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Cancer Center Update
October 17 , 2006
In This Issue:
- Cancer Biology Journal Club
- 'Cooking for a Cure' benefit October 21, 2006
- Nanotechnology workshops
- Grant writing seminar—'Getting started as a successful grant-writer and academician'
- 1st Annual Children's Cancer Research Fund Norma K.D. Ramsay, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Professor Lectureship
- Mark your calendars for the Cancer Center holiday event December 7
Professional Education and Events
Grant Information and Annoucements
- Cancer will be the focus of next Mini Medical School
- Support the Children's Cancer Research Fund when you shop
- Children's Cancer Research Fund 2006 Dawn of a Dream Benefit - "Journey to the Ends of the Earth" - tickets are now on sale
Today's Cancer Center Seminar
October 17, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB Nutrition, epigenetics and disease susceptibility
Randy Jirtle, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University
Host: Julie Ross, Ph.D.
A peek at next week's seminar:
Tuesday, October 24, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Oncogenic retroviruses exploit cell-cell signaling conduits, cytonemes, for the purpose of cell-to-cell spread
Walther Mothes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine
Host: Reuben Harris, Ph.D.
For a complete schedule visit the Cancer Center Web site Seminar Series listing.
News
Members in the News
Ann Mertens, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics and member of the Cancer Center's Prevention and Etiology Research Program, was quoted in the New York Times, Pioneer Press and on Minnesota Public Radio about a study in the October 12 New England Journal of Medicine on the increased risk of illnesses childhood cancer survivors face later in life. Dr. Mertens co-authored the study. Read more.
Mary Ahrens, Cancer Center member, genetic counselor and clinic coordinator of the University of Minnesota Familial Cancer, was interviewed by NBC-TV in San Diego, WNBC-TV in New York and NBC4-TV in Washington, D.C., about genetic testing for cancer. This article appeared in numerous outlets across the country. Read more.
Margot Cleary, Ph.D., professor at The Hormel Institute and member of the Cancer Center's Prevention and Etiology Program, was interviewed by KAAL-TV and the Austin Daily Herald this week about grant award from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Dr. Cleary's research focuses on links between obesity, weight gain, and post-menopausal breast cancer. Watch the interview.
Jim McCarthy, Ph.D, professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and leader of the Cancer Center's Cancer Progression and Metastasis Program, was interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered on Thursday, Oct. 12 about prostate cancer research at the Mayo Clinic that has discovered a protein that is a potential target in the prevention of cancer. Haojie Huang, Ph.D., who recently joined the faculty of the Cancer Center after holding a faculty position at MayoThe study, was the first author on the study, published in the October 13 issue of Science. Read more.
Van Ness speaking at two national meetings
Brian Van Ness, Ph.D., professor of Genetics, Biology and Development and member of the Cancer Center's Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, has been scheduled to present his work on the discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms that influence risk of developing multiple myeloma and responsiveness to subsequent treatments. On October 10 he presented "Custom SNP chip design and analytical approaches to assess variation in pathways associated with risk and therapeutic responses in cancer clinical trials" at the American Society of Human Genetics meeting. At the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention conference on November 14, he will speak on "Risk assessment, progression, and response predictions using a custom functional SNP chip in myeloma and monoclonal gammopathies.
New Members
Michael J. Burke, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation
Program area(s) of interest: Translational Research, Cancer Progression and Metastasis
Clinical focus: Hematopoietic malignancies; Childhood cancer
Area of scientific interest: Childhood leukemias
Simona Ognjanovic, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Program area of interest: Immunology
Clinical focus: Childhood cancer
Area of scientific interest: Inflammatory biomarkers in rare childhood cancers; obesity and childhood cancer risk
Janet L. Thomas, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
Program: Prevention and Etiology
Area of scientific interest: Social support and tobacco cessation among underserved populations
Events
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, October 17, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 5-122 MCB
Todd Knutson will discuss "HSulf-1 inhibits angiogenesis and tumorigenesis in vivo" Narita et al. Cancer Res 2006; 66: 6025-6032.
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. A complete schedule is available at the MICaB Web site. For more information contact: Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Saplis (sapl0005@umn.edu).
'Cooking for a Cure' benefit October 21, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Medtronic, Fridley, MN
Cooking for a Cure is a food and wine tasting event sponsored by the Cancer Benefit Fund. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds will be donated to the University of Minnesota Cancer Center. Visit the Cancer Benefit Fund Web site for more information and to purchase tickets.
Health Sciences Library Open House October 24, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 555 Diehl Hall
There's no bones about it--you can find health information from head to toe at the Health Sciences Libraries. You can learn more at our fall Open House! Join us to learn about library resources, see our new space improvements, meet with library staff, enjoy refreshments, win fabulous prizes, and more. Visit the Biomedical Library Web site for more information.
Nanotechnology workshops
Thursday, November 9, 2006, 8:30 a.m-5 p.m., University Ballroom, Radisson Hotel, 615 Washington Ave., S.E., Minneapolis
Full-day workshop co-hosted by University of Minnesota's NNIN node and the Canadian government with presentations and discussions on issues relating to active nanostructures including nano-energy, sensors, nano-bio and more.
Friday, November 10, 2006, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., University Ballroom, Radisson Hotel, 615 Washington Ave., S.E., Minneapolis
3rd Annual Minnesota Biomedical Nanotechnology Workshop
Co-sponsored by the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota
To register for these free workshops contact Tricia Conway (conwa012@umn.edu) or Becky Von Dissen (vondi001@umn.edu). Visit the NanoBiotechnology Intiative Web site for more information.
Grant writing seminar: Getting started as a successful grant-writer and academician
Tuesday, November 14, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Aragon Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Metrodome (West Bank)
The University of Minnesota is hosting a one-day grant-writing seminar designed for junior faculty members, postdoctoral research fellows, research staff, and graduate assistants who are beginning their careers in research and writing grant applications. David C. Morrison, Ph.D., an experienced academician, grant manager, and grant-reviewer, will present the seminar. Dr. Morrison has a wealth of experience and knowledge in proposal writing which has kept him continuously funded by peer-reviewed federal, foundation, and industry sources for more than 30 years. He is co-founder of "Grant Writers' Seminars and Workshops, L.L.C" through which he has helped faculty members throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe improve their grant writing skills and their success in meriting research support.
The registration fee for this seminar is $50. Space is limited to 100 participants and will fill very quickly; advance registration is required. Contact Barb Hartman, 612-626-2095, b-hart@umn.edu.
1st Annual Children's Cancer Research Fund Norma K.D. Ramsay, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Professor Lectureship
Friday, November 17, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Human polymorphism and childhood cancer: How we are different and how we are the same
Stella M. Davies, M.B.B.S, Ph.D., M.R.C.P., Jacob G. Schmidlapp Endowed Chair and Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Mark your calendars for the Cancer Center holiday event December 7
This year's Cancer Center holiday event will begin at 4 p.m., Thursday, December 7 in the West Wing of the Campus Club. Appetizers, beverages, and live entertainment will be provided.
Professional Education and Seminars
Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group
Friday, October 20, 2006, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., D199 Mayo
Vivek Kapur, Ph.D., rector of the BioMedical Genomics Center, Professor, Department of Microbiology, will be speaking and answering questions about the capabilities of his facility.
RSVP to Logan Spector (spector@epi.umn.edu) by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18, if you would like lunch.
For a complete schedule visit the Web site.Cancer Biology Research Club
Friday, October 20, 2006
The October 20 meeting has been canceled.
Refreshments will be available. For a complete schedule visit the Web site.
BMT Conference
Monday, October 23, 2006, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
Iron overload following HCT
Navneet Majhail, M.D., Fellow, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation
Randomized Phase II study of zoledronic acid in the prevention of osteoporsis
-and-
Bexxar BEAM for NHL
Linda Burns, M.D., Associate Professor, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation
A Phase II randomized, multicenter trial comparing sirolimus/tacrolimus with tacrolimus/methotrexate as Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD)
Prophylaxis after HLA-matched, related peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
Margaret MacMillan, M.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation
What does CSA do to NK Cells?
Michael Verneris, M.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Nonmyeloablative UCB transplantation
Myeloablative UCB Transplantation
Claudio Brunstein, M.D. Assistant Professor Department of Medicine, Division of HOT
GVHD studies
Daniel Weisdorf, M.D., Professor of Medicine Director, Adult Blood & Marrow Transplant Program
-and-
Mukta Arora, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of HOT, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule, visit our Web site.
Grant Information and Annoucements
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
Application Fee: $50
Cycle 1 Deadline: February 28
Grants and Fellowships awarded for two years at $40,000 per year for a total of $80,000
The mission of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation is cancer prevention and early detection through research, education, and community outreach. The Foundation defines cancer prevention as the "reduction of cancer incidence through research, education, and early detection."
Grant and Postdoctoral Fellowship proposals will be considered in the following categories:
- Basic, clinical, translational, and population-based research projects
- Education programs in cancer prevention
- Early detection projects
- Behavioral intervention projects
Scientific investigators or health professionals who are currently funded by the tobacco industry for any project, or who have been funded by the tobacco industry during the previous four years, or whose named mentors in the case of mentored fellowships are funded by the tobacco industry for any project (currently or during the previous four years) may not apply and will not be eligible for Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation research grants or fellowships after January 1, 2007.
For further information, policies, and application instructions please visit the Web site.
Reminders
Cancer will be the focus of next Mini Medical School
Cancer Center researchers will be the speakers at this fall's Mini Medical School, which will focus on cancer. The topics for the four sessions include: What is cancer?; cancer risks, reality and myths; common cancers; and treatments and innovations. Watch future issues of Update for session descriptions and information about speakers. The series will be offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday evenings, November 6, 13, 20, and 27, at Coffman Memorial Union Theater. Cost is $60 for the four classes. Registration is available online at Academic Health Center's Web site. Please encourage people you know who may be interested in learning more about cancer to register soon because space is limited.
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.