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Researchers and Staff
Cancer Center Update
November 29, 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
How do T cells activate integrins?
Yoji Shimizu, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Program Leader, Cancer Center Immunology Program, University of Minnesota
A peek at next week’s seminar:
A genetic approach to unraveling diabetes
Jennifer Hall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Lillihei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule visit: http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/date.html
CANCER CENTER MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., was quoted in stories by Associated Press and Reuters about her research study published in JAMA that showed radiation therapy for pelvic cancers may increase the risk of fractures in older women. The story ran in numerous newspapers including the Seattle Post Intelligencer, Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Baltimore Sun, Miami Herald, Chicago Sun Times, and Austin Statesman. Dr. Baxter also was interviewed for reports on MPR, AP Radio and CNN Radio. A link to a press release is available on our home page.
Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., and Robert Kratzke, M.D., discussed tobacco research, smoking and lung cancer on the WLTE Radio's Sunday morning public affairs program. Dr. Hatsukami was also interviewed by MPR, Minneapolis Star Tribune and WCCO Radio about a study she led on nicotine vaccine for helping smokers quit. A link to a press release on this study can be found on our home page. The study is published in the current issue of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
SCHOOL OF NURSING SEMINAR
Wednesday, November 30, 2005, 2:00 p.m., 4-180 Weaver-Densford
Women’s Work: Experiencing the First Weeks After Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Robin Lally, PhD, RN, Graduate Instructor, School of Nursing, Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, Park Nicollet Health Services
Robin is a candidate for a tenure track position in Adult Health in the School of Nursing.
NOVEMBER 30 DEADLINE FOR ENROLLING IN MEDICAL AND DENTAL COVERAGE
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. (The deadline for AFSCME bargaining unit employees to enroll has been extended until December 9). 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 .
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE CANCER CENTER HOLIDAY EVENT DECEMBER 7!
This year's Cancer Center Holiday event will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 7 in the West Wing of the Campus Club. Appetizers, beverages and live entertainment will be provided.
IMAGE-GUIDED CANCER INTERVENTIONS (STTR [R41/R42])
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE / NIH
(PA-06-031)
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
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 (R&R forms and Application Instruction Guide.
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the development and clinical validation of systems for image-guided interventions (IGI) for cancer. Specifically, the goals of this program are to provide support for: the development and optimization of fully integrated cancer imaging, monitoring, and therapy systems; the validation of integrated IGI systems through clinical evaluations; the development of multiple prototype integrated IGI systems as required for multi-site clinical evaluations; and partnerships among small business, large business, and academic clinical centers, as well as small business joint ventures, in order to reach the research goals. For this funding opportunity, budgets up to $150,000 total costs per year and up to 2 years for Phase I may be requested, and a maximum of 3 years of support at budgets of up to $1,000,000 total costs per year may be requested for Phase II research that includes clinical evaluation — however, phase II activities that do not include clinical evaluation are limited to a maximum budget of $750,000 total cost per year.
To view the entire announcement, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-031.html
AN SBIR INITIATIVE FOR IMAGE-GUIDED CANCER INTERVENTIONS (R43/R44)
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE / NIH
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
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 (R&R forms and Application Instruction Guide.
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the development and clinical validation of systems for image-guided interventions (IGI) for cancer. Specifically, the goals of this program are to provide support for: the development and optimization of fully integrated cancer imaging, monitoring, and therapy systems; the validation of integrated IGI systems through clinical evaluations; the development of multiple prototype integrated IGI systems as required for multi-site clinical evaluations; and partnerships among small business, large business, and academic clinical centers, as well as small business joint ventures, in order to reach the research goals. This FOA will use the SBIR (R43/R44) grant mechanisms for Phase I, Phase II, and Fast-Track applications and runs in parallel with an FOA of identical scientific intent (PA-06-031) that will solicits applications under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program (R41/R42) grant mechanisms. For this funding opportunity, budgets up to $150,000 total costs per year and up to 2 years for Phase I may be requested, and a maximum of 3 years of support at budgets of up to $1,000,000 total costs per year may be requested for Phase II research that includes clinical evaluation — however, phase II activities that do not include clinical evaluation are limited to a maximum budget of $750,000 total cost per year;
To view the entire announcement, see
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-032.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 .
TRANSDISCIPLINARY TOBACCO USE RESEARCH CENTER (TTURC) LECTURE
Friday, December 2, 2005, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., 450 CCRB
Computational Models of Reinforcement Learning, Extinction and Addiction
A. David Redish, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/tturclec.html .
TTURC COURSE
Friday, December 2, 2005, 1:15-2:00 p.m., 450 CCRB
Learning to use drugs
David Redish, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/TTURCLectures.html .
CANCER BIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUB
Friday, December 2, 2005, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
Lisa McNeil, Ph.D., Hogquist Lab
A requirement for sustained ERK signaling during thymocyte positive
selection in vivo
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/grant7.html .
BMT CONFERENCE
Monday, December 5, 2005, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
ASH Presentations:
Prognostic Factors in Patients with Fanconi Anemia (FA) after Alternative Donor (AD) Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT)
Suleimman A. Alsweedan, M.D., Pediatric H/O/BMT Fellow
Impact of Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGVHD) on the Health Status of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) Survivors: A Report from the Bone Marrow Transplant Survivor Study Lymphoma: Long Term Follow-Up at a Single Institution
Christopher Fraser, M.D. , Pediatric BMT Fellow
Risk of Relapse (REL) after Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation (UCBT) in Patients with Acute Leukemia: Marked Reduction in Recipients of Two Units
Michael R. Verneris, M.D. , Assistant Professor, Pediatrics H/O/BMT
For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/bmtlect.html
REMINDERS
DECEMBER 19 DEADLINE FOR DAMON RUNYON CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION SCHOLAR AWARD NOMINATIONS
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.