February 28, 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.

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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

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

 

A peek at next week's seminar:

Translational development of novel therapies for malignant brain tumors

 

John Ohlfest, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director, Translational Gene Therapy Program, Director, Gene and Stem Cell Core Facility, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota

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

NEWS AND EVENTS

RECOGNITION AWARD NOMINATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

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.

RECRUITMENT SEMINAR

Wednesday, March 8, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB

Tianyan Gao, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist, University of California at San Diego

PHLPP, a novel phosphatase that terminates Akt and PKC signaling

 

Dr. Gao is a candidate for a faculty position in the Cancer Progression and Metastasis Program, a joint recruitment between the Cancer Center and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.

 

SPECIAL SEMINAR

Wednesday, March 8, 2006, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Room 114 Dwan Cardiovascular Research Center

Cell regulation and chromosomal translocation in childhood leukemia

Shuki Mizutani, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

 

Sponsored by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center and Cancer Center Director Dr . John Kersey.

 

UNIVERSITY CHEMICAL-BIOLOGY INITIATIVE WORKSHOP MAY 17, 2006

 

Frontiers of Drug Discovery: Chemical Library Development and Screening

May 17, 2006, Coffman Memorial Union Theater

 

The aim of the workshop is to inform biomedical, pharmacological, medicinal, computational and chemical researchers at the University of Minnesota of recent advances in chemical library design and screening. An outstanding faculty has been assembled to present the latest cutting-edge chemical genetics research. Time will be made available during the workshop for questions and discussion, with the goal of fostering interdisciplinary research projects harnessing these techniques. Please join us! To find out more and to register please go to the web site: http://www.pharmacy.umn.edu/cbi/workshop/home.html

 

CHEMICAL BIOLOGY INTERFACE SYMPOSIUM JUNE 1, 2006

 

Mark your calendars for the Chemical Biology Interface Symposium, Thursday, June 1 at the St. Paul campus. The planning committee is putting together a program of speakers who work at the very cutting edge of science and pursue their research by combining different disciplinary approaches in chemistry, physics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. For more information about this event contact Larry Masterson, maste061@umn.edu 612-625-0786.

 

NEW MEMBERS

 

Gregory J. Metzger, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, CMRR

Programs : Cancer Progression and Metastasis, Translational Research, Prevention and Etiology

Area of scientific interest : The role of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy in the localization, treatment and monitoring of prostate cancer, with a specific interest in improving diagnosis and targeting minimally invasive focal therapies
Area of clinical interest : Urologic/prostate cancer; bone/soft tissue cancer

 

Shima Naoko, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development

Programs : Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer, Breast Cancer

Area of scientific interest : The investigation of the connection among replication stress, genomic instability and cancer using mouse models; development of a new mouse model for breast cancer.

Sabrina Peterson, Ph.D., R.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition

Program : Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention

Area of scientific interest : Investigation of the effects of dietary bioactive components on biotransformation enzymes (activation vs. detoxification of procarcinogens) and the relevant gene-diet interactions in the context of cancer prevention.

EDUCATION AND SEMINARS

IMMUNOLOGY PROGRAM

w ednesday, March 1, 2006, 1:30-2:30 p.m., 6-101 NHH

Regulation of inflammation by a metalloprotease — ADAM17

Bruce Walcheck, Ph.D. , Associate Professor, Veterinary and Biomedical Science

 

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

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

 

TTURC COURSE-Note the time change for this Friday only

Friday, March 3, 11:00-11:50 a.m., 450 CCRB

Genetics of tobacco addiction
Matt McGue, Ph.D., Department of Psychology

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

TRANSDISCIPLINARY TOBACCO USE RESEARCH CENTER SEMINAR

Friday, March 3, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB

Augmentation of Drug Reward by Chronic Food Restriction: Behavioral Evidence and Underlying Mechanisms

Kenneth Carr, Ph.D., Associate Professor of, Psychiatry and Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine

 

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

CANCER BIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUB

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

PI schizophrenia: Cancer vaccine research and cancer education outreach

Chris Pennell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology

 

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

 

BMT CONFERENCE

Monday, March 6, 2006, 2006, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB

Update on chronic Graft Versus Host Disease

Mukta Arora, M.D., M.S. , Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation

 

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

GRANT INFORMATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

JEANNIK M. LITTLEFIELD-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH GRANTS IN METASTATIC COLON CANCER RESEARCH

Application Deadline: Monday, March 27, 2006

 

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the Littlefield 2000 Trust have entered into a new partnership to establish the Jeannik M. Littlefield-AACR Grants in Metastatic Colon Cancer Research. Support of $100,000 to $250,000 over one or two years is available for innovative research projects designed to accelerate the discovery and development of new agents to treat metastatic colon cancer. Proposals that focus on pre-clinical research with direct therapeutic intent also will be accepted. Special emphasis will be placed on promising research for individualized treatments or other novel cancer therapeutics which will translate into clinical applications within a one- to two-year period.  Researchers who are affiliated with any institution involved in cancer research, cancer medicine, or cancer-related biomedical science anywhere in the world may apply. For more information, visit the AACR website at http://www.aacr.org/page5528.aspx . To apply, visit the proposal CENTRAL website at http://v2.ramscompany.com .

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.