Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

 

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:

News

Events

Professional Education and Seminars

Grant Information & Announcements

Reminders

News

Cancer Center launches redesigned Web site

The Masonic Cancer Center has launched its redesigned, reorganized Web site, www.cancer.umn.edu. Please take a look and e-mail the Web team at ccweb@umn.edu with your comments, questions, and ideas for new features. To learn about new features on the site, visit our News page.

Back to top

Cancer Center member in the news

Robert Kratzke, M.D., was quoted in news reports by St. Paul Pioneer Press, WCCO-TV, KSTP-TV, KARE-TV and Minnesota Public Radio about a study on a new genomic test to predict which lung cancer patients need chemotherapy to live, published in last week's New England Journal of Medicine. The Pioneer Press story was also picked up by newspapers in North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, North Carolina, Georgia, California, Missouri, Kentucky, South Carolina, Minnesota and Illinois, and excerpted by United Press International. Duke University Medical Center researchers led the study; Dr. Kratzke was a co-author. The Masonic Cancer Center's communications team coordinated with Duke's communications team to gain media coverage in the Twin Cities market about the study and Dr. Kratzke's involvement. To read more, visit the Masonic Cancer Center Web site.

Back to top

Cancer Center members featured on Medical School Web site  

Matthew Mescher, Ph.D., member of the Masonic Cancer Center's Immunology Research Program and director of the Center for Immunology at the University of Minnesota, is featured on the home page of the U's Medical School Web site in a story describing his research on killer cells. The 10-year research project had led to the development of a novel vaccine that uses the patient's own cancer cells to activate the killer cells. This vaccine is now being used in clinical trials involving skin and kidney cancer patients, led by Mescher's collaborators and members of the Masonic Cancer Center's Translational Research Program, Arkadiusz Dudek, M.D., Ph.D., and Jeffrey Miller, M.D. To read more visit the Medical School Web site.

Back to top

Kudos

Congratulations to Cancer Center member Vincent Garry, M.D., D.A.B.T., Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, on his recent election to the board of directors of the American Board of Toxicology.

Back to top

Cancer U: Ask the Experts About Women's Cancers August 19 

Sisters in Harmony is hosting a special Cancer U: Ask the Experts panel where doctors from the Masonic Cancer Center and the University of Minnesota Physicians will talk about cancer, how it affects women of color and how to reduce risks. The event takes place at the Center for Families, 3333 4th Street N., Minneapolis. For more information and to register visit the Masonic Cancer Center Web site.

Back to top

Greg Veltri takes flow cytometry director position in U.K.; farewell reception on Aug. 22

After a highly successful tenure as the coordinator of the Masonic Cancer Center's Flow Cytometry Core, Greg Veltri will be leaving at the end of August to for the Cancer Research Institute, Cambridge , U.K., where he will be the Director of Flow Cytometry. Please stop by the CCRB 4th floor atrium to say goodbye and good luck to Greg between noon and 1:30pm on Tuesday, August 22. Dessert, coffee and lemonade will be available.

Back to top

Volunteers needed for U student-staff directory cover photo

The U needs 75-100 students, faculty, and staff to be in the cover photo for the 2006-07 Student-Staff Directory. The photo shoot will be Tuesday, Aug. 15, 3 p.m., in the atrium of Hasselmo Hall (just east of Coffman, view map). Time commitment is about one hour. Participants should wear normal work or school day clothes for the first photo and, if available, bring a maroon or gold top to change into for a second photo. (Note: photos will be shot from above, so no revealing necklines, please.) If interested, e-mail urelate@umn.edu and indicate whether you are a student or a faculty or staff member.

Back to top

Events

Farewell reception for Elaine Bell, Clinical Trials Office Coordinator, on August 15

Join us to celebrate Elaine Bell's contributions and her commitment to clinical research at a reception to wish her farewell on Tuesday, August 15, at 2 p.m. in 450 Cancer Center Research Building. 

Seminar

Wednesday, August 16, 2006, 9-10 a.m., 450 CCRB
Odyssey Infrared Imaging System
Michael van Waes, Ph.D., LI-COR Biosciences

Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Marg Esser at Margaret.esser@licor.com.

Recruitment Seminar

Monday, August 21, 2006, 11-12 p.m., 142 WBOB
Can genetic polymorphisms inform biologic mechanism? Lessons from skin cancer epidemiology.

Heather H. Nelson, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Environmental Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health

Dr. Nelson is a candidate for a faculty position in Cancer Genetic Epidemiology.

Back to top

Professional Education and Seminars

Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group meeting

Friday, Aug. 18, 2006, 11:30-1 p.m., Mayo D327
Why are we seeing the rising incidence of liver cancer in the United States?
Jian-Min Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health

To RSVP for lunch, please contact Logan Spector, 612-624-3912, spect012@umn.edu.

Back to top

Grant Information and Announcements

AHC Faculty Research Development Grants
Deadline: September 22, 2006

Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics Research Grants
 Deadline: September 29, 2006

Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics Infrastructure Grants
Deadline: October 27, 2006

The following opportunity limits the number of applications from an institution. To register interest with the University, visit the Office of the Vice-President for Research Web site.

Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
U of M Internal Review Deadline: September 18, 2006
Sponsor's application deadline: November 1, 2006 For details, go to the Pew Scholar Program Web site.

NIH Grant Opportunities — Selection of Funding Opportunities

National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Education and Career Development Program (R25)

Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08)

Networks and Pathways Collaborative Research Projects (R01)

Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03)

Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21)

Back to top

Reminders

15th Annual University of Minnesota Symposium in Developmental Biology

Gene networks in development: Lessons from C. elegans and beyond
September 26-27, 2006, Coffman Memorial Union, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Campus. 

Information about poster submissions, registration, and program can be found at the Developmental Biology Center Web site.

Current Issues in Clinical Research Conference to be held October 4-5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center

The University of Minnesota Academic Health Center and Mayo Clinical Trial Services are jointly sponsoring a major conference on clinical research. "Current Issues in Clinical Research: Latest Trends in Clinical Research" will take place October 4-5, 2006 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This conference will focus on emerging trends and provide a comprehensive review of clinical research performance. The program will include information on evolving strategies of pharmacovigilance, current issues in genomics and proteomics, principles of good clinical practice, and the mechanics of teamwork in clinical research. An outstanding, nationally prominent faculty has been assembled. This program is designed for clinical research professionals, including principal investigators, study coordinators, nurses, and other research personnel involved in managing and coordinating clinical research.

The regular registration fee for this conference is $550, which includes tuition, comprehensive conference syllabus, continental breakfasts, lunches, and break refreshments. University of Minnesota faculty, research staff, and AHC students and trainees may attend for the highly discounted registration fee of $25. Please indicate that you are from the U of M when you register. More information and the registration form.

Support Children's Cancer Research Fund by visiting the Water Park of America and save on admission

Anyone using a Water Park of America coupon will save $2 on admission per guest to the park through September 1. Each visitor using the coupon available online will also help generate 50 cents for Children's Cancer Research Fund, benefiting childhood cancer research at the University of Minnesota, and WAMSO, benefiting the Minnesota Orchestra.

Support the Children's Cancer Research Fund when you shop  

Just shop online at your favorite stores, or explore the many other affiliates available, and a percentage of each purchase will be donated to the Children's Cancer Research Fund. Start shopping at the Children's Cancer Research Fund "Shop CCRF" Web site. 

Children's Cancer Research Fund 2006 Dawn of a Dream Benefit - "Journey to the Ends of the Earth" - tickets are now on sale

In 1980, after losing their daughter to leukemia, Diana and Norm Hageboeck and their friends organized the first Dawn of a Dream benefit concert, raising $50,000. Today, Dawn of a Dream is one of the largest gala events in the Twin Cities. This year's event, on Saturday, November 4, 2006 will feature a few surprises along with the traditional silent and live auctions, dinner, and live entertainment by Los Lobos. Don't miss your chance to attend the event and support Children's Cancer Research Fund! For more information and to reserve your Journey to the Ends of the Earth tickets now visit the Children's Cancer Research Fund Web site.  

Back to top