected dendritic cells  

Eli Gilboa, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Center for Genetic and Cellular Therapies, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center

 

Host: Wei Chen

A peek at next week’s seminar:

Retroviral insertional mutagenesis insights into human and mouse hematopoietic disease

Neal Copeland, Ph.D., Head, Molecular Genetics of Oncogenesis Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick , MN

 

Host: Rachel Saplis, MICaB

 
For a complete schedule visit: http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/date.html

SPECIAL SEMINAR– CANCER CENTER DIRECTOR CANDIDATE

Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 12:00-1:00 p.m., 450 CCRB

George J. Weiner, M.D.
C.E. Block Chair of Cancer Research, Professor of Internal Medicine, Director, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City

"The Matrix Academic Cancer Center — Thriving in a Time of Volatility and Opportunity”
 

NEWS

CANCER CENTER RECEIVES $1.8 MILLION GRANT TO TRAIN RESEARCHERS

The Masonic Cancer Center recently received a $1.8 million five-year competitive renewal of the Cancer Biology Training Grant, which provides laboratory-based training in the biology of cancer to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Yoji Shimizu, Ph.D., program leader of the cancer center’s immunology program, directs the training grant. The grant has been funded by the NCI since 1975. Its goal is to train future scientists who can establish themselves as independent investigators pursuing research into the etiology and treatment of cancer. More information about the training opportunities this grant provides can be found at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/grant.html.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Krisin Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of epidemiology and member of the Masonic Cancer Center’s Carciongenesis and Chemoprevention Program, was featured in a WCCO news report “Busting Myths About Cancer” on Friday, October 14. To see the story click http://wcco.com/health/local_story_287094637.html. Dr. Anderson was also interviewed about her study on grilled meat linked to pancreatic cancer by WCCO Radio, KARE-11 TV News, and Minnesota Public Radio. The study, “Dietary Intake of Heterocyclic Amines and Benzo(a)Pyrene: Associations with Pancreatic Cancer,” is published in the current issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

REMINDER: CANCER U ASK THE EXPERT PROGRAM, OCT. 22

Ruth Bachman, member of the Masonic Cancer Center’s Advisory Board and survivor of soft tissue sarcoma, will lead a panel of survivors in discussing the challenges they have encountered and the choices they have made in their life after cancer at the Oct. 22 Cancer U: Ask the Expert program.

The program is an opportunity for attendees to hear the survivors’ stories and share their own experiences with cancer. It will held 9 -11 a.m. in the Ski-U-Mah Room, McNamara Alumni Center. The four-member panel will include survivors of lymphoma and bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and rectal cancer.
There is no charge for the program, but pre-registration is requested because seating is limited. For more information about the program, parking and registration, call 1-888-CANCERMN (1-888-226-2376), or send email to ccinfo@umn.edu, or visit the Masonic Cancer Center’s web site at www.cancer.umn.edu/.

SPECIAL SEMINAR - PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE
Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 2:00-3:00 p.m., 450 Cancer Center Research Building

"Children with Osteopetrosis: Curing and Improving Lives"
Kimberly Kasow, DO, Assistant Member, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Sponsored by John E. Wagner, MD, Division Director Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplant Program

Light Refreshments will be served.
For further information contact Joyce at 626-2961.


CANCER CENTER RECOGNITION EVENT SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 3

The Basic Sciences recognition event will be held Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 3:00pm in 450 CCRB. Tucker LeBien, Ph.D., associate and deputy director, will highlight activities and research in the area of Basic Sciences and honor outstanding contributors to the Masonic Cancer Center mission.

Nominations for the outstanding contributor award in Basic Sciences will be accepted through October 25. 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. 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.

Nominees do not need to be Cancer Center employees. Nominations may be submitted on-line 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.

GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

AMERICAN JOINT COMMITTEE ON CANCER
“Improving AJCC/UICC TNM Cancer Staging: Developing and Validating new Algorithms for Cancer prognosis, Staging, and Predicting Response to Therapy”
Request for Proposals
Letter of intent due by December 15, 2005
Formal applications due by January 16, 2006

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) seeks proposals to develop and evaluate improved staging algorithms for specific cancer sites and types. Successful proposals will present new approaches and utilize data sets available to the applicant to test and validate current or revised staging algorithms. Each applicant may apply for up to $150,000.
http://cancerstaging.org/initiatives/rfp.html.

SIDNEY KIMMEL FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

The Kimmel Scholar Award
Deadline for submitting applications for the 2006 awards is Tuesday, December 6, 2005.
The Kimmel Foundation is seeking accomplished young investigators dedicated to a career in cancer research. Each year the Kimmel Foundation expects to select up to ten grant recipients who will receive $100,000 per year for two years. Qualified applicants must hold an M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent graduate degree and must perform research in an American not-for-profit institution during the period of Kimmel Foundation support.

Applications are limited to those who achieved the equivalent rank of Assistant Professor on or after July, 2002. Physicians who have both clinical and research responsibility are eligible if appointed on or after July, 2001. These awards are designed for researchers who do not yet have their own R01 funding. Applicants will be judged on the basis of quality of prior work, research proposed and letters of support. Applicants for 2006 awards will be notified by mid-April, 2006.
http://kimmel.org/About41.html.

The Kimmel Translational Science Award
Deadline for submitting applications for the 2006 awards is Tuesday, December 6, 2005.
The Foundation provides five additional awards specifically for physicians engaged in translational science. Eligibility includes those with M.D. or equivalent degrees, who have achieved the rank of Assistant Professor on or after July, 2001. Candidates must not hold R01 funding for the laboratory component of their cancer research. Applicants must demonstrate a significant personal involvement in the laboratory component of the translational project described. http://kimmel.org/Application_Process37.html.

To view all grants available through the Masonic Cancer Center, visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/grantopp.html

EDUCATION AND SEMINARS

HEALTH INFORMATICS SEMINAR
Thursday, October 20, 2005, 3:30-4:30, 2-580 Moos Tower

“Bioinformatics Challenges in Biomedical Research”
Anne-Francoise Lamblin, PhD, Bioinformatics Core Lead Scientist, Cancer Center

Refreshments will be available at 3:15 p.m.

CANCER EPIDEMILOGY INTEREST GROUP SEMINAR
Friday, October 21, 2005, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., 1250 Mayo

"Metabolic Syndrome in Childhood Cancer Survivors"
K. Scott Baker, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota

Lunch will be provided by D’Amicos. Please RSVP to spector@epi.umn.edu by Tuesday, October 18th to reserve a lunch.
 

CANCER BIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUB

Friday, October 21, 2005, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB

Ola Larsson, Bitterman Lab

For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/grant7.html

BMT CONFERENCE

Monday, October 24, 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

REMINDERS

ATTENTION BENEFITS ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES: UPLAN MEDICAL OPTIONS ARE CHANGING FOR 2006

New medical plans and rate structures mean that everyone will need to make an election for medical and dental coverage during Open Enrollment. Employees will also be able to enroll in a flexible spending account, and add or increase long-term disability insurance coverage. Open Enrollment will take place from November 1 to November 30. Current employees will enroll on line using Employee Self-Service. Information about the new medical plan options and dental plan options can be viewed at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/eb/uplan/openenroll/index.html.

POSITION AVAILABLE

Post-Doctoral Associate

Qualifications: Require PhD or MD with research training in the field of immunology, cancer immunotherapy, or molecular biology, with demonstrated excellence of publications in basic or clinical research.

Description of research: Research to develop immune-based therapies of leukemia and hematological malignancies post-chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation. Research projects are to investigate human dendritic cell subset development and their roles in modulating T cell-mediated immunity and immune tolerance.

Research responsibilities include: participate in the experimental design, implementation, and evaluation of research projects; collect and analyze data, presentation of the research results and co-author on publications. The appointment is full time, on an annual renewable basis, for a period of three years.

Please send C.V and three names of reference to:
Wei Chen, MD, PhD
Masonic Cancer Center
420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 806
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612-625-7609
Fax: 612-624-3913
E-mail: chenw@umn.edu