Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

 

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Cancer Center Update

December 12 , 2006

Cancer Center Update is sent to Cancer Center members and staff every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Please submit items to Sandi Sherman, sherm019@umn.edu, by noon the previous Friday.

In This Issue

Today's Cancer Center Seminar - Canceled

News

Events

Professional Education and Events

Grant Information and Announcements

NIH Grant Announcements

Other Funding Opportunities

Reminders

Today's Cancer Center Seminar

No seminar due to American Society of Hematology meeting.

A peek at next week's seminar:
GI cancer chemoprevention: Separating the wheat from the chaff
Paul J. Limburg, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Host: Stephen Hecht, Ph.D.

For a complete schedule visit the Cancer Center Web site Seminar Series listing.

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News

Mulrooney presents findings at ASH meeting

Dan Mulrooney, M.D., presented the findings of his study "Twenty years of follow up among survivors of childhood and young adult acute myeloid leukemia: A report of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study" to the media December 11 at the 48th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Orlando, Fla. Mulrooney's study was selected for inclusion in ASH's press program to highlight some of the most important research being presented at ASH to the more than 100 journalists from around the world covering the meeting. To read more about the study and see the list of all Cancer Center researchers presenting information at this year's ASH meeting, go to the Cancer Center Web site.

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Tobacco researchers brief legislators about tobacco and smoking issues

Tobacco research leaders Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., Kristen Anderson, Ph.D., Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., and Harry Lando, Ph.D., briefed several staffers of Minnesota legislators last week about tobacco and smoking issues. The briefing was done in collaboration with School of Public Health and University Relations. Its purpose was to provide facts about tobacco and smoking to staffers involved in drafting legislation, and to lay groundwork for Smoke Free Day at the Capitol on January 30 and other related efforts in the new year.

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Members in the news

Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., was quoted in the Palm Beach Post about nicotine vaccine and its use in helping smokers quit cigarettes.

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Cancer Center staff honored

At the Cancer Center holiday recognition event December 7, Cancer Center Director John Kersey, M.D., presented Years of Service Awards to the following faculty and staff members:

  • 5 years of service: Peter Fleck, Richard Huismann, Danielle Jin, Sandeep Kataria, Gina Kennedy, Marilee Larkin, Katie Mellskog, Laurie Reichelm Jeanne Reiter, Wei Chen, Irina Stepanov
  • 10 years of service: Steven Carmella, Brandon Doyle, Stephen Hecht, Jon (Brad) Hochalter, Bonnie Houg, David Largaespada, Sharon Murphy, Pramod Upahyaya, Mingyao Wang
  • 15 years of service: Robin Bliss, Christopher Pennell, John Wagner
  • 20 years of service: Sandra Horn
  • 25 years of service: Ginny Oie
  • 30 years of service: Linda Kruse

In addition, Cancer Center Deputy Director Tucker LeBien presented Dr. Kersey with an award honoring his 35 years of service to the University of Minnesota. Thanks to all for your contributions to the Cancer Center and the University of Minnesota.

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Cancer Center in the community

Cancer Center members often speak to student and community groups about cancer biology, specific cancers, and cancer research. Recent speaking engagements have included Bloomington Kennedy High School, Waite Park Community School, and the Division of Indian Work. Read more and learn how to participate at the Cancer Center Web site.

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Call for 2007 award nominations

Civic engagement begins in our campus community. Nominations for the following annual awards that honor the engagement, contributions, and leadership of University women are being actively solicited. The presentation of these awards and the Distinguished Women Scholars Awards at the annual spring Celebrating University Women event on April 25, 2007 in the McNamara Alumni Center's Memorial Hall. Award summaries are provided below. NOTE: The deadline for all of the following awards is February 15, 2007.

Mullen/Spector/Truaz Women's Leadership Award: Annual award in the names of three women leaders whose work on behalf of women spanned many years at the University. This $1000 professional development award recognizes a woman faculty member or staff member who has made outstanding contributions to women's leadership development at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.

Civil Service/Bargaining Unit (CBSU) Award: University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus award funded by the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources. This award recognizes CSBU staff women who have made outstanding contributions to improve the work environment for CSBU employees (up to three $1000 awards given annually).

Sharon L. Doherty Student Award: This annual award ($400 U of M Bookstores gift certificate) is funded by the Office for University Women. It is given to a female graduate or undergraduate student on the University's Twin Cities campus who has contributed outstanding volunteer service regarding women's issues on campus or in the broader community.

Nomination materials are available at the Office for University Women Web site. Click on Awards & Grants to find individual award guidelines, nomination forms, and letters of support information, as well as fliers for posting within your department or office. For more information contact Office for University Women at 625-9837 or e-mail women@umn.edu.

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Events

Special Seminar

Wednesday, December 13, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Molecular heterogeneity in AML
Harmut Döhner, M.D., Medical Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Director of Medicine, Director of Comprehensive Cancer Cetner, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany

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Cancer Biology Journal Club

Wednesday, December 13, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 5-122 MCB
Mike Gerner will present "Targeting of CD44 eradicates human acute myelid leukemic stem cells," Jin et. al. (2006) Nature Medicine.

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 Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).

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Professional Education and Seminars

Cancer Progression and Metastasis Seminar

Wednesday, December 13, 2006, 12-1 p.m., 2-137 Jackson Hall (Room change)
Vascular development in the zebrafish: Implications for cancer biology
Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota

For a complete schedule visit the Web site.

Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group

Friday, December 15, 2006, 11:30-1 p.m., Mayo D199
Overview of bioinformatics resources applicable to epidemiology
Anne-Françoise Lamblin, Ph.D., Bioinformatics Lead
Kevin Silverstein, Ph.D., Bioinformatics Scientist
University of Minnesota Cancer Center Informatics Shared Resource Bioinformatics Group

For a complete schedule visit the Web site.

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Cancer Biology Research Club

Friday, December 15, 2006, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
Synthesis of bispecific fusion toxins for carcinoma therapy
Brad Stish, Vallera lab

For a complete schedule visit the Web site.

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BMT Conference

Monday, December 18, 2006
Thinking outside the dish
Jakub Tolar, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation

For a complete schedule visit the Web site.

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Grant Information and Announcements

NIH grant announcements

Rapid Access to Intervention Development (RAID)
The Genes, Environment, and Development Initiative (U01)
Cross-Disciplinary Translational Research at NIH (R01)
 Pathophysiology of Bisphosphonates-associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (R01)

Other funding opportunities

Pfizer Medical and Academic Partnerships (MAP) Grants
Pfizer Visiting Professorships
$7,500 each
Deadline: January 26, 2007

Pfizer Fellowships and Scholars Grants
Deadline: January 9, 2007

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award
This award protects and cultivates promising young physicians willing to devote their careers to the development and application of new diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies for cancer and cancer prevention through clinical investigation. This opportunity limits the number of applications from an institution. To register interest with the University, go to Office of Research Web site. For more information, go to the Damon Runyon Web site.
Deadlines: University internal review: January 5, 2007
Sponsor's Deadline: March 1, 2007

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Reminders

Holiday ornaments benefit Children's Cancer Research Fund

This year, Children's Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) ornaments are available in Target stores and online. Ten percent of the purchase price will be contributed to CCRF. To order online visit www.target.com.

Barnes and Noble Holiday Book Drive to benefit Care Partners at University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview

The Barnes and Noble stores in Burnsville, Apple Valley, Maplewood, and downtown Minneapolis have chosen the Care Partners Book Cart program as the recipient of their Holiday Book Drive. Customers will be encouraged to purchase books to be donated to the program in which volunteers wheel a cart stocked with new books to the pediatric units every week. Each child is given a book to keep, which the volunteer offers to read aloud. The Care Partners program is funded in part by the Children's Cancer Research Fund, and provides its services at University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview. For more information visit the Web site.

Help in the fight against childhood cancer with Children's Cancer Research Fund note cards

Mary Schultze is taking orders for the Butterfly note cards (12/pkg @ $15/pkg) to benefit the Children's Cancer Research Fund. There are four different butterflies, each one designed by a child currently undergoing cancer treatment. Mary can be reached at schul032@umn.edu, 612-626-2961.

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 www.shopccrf.com.

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