February 21, 2006

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:

Today's Cancer Center Seminar

News

Events

Professional Education and Seminars

Grant Information & Announcements

Reminders

TODAY'S CANCER CENTER SEMINAR

Oncolytic viruses: Turning one human enemy against the other!

Faris Farassati, Ph.D., PharmD., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine — Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota

A peek at next week's seminar:

The hematopoietic microenvironment in health and disease

Russell S. Taichman D.M.D., D.M.Sc., Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics/Prevention/Geriatrics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Host: Raj Gopalakrishnan

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

NEWS

SEEKING RECOGNITION AWARD NOMINATIONS

The Recognition Event in Clinical Research/Experimental Therapeutics, hosted by Dr. David Rothenberger and Dr. Philip McGlave, is scheduled for Friday, March 10 at 2 p.m. in room 450 CCRB.  Nominations for the recognition award in this area will be accepted through February 28. Clinical Research/Experimental Therapeutics staff, as well as other staff and faculty contributing to the Cancer Center in these areas, are eligible for this award. Nominees do not need to be Cancer Center employees.

To submit a nomination online, go to http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/recogform.html.
Electronic or hard copies of the form may also be requested from cchr@umn.edu. A recognition event will be announced later this month.

EDUCATION AND SEMINARS

PEDIATRIC CANCER AND BLOOD DISEASES CONFERENCE

Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006, 4 p.m., D-417 Mayo Building (Neuro-surgery Conference Room)
Folate During Antifolate Therapy:  What we know ...... and what we don't know

Kim Robien, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health

GENETIC MECHANISMS OF CANCER PROGRAM MEETING

Thursday, Feb. 23, 4-5 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower

Peter B. Bitterman, M.D.    
Professor, Department of Medicine

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

CORE CURRICULUM SEMINAR

Friday, Feb. 24, 2006, 10 a.m., 450 CCRB

Pancreatic Cancer/Hepatoma

Ed Greeno, M.D.

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

CANCER BIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUB

Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB

Cancelled for MICaB recruiting day.

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

BMT CONFERENCE

Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, 2006, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB

Criteria for selecting hematopoietic stem cell donors

John E. Wagner, M.D., Division Director, Pediatric H/O/BMT, University of Minnesota

Dennis L. Confer, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, National Marrow Donor Program

Kathy French, R.N., B.S.N., BMT Nurse Coordinator, Unrelated Donor Searches, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview

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

GRANT INFORMATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

INFORMATION FOR PIs

The NIH appropriation for FY 2006 includes an across-the-board reduction to non-emergency, discretionary programs, which has a direct impact on NIH's budget. The NIH share of this adjustment is approximately $286 million.

Research Project Grants (RPG) — Non-competing awards for every RPG will be awarded at a level of 97.65% of the amount indicated for the FY2006 budget period in the Notice of Grant Award for the previous budget year. The amounts indicated for future budget periods will also be adjusted by the same factor.

Non-competing awards previously issued in FY 2006 at reduced levels up to 80% of the amount previously indicated will be revised to provide a restoration of funds to the 97.65% level. Amounts indicated for future budget periods will be adjusted as well.

The amounts provided for competing RPGs will be managed to an average award amount equal to FY 2005 levels. FY 2006 policy includes the provision of a 3% escalation factor in the amounts indicated for future years on competing RPG awards which are not based on modular applications. Other grant programs will be managed in accordance with the policies to be established by each Institute and Center.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-06-025.html

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE (NCI) FUNDING POLICY FOR FY 2006 RESEARCH PROJECT GRANT (RPG) AWARDS

 - NCI Competing Budget Policy Statement

Competing new (Type-1) grants will be reduced approximately 29% from the level approved by peer review. Larger grants will be cut more than smaller grants (those with 7 modules or fewer). Competing renewal (Type 2) grants will be awarded at approximately 2% below the current level of support. This is intended to achieve equity with the non-competing grants that will be cut 2.35% from committed levels.

  — Non-competing (Type 5) continuations (all RPG mechanisms EXCEPT SBIR and STTR)

In accordance with NIH policy, NCI will pay all non-competing continuation RPG awards at 97.65% of the committed levels on their regular anniversary dates. Non-competing grants which were awarded under the earlier continuing resolution will be restored to match the new funding policy.

 - Competing RO1s

Effective with the September, 2005 National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) round (the first funding cycle of FY 2006), Type-1 and Type-2 R01 applications up to the 11.0 percentile will be paid. Non-percentiled R01s will be paid on a case by case basis.

- Large Percentiled R01s

For the first and second funding cycles of FY 2006, the payline for large percentiled R01 ($700,000 or more direct cost requested in any year) is the 11.0 percentile.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

2006 MASONIC/DIETZ FAMILY AWARD FOR EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

Applications are being solicited for the Masonic/Dietz Family Award for Educational Travel. Recognizing that educational travel and sharing of knowledge is essential to successful cancer research, the Charlton Dietz Family through the Masonic Cancer Center Fund has established this award for educational travel. Awards may be up to $1200 for educational travel. Up to three awards will be made. Educational opportunities may include but are not limited to conferences, courses and site visits. Graduate students, fellows, research-related staff and faculty within a cancer/cancer-related educational program or research area may apply. To apply, download the application instructions (pdf) .

TTURC PILOT GRANT PROGRAM

The Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC) is offering grants of up to $25,000 for one year to support pilot projects aimed at reducing the harm from tobacco dependence, or strategies to reduce tobacco use among populations that have been refractory to smoking cessation efforts. This funding may be used for direct costs only. Proposals may involve any level of inquiry, e.g. molecular, genetic, preclinical, clinical, epidemiologic or public policy.

Faculty at the University of Minnesota , or faculty at Hennepin County Medical Center/Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis Veteran's Administration Medical Center or Regions Hospital who have an adjunct appointment at the University of Minnesota are eligible to apply. The application deadline is March 1, 2006 with an anticipated funding date of April 1, 2006. Potential applicants must first contact the Pilot Projects Program Director, Paul Pentel (pentel@umn.edu 612-873-6426) to determine whether the proposed project is within the scope of the Center. Applications that have not been discussed will not be accepted. A full program announcement and application form is available in .pdf format at http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/docs/TTURC_Pilot.pdf .

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INSTITUIONAL RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATIONS

American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant applications are being accepted until April 10, 2006. 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.

REMINDER

SUPPORT CHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND ~ ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE MOVIE: THE BLUE BUTTERFLY

The Children’s Cancer Research Fund is offering a unique way to support cancer research. Invite your friends and family over for a night at the movies! The Blue Butterfly, starring William Hurt, is a magical story about a courageous young boy whose life is forever changed by a journey into the jungle to find the most beautiful butterfly on earth. This miraculous story was inspired by brain cancer survivor David Marenger. The Blue Butterfly Home Movie Party is just what you need to get started to host a fun-filled get-together to support Children's Cancer Research Fund. (Movie is rated PG)