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Researchers and Staff
Cancer Center Update
November 8, 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
IDO, tolerance and regulatory T cells
David Munn, M.D., Professor, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Medical College of Georgia
Host: Bruce Blazar, M.D.
A peek at next week’s seminar:
The role of the AML1/CBF beta transcription factor complex in normal hematopoieisis
James R. Downing, M.D. , Scientific Director , Chairman, Department of Pathology , St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Host: Dan Kaufman, M.D., Ph.D.
For a complete schedule visit: http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/date.html
SPECIAL PEDIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINCAL RESEARCH CANDIDATE SEMINAR
Tuesday, November 15, 10:00 AM, Room 114 Lillehei Heart Institute
Risk of second malignancies following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Debra L. Friedman, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, Candidate for Associate Professor Position in Pediatric Epidemiology & Clinical Research
Host: Julie Ross, Ph.D.
WANTED: YOUR SUGGESTIONS, OPINIONS
Feedback Requested on Expanding Capabilities of the Center for Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics
The Center for Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics in St. Paul is considering expanding its capabilities to include the manufacture of monoclonal immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG) and possibly other cell-secreted proteins for clinical use. The center's current focus is on cellular-based therapies primarily in support of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program and Cancer Center .
Research infrastructure support is available through the U-Mayo Partnership and the submission deadline for proposals is November 18, 2005 (more information is available on the Academic Health Center website at http://www.ahc.umn.edu/research/umayo/infrastructuregrant/home.html).
The center would like feedback to assess the actual level of interest in acquiring these additional capabilities before making a proposal. If you are interested, please send an email to David McKenna, Ph.D. (mcken020@umn.edu) briefly answering the following two questions:
1 . Do you currently work with immunoglobulins or other proteins that would potentially be suited for clinical production and use in human trials?
2. If so, what type of Ig/protein? What medical condition are you targeting?
CANCER CENTER MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
- Phil McGlave, M.D., and Jeff Miller, M.D., were cited in these media reports about their recently received NCI program grants for stem cell and natural killer cell research: Pioneer Press, Duluth Star-Tribune, Grand Forks Herald, Twin Cities Business Journal, Minnesota Daily, WCCO-TV, KSTP-TV, KIMT-TV, and KTTC-TV. The two grants total more than $20 million and will be distributed over five years.
- Arkadiusz Dudek, M.D., Ph.D., was quoted on the Doctor's Guide website about research he and other Cancer Center researchers have conducted to develop a new method of vaccine-induced augmentation of tumor specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses with the use of latex or silica beads for treatment of renal and skin cancers. Dr. Dudek recently presented the research findings at the 13 th European Cancer Conference in Paris .
- Michael Garwood, Ph.D., and Patrick Bolan, Ph.D., were quoted in an article about “MR spectroscopy helps improve breast cancer diagnosis,” published in Radiology Today.
- Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., and Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., were cited in these national news reports about their research findings on nicotine vaccine (Hatsukami) and carcinogen exposure across oral tobacco and medicinal nicotine products (Hecht): United Press International, ABCNews.com, Baltimore Sun., Atlanta Journal Constitution, Austin American-Statesman, Forbes, WebMD, Dr.Koop.com and various TV newscasts across the country. The reports stemmed from their presentations last week at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research in Baltimore.
ROSS WILL HEAD NEW NORTH AMERICAN CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH REGISTRY
Julie Ross, Ph.D., has been selected by the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation to lead the Childhood Cancer Research Network (CCRN), a new North American childhood cancer research registry.
The CCRN will be launched nationally in early 2006 to begin collecting and maintaining information on all children and young adults diagnosed with cancer at medical centers affiliated with CureSearch Children's Oncology Group (COG). The information will be used by COG researchers for studying the causes of childhood cancers and the effectiveness of treatment. Their goal is to find strategies that will reduce the overall occurrence of cancer in children, the often long-term effects of cancer treatments, and improve the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors.
Ross and her team will coordinate the CCRN center. For more information, click http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/news/CCRNrelease.html
CANCER U PROGRAM ON LUNG CANCER, NOV. 12
Let your patients, family members and friends know about the free Cancer U: Ask The Experts program on Nov. 12 about advances in lung cancer research and treatment.
November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The program will be held 9-11 a.m. at the Campus Club, Coffman Memorial Union. Cancer Center experts presenting information will be:
- Tim Church, Ph.D., Screening For Lung Cancer
- Robert Kratzke, M.D., Overview Of Lung Cancer
- L. Chinsoo Cho, M.D., Radiation Therapy For Lung Cancer
- Terri Kast, R.N., Support For Patients And Families
A question and answer period will follow the presentations.
There is no charge for the program, but pre-registration is requested by calling 1-888-CANCERMN (1-888-226-2376), emailing ccinfo@umn.edu or visiting the web at www.cancer.umn.edu .
2nd ANNUAL MINNESOTA BIOMEDICAL NANOTECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
The University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic are sponsoring the 2 nd annual Minnesota Biomedical Nanotechnology Workshop on November 14 in Rochester . The purpose of this workshop is to foster interactions within and between Minnesota-based nanotechnology and biomedically interested institutions, including those from the University of Minnesota , Mayo Clinic and local industry. The topics of the workshop include, but are not limited to: multi-functional nanoparticles, gene therapy, antiviral agents, nano encapsulation, implantable devices, and other areas of BioMEMs. There is no cost for the workshop, but space is limited. For registration information click here for a pdf flyer and registration form.
DAMON RUNYON CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION SCHOLAR AWARD
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation is offering Scholar Awards to support the development of outstanding scientists as they establish their own independent research laboratories. Assistant Professors in the first three years of their appointment who do not have another career development award are eligible to apply. The applicant's scientific accomplishments must 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. This is a three-year award for $100,000 per year. A total of five projects will be awarded.
Two nominations are permitted per institution (one basic scientist and one physician-scientist [MD or MD/PhD affiliated with a clinical department]), plus an unlimited number of applications by former Damon Runyon Fellows. Potential applicants should submit a preliminary proposal of 1-2 pages in length plus a curriculum vitae. If there are multiple applicants/nominations, a sub committee of the Masonic Cancer Center 's Executive Committee will screen applications/nominations and select the 2 finalists. Nominating materials should be sent via e-mail to Mary Sumpmann (sumpm001@umn.edu) before December 19th, 2005.
Questions should be addressed to Mark Paller, Assistant Vice President for Research, AHC (palle001@umn.edu). For more information visit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund web site at www.drcrf.org/apScholar.html.
NOTICE OF LIMITED COMPETITION FOR COMPETING CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS: BREAST CANCER FAMILY REGISTRIES (B-CFR)
Release/Posted Date: November 3, 2005
This new funding opportunity is intended to provide current B-CFR grantees with financial support that should allow them to maintain and re-structure the core activities of this research infrastructure in ways that should increase its use and exploitation by interdisciplinary teams of researchers, including investigators from the B-CFR participating institutions and qualified scientists from the research community at large. The B-CFR will give high priority to collaborations with other NIH-sponsored epidemiology research programs and other relevant cancer research entities in order to effectively develop and implement a clinically relevant, interdisciplinary, and cost-efficient research program.
NCI will contact the current awardees directly regarding application procedures and format. For complete Notice, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-CA-06-001.html.
NCI PHASE II SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH RENEWAL AWARDS FOR CANCER DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT (SBIR [R44]), PA 06-051
Release/Posted Date: November 3, 2005
Letter of Intent Receipt Date(s): March 1, July 1, November 1 of each year
Application Submission Dates: Standard dates apply.
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF 424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide. Applications may not be submitted in paper format.
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) that propose additional funding for the competing renewal (formerly “competing continuation”) of previously funded Phase II SBIR grants to continue the process of developing products for commercialization that ultimately require approval of a Federal regulatory agency and clinical evaluation up to "proof-of-principle" demonstration, generally only through a Phase II clinical trial. Because the length of time and cost of drug, device, or assay/biomarker development represent a long-term research and development commitment, a maximum project period of up to 3 years and a budget not to exceed total costs of $750,000 per year (including direct costs, facilities and administrative [F&A]/indirect costs, and fee) will be considered if the time period and amount are well justified. However, for those Phase II applications that include budget requests for expensive studies required for investigational new drug (IND) filing with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or clinical trials up through only Phase II trials, applicants may request up to $1 million per year total costs if the time periods and amounts are well justified.
For complete Announcement, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-051.html.
NCI PHASE II SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER RENEWAL AWARDS FOR CANCER DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT- PA 06-052
Release/Posted Date: November 3, 2005
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): March 1, July 1, November 1 of each year
Application Submission Dates: Standard dates apply.
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF 424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide. Applications may not be submitted in paper format.
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) that propose additional funding for the competing renewal (formerly “competing continuation”) of previously funded Phase II STTR grants to continue the process of developing products for commercialization that ultimately require approval of a Federal regulatory agency and clinical evaluation up to "proof-of-principle" demonstration, generally only through a Phase II clinical trial. Because the length of time and cost of drug, device, or assay/biomarker development represent a long-term research and development commitment, a maximum project period of up to 3 years and a budget not to exceed total costs of $750,000 per year (including direct costs, facilities and administration [F & A], and a fee/profit) will be considered if the time period and amount are well justified. However, for those Phase II applications that include budget requests for expensive studies required for investigational new drug (IND) filing with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or clinical trials up through only Phase II trials, applicants may request up to $1 million per year total costs if the time periods and amounts are well justified.
For complete Announcement, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-052.html.
The Grant Opportunities web page is currently under construction. To view a list of cancer research funding resources and links to their web sites visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/grantopp.html .
CANCER METASTASIS AND PROGRESSION PROGRAM MEETING
Wednesday, November 9, 2005, 12:00-1:00 p.m., 450 CCRB
Melanoma proteoglycan in tumor growth and survival
Jim McCarthy, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/cellbiol.html.
CORE CURRICULUM SEMINAR
Friday, November 11, 2005, 10:00 a.m., 450 CCRB
Thrombophilia and Pregnancy
Colleen Morton, M.D.
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/coreseminar.html
CANCER BIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUB
Friday, November 11, 2005, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
Polycomb group and SCF ubiquitin ligases are found in a BCL6 corepressor complex
Micah Gearhart, Ph.D., Bardwell Lab
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/grant7.html
BMT CONFERENCE
Monday, November 14, 2005, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
TLR-7 agonist therapy for hematologic malignancies
Jeffrey Miller, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology/Transplant, University of Minnesota
Sarah Cooley, M.D., Fellow, Hematology/Oncology/Transplant
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.