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Researchers and Staff
Cancer Center Update
May 16, 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
Role of myeloid translocation gene family members in acute leukemia and stem cell functions
Scott Hiebert, Ph.D., professor, Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University
Host: Jennifer Westendorf, Ph.D.
A peek at next week's seminar:
Lifestyle influence on breast cancer risk and recurrence
Rowan T. Chlebowski, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Chief, Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Host: Alice Shapiro, Ph.D.
Co-Sponsored by the Minnesota Obesity Center
For a complete schedule visit the Masonic Cancer Center Seminar Web site.
KUDOS TO RECIPIENTS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY (AHS) TRAINEE RESEARCH AWARDS
Congratulations to Rizwan Romee, M.D., and Elliot Stephenson, on their selection as recipients of ASH Trainee Research Awards. Romee, currently a first-year resident in Internal Medicine, is mentored by Dan Kaufman, M.D, Ph.D., member of the Masonic Cancer Center 's Transplant Biology and Therapy Program and assistant professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation. He will study the role of Wnt proteins on early human blood cell development from embryonic stem cells.
Stephenson, a second-year medical student, is mentored by Kalpna Gupta, Ph.D., member of the Masonic Cancer Center 's Breast Cancer Research Program and assistant professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation. His research will focus on the role of opioid receptor-mediated tranasctivation of VEGF receptor Flk1 in tissue remodeling.
Each ASH award includes $4,000 for research support and $1,000 to attend the 2006 ASH Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. in December.
CANCER CENTER MEMBERS IN THE NEWS…
Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., was quoted locally in the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Minnesota Public Radio and WCCO Radio about a research study he led that found cancer-causing agents in the urine of infants who have parents that smoke. The story also was featured in media throughout the United States and world including CBS News, Fox News, Forbes, WebMD, Mirror in the U.K., Winnipeg Free Press in Canada, Belfast Telegram in Ireland and others. The study was published in the May issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. Hecht conducted the study in collaboration with Steven Carmella, Ky-Ahn Le, Sharon Murphy, Angela Boettcher, Chap Le, Joseph Koopmeiners, Larry An and Deborah Hennrikus, all with the Masonic Cancer Center and Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center.
Ashish Kumar, M.D., was quoted in the Duluth News Tribune about two brothers who were treated for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and x-linked agammaglobulinemia at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview.
Daniel Mulrooney, M.D., was quoted in a story about childhood cancer survivors on WCCO-TV and in the Austin Star-Telegram.
EVENTS
SEVENTH ANNUAL SHARED RESOURCES POSTER SESSION AND SYMPOSIUM MAY 18
The 7th Annual Cancer Center Shared Resources Spring Poster Session and Symposium will take place on Thursday, May 18, 2006, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oral presentations will be from 11–Noon in 450 CCRB. Following the presentations, participants can view posters, meet the researchers and enjoy lunch from 12-1:30 p.m. on all floors of the Masonic Cancer Research Building.
Presenters and topics are as follows:
- Ketan Patel, Gaffney Lab
Role of slug (SNAI2) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) - Rachana Visaria, Ph.D., Bischof Lab
Novel drug delivery system to enhance vascular/thermal injury - Xianzheng Zhou, M.D., Ph.D.
Sleeping Beauty transposon mediated T cell therapy for leukemia
Tucker LeBien, Ph.D., deputy director of the Masonic Cancer Center and associate director of basic sciences programs, will moderate the session.
Please join with us as we learn about and celebrate the exciting research that is happening in the Masonic Cancer Center!
UNIVERSITY CHEMICAL-BIOLOGY INITIATIVE WORKSHOP MAY 17
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 allotted 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, visit http://www.pharmacy.umn.edu/cbi/workshop/home.html.
RECRUITMENT SEMINAR
Monday, May 22, 2006, 10-11 a.m., 450 CCRB
Targeting the metastatic phenotype regulated by the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor
Deepali Sachdev, Ph.D., research associate, Masonic Cancer Center
Dr. Sachdev is a candidate for a faculty position in the Breast Cancer Program.
CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY INTEREST GROUP
Friday, May 19, 2006, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Mayo D-327
The epidemiology of cancer among Inuit
Jeppe Friborg, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Friborg is a visiting scholar working with Mimi Yu, Ph.D., from the Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen , Denmark .
RSVP to Logan Spector ( spect012@umn.edu ) by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16th to reserve a lunch.
Click to see a complete schedule.
BMT CONFERENCE
Monday, May 22, 2006, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
One stone kills two birds: Sleeping Beauty mediated T cell therapy for leukemia
Xianzheng Zhou, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota
Click to see a complete schedule.
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.
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 .