Public and Patients
- About Us
- Cancer Information
- Clinical Trials
- Events & Outreach
- Make a Gift
- News & Feature Stories
- Survivorship
Researchers and Staff
Cancer Center Update
April 18, 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:
Professional Education and Seminars
Grant Information & Announcements
Update of gene-based vaccines in NSCLC
John Nemunaitis, M.D., Executive Director of the Mary Crowley Medical Research Center
Host: Scott McIvor, Ph.D.
A peek at next week's seminar:
The transcription factor ZEB1 in uterine cancers
Jennifer Richer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Host: Carol Lange , Ph.D.
For a complete schedule,visit
http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/aboutus/date.html
RECOGNITION AWARD NOMINATIONS DEADLINE APRIL 21
Nominations are now open for the recognition award in Administration and Outreach. Administrative and Outreach staff, as well as other staff and faculty contributing to the Masonic Cancer Center in these areas, are eligible for this award. Nominees do not need to be Cancer Center employees.
Click to submit a nomination online. Nomination forms may be requested from Melissa Daufelt by email at cchr@umn.edu or telephone at 626-3410. The submission deadline for nominations is April 21, 2006. Please join us for the Administration and Outreach recognition event Friday, April 28 at 2 p.m. in room 450 CCRB.
RECRUITMENT SEMINAR
Thursday, April 27, 2006, 10-11 a.m., room 140 WBOB
Genetic susceptibility to lung cancer: A molecular epidemiologic approach
Hua Zhao, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center, New Orleans
Dr. Zhao is a candidate for a faculty position in Cancer Genetic Epidemiology.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 28 FOR CANCER CENTER SPRING POSTER SESSION AND SYMPOSIUM
Online registration is now open for those wishing to present posters or oral presentations on their research at the Seventh Annual Spring Poster Session and Symposium sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center Core Facilities scheduled for May 18. The registration deadline is April 28. The poster session and symposium will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with oral presentations from 11 a.m. to noon followed by poster session and lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. Students, staff, post-docs and PIs are invited to participate by presenting a poster. Click to register online.
Due to the increasing number (and size!) of posters and the limited amount of display space, we have decided to display the first 35 abstracts/posters that are submitted in the Masonic Cancer Center atrium areas. Other posters will be displayed as space permits in other areas of the Masonic Cancer Center . All abstracts will be printed in the program booklet. For more information, call Susan Collins at 4-0659 or send an email to colli017@umn.edu .
THE STICK IT TO CANCER WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
Do you enjoy hockey? Want to help raise money for the Masonic Cancer Center? The Stick it to Cancer Women's Ice Hockey Tournament will be April 21-23, 2006 at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine. This 70-80 team hockey tournament with 1,000+ girls and women participating began eight years ago to raise funds for breast cancer research. Teams from Wisconsin , Michigan , North Dakota and Ontario , Canada come to participate. The Masonic Cancer Center has been selected to receive the proceeds this year. Last year they raised $36,000 for breast cancer research.
Approximately 100 volunteers are needed for the following positions: Ticket taker / ticket seller, referees, EMTs, score clocks and merchandise sales. If you would like to volunteer or want more information about the tournament, please contact Jackie at 763-792-7340 or jolson@superrink.org . Visit the web site for more information.
THE 15TH ANNUAL MARK E. NESBIT LECTURESHIP IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY
Friday, May 12, 2006, Noon, 450 Cancer Center Research Building
“Curing Childhood and Adolescent AML at the Half-Way Point”
William G. Woods, M.D., Director and Chief Medical Officer, Daniel P. Amos Children's Chair for the Aflac Cancer Center, and Blood Disorders Service, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplant, Emory University/Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
For more information contact Linda S. DeVoe, 612-626-2778.
CHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND 4 TH ANNUAL TIME TO FLY WALK/RUN JUNE 24
Help win the race against childhood cancer by participating in the Time to Fly Walk/Run on Harriet Island . The fourth annual event benefiting Children's Cancer Research Fund features something for everyone: competitive runners, recreational runners and walkers, and kids of all ages. Events include a 5K walk, 10K and 5K runs, and 1K and 2K Kids' Fun Runs. Both the 10K and 5K events are certified courses. Proceeds support childhood cancer research at the University of Minnesota .
Visit the Children's Cancer Research Fund web site to learn more about the event and how you can help support Children's Cancer Research Fund as part of the new Team Challenge .
CHEMICAL BIOLOGY INTERFACE SYMPOSIUM JUNE 1, 2006
Registration and program information is now available for the Chemical Biology Interface Symposium, Thursday, June 1 at the St. Paul campus. This symposium will focus on cutting-edge science which combines different disciplinary approaches in chemistry, physics, molecular biology, biochemistry, etc. Guest speakers include scientists from Harvard Medical School , Genentech, University of Wisconsin- School of Pharmacy and the University of Minnesota . Two poster sessions also will be held, so be sure to register to present your research. For registration and program information, visit Symposium 2006.
REMINDER TO EMPLOYEES: MEAL EXPENSES NOW REIMBURSED AT A FLAT PER DIEM RATE
Employees in travel status (travel requiring an overnight stay) on University business will be reimbursed a flat per diem rate for travel-related meal expenses. Receipts are not required (under any circumstances) to be reimbursed for travel meals when using the appropriate per diem amount. Reimbursements will be made in accordance with the Federal State Department Per Diem daily amounts as published on the GSA website. For a listing of current federal Domestic Per Diem Rates, visit the GSA web site for domestic travel, click on "Per Diem Rates" and select the appropriate year and state.
HISTOPATHOLOGY CORE HAS NEW PHONE NUMBER
The Masonic Cancer Center 's Histopathology Core has a new telephone number – 612-624-CCHC (2242).
PEDIATRIC CANCER AND BLOOD DISEASES CONFERENCE
Thursday, April 20, 2006, 4 p.m., D-417 Mayo Building (Neuro-surgery Conference Room)
Factors Predicting Outcome in Patients with Fanconi Anemia after Alternate Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Suleimman Alsweedan, M.D., Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT
EPIDEMIOLOGY INTEREST GROUP MEETING
Friday, April 21, 2006, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Mayo A110
Oral cancer and preneoplasia
Nelson L. Rhodus, D.M.D., M.P.H., Professor and Director, Division of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry
Please RSVP to Logan Spector, ( spector@epi.umn.edu ) by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, to reserve a lunch.
Click here for a complete schedule.
CANCER BIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUB
Friday, April 21, 2006, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
NOM1: a novel nucleolar protein encoded within the chromosome 7q36 breakpoint region targeted in cases of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia
Kathleen Conklin, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
Click here for a complete schedule.
BMT CONFERENCE
Monday, April 24, 2006, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
Nonmyeloablative transplantation for myeloma
Brian McClune, D.O., Chief Fellow, Hematology/Oncology, University of Tennessee , Health Science Center
BMT Faculty Candidate
Hosted by: Daniel Weisdorf, M.D.
Click to see a complete schedule.
GRANT INFORMATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS
2006 CANCER CENTER INTERNAL GRANT PROGRAMS DEADLINE APRIL 28
The Masonic Cancer Center announces the availability of three internal grant programs. The goal of these programs is to foster the development of and provide support for novel research ideas that focus on a problem in cancer. In turn, the Masonic Cancer Center expects that internal funding will lead to nationally peer reviewed funding.
Brainstorm Awards – The objective of the Brainstorm Awards is to foster new interdisciplinary collaborations encompassing novel, hypothesis-driven studies of cancer or a cancer-related topic. The proposed project must be a joint, collaborative effort by at least two Cancer Center members from different programs or different disciplines, and must represent a new collaborative proposal.
Cancer Population Sciences Awards – The objective of the Population Sciences Awards is to foster innovative research in Population Sciences which has the potential to form the basis of future research initiatives. Applicants must be members of the Masonic Cancer Center .
Translational Breast Cancer Research Awards –The objective of the Translational Breast Cancer Research Award is to support research in the biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and/or treatment of breast cancer. Applicants must be members of the Masonic Cancer Center .
In prior years, awards have ranged from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $50,000 in direct costs for 1 year. Awards will be made in $25,000 modules. The total funding available for Brainstorm Awards is $100,000 (up to four modules); for the Population Sciences awards, $50,000 (two modules); and for the Breast Cancer Awards, $75,000 (three modules). The application deadline for all three internal grant programs is 4:30 pm on April 28, 2006. All proposals must be hand-delivered to 754 CCRB addressed to the attention of Maggie Thompson, Preaward Services Coordinator. Applicants will be notified of the review outcome by the end of May. Awards will be made for one year, with an anticipated activation date of July 1, 2006. For further information and application instructions, please see the Masonic Cancer Center Web site.
NCI GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENTS FOR STUDIES OF CANCER IN HIV/AIDS
MEMORY T LYMPHOCYTES IN CANCER IMMUNOLOGY (R21)
MEMORY T LYMPHOCYTES IN CANCER IMMUNOLOGY (R01)
EXPLORATORY GRANTS FOR BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH IN CANCER CONTROL (R21)
EXFOLIATED CELLS, BIOACTIVE FOOD COMPONENTS, AND CANCER (R21)
The Histopathology Core of the Masonic Cancer Center at the U of M has an immediate opening for a full-time Assistant Scientist whose primary responsibilities will be as follows: 30%: generate histological sections from paraffin or frozen specimens with subsequent routine or special stains. 30% prepare and evaluate immunohistochemical staining preparations with appropriate troubleshooting techniques. 20%: perform tissue collection and preparation from research animals. 10% develop new and maintain existing professional relationships with laboratories/individuals utilizing the core facility. 10%: general laboratory maintenance. Occasional overtime and weekend work as required. May work with potentially hazardous substances not limited to known/potential teratogens or carcinogens and/or radiolabeled test materials. Work may require PPE (personal protective equipment)
The successful candidate must have a bachelor's degree with a major in a relevant scientific discipline (biology/chemistry) and one year of research experience, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant research experience to total 5 years. Knowledge of immunohistochemistry principles; animal dissection procedures; principles of tissue sectioning and staining; and familiarity with computers for reviewing scientific literature and ordering supplies. Candidates must possess excellent organizational and outstanding interpersonal skills, demonstrate ability to work in a team-oriented environment while also being able to work independently, and must demonstrate ability to do detail-oriented work with excellent results. Experience in scientific writing and experience with digital imaging preferred.
Submit application to the University Job Center or contact Melissa Daufelt at cchr@ahc.umn.edu , Masonic Cancer Center, MMC 806, 420 Delaware St. SE , Minneapolis , MN 55455 .
Md. Joynal Abedin, Ph.D., seeks Research Associate position immediately. Dr. Abedin is currently employed as Research Associate in the Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology at University of Minnesota . Dr. Abedin has experience in most standard molecular and biochemistry techniques. Specialized technical skills include — DNA library construction and screening, Site-directed mutagenesis, Gene knockout in cultured mammalian cells by homologous recombination, Gene silencing by shRNA technology, Kinase assay, Far Western blotting, Bacterial expression of protein, Protein purification, Protein analysis by 2-D electrophoresis, Amino acid sequencing, Yeast two-hybrid system for protein-protein interaction, Affinity purification of antibody, etc. Experience in culturing of different types of mammalian cells, Stable and transient transfections, CAT assay, MTT assay, Chemotaxis assay, etc.
For a detailed CV contact: Md. Joynal Abedin, Ph.D. Tel. 612-379-1491 (home), 612-626-2358 (lab), E-mail: abedin@umn.edu or mdjoynal@yahoo.com . References available upon request.
U OF M CANCER CENTER INVITES PUBLIC TO ASK EXPERTS ABOUT SKIN CANCER, EFFECTS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE
Shedding light on the growing problem of skin cancer and discussing what the big deal is about public smoking will be the topics for the spring 2006 Cancer U: Ask The Experts programs, sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center.
The first program, “Skin Cancer: Shedding Light on a Growing Problem,” will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, at the Radisson University Hotel, 615 Washington Ave., S.E., in Minneapolis. The second program, “What's the Big Deal about Public Smoking?” will be offered Saturday, May 6, also from 9-11 a.m. at the Radisson University Hotel.
The Masonic Cancer Center sponsors the Cancer U: Ask the Experts series in collaboration with its clinical research and treatment partners: University of Minnesota Physicians and University of Minnesota Medical Center . The programs are an opportunity for interested individuals to get accurate information about cancer from University cancer doctors and researchers. For more information please visit the Masonic Cancer Center web site.
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! Click here to find out more and to register.