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Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota

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Cancer Center Update

January 16, 2007

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

News

Education and Events

Cancer Center Program Meetings

Grant Information and Announcements

 

Today's Cancer Center Seminar

Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 12 p.m.-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Cell death signaling and cancer therapeutics
M. Saeed Sheikh, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Syracuse
Host: Khalil Ahmed, Ph.D.

A peek at next week's seminar:
Molecular epidemiology of HPV and cervical cancer: The road from etiologic understanding to preventive strategies
Allan Hildesheim, Ph.D., Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute
Host: Mimi Yu, Ph.D.

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

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News

Members in the news

Irina Stepanov, Ph.D., Cancer Center research associate, was interviewed on WCCO radio about her study published in the December issue Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention demonstrating for the first time that a chemical derived from a cancer-causing agent in tobacco products can be found in toenails. United Press International also picked up this story. Read more.

In the Academic Health Center's Health Talk & You column, which is distributed to newspapers statewide, Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., leader of the Masonic Cancer Center's Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program, describes the risks associated with exposing children to secondhand smoke. Read more.

The January issue of Accelerate, published by the AHC Office of Clinical Research, describes how the General Clinical Research Center has supported the pediatric cancer survivor studies of Cancer Prevention and Etiology Program members Julia Steinberger, M.D., M.S., and K. Scott Baker, M.D., M.S., who is also a member of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Program. Read more (PDF).

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American Thoracic Society honors Bitterman

The American Thoracic Society has selected Peter B. Bitterman, M.D., a member of the Cancer Progression and Metastasis Program, to receive the 2007 Recognition Award for Scientific Accomplishment. Bitterman is being honored for "lifelong outstanding scientific contributions to the understanding, prevention, and treatment of lung disease." He will receive the award in May at the ATS International Conference in San Francisco.

Robien receives award for journal article

Kim Robien, Ph.D., a member of the Cancer Prevention and Etiology Program, has been selected to receive the 2006 George Santos Award for best clinical science article by a new investigator by the editors of Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. The award is for her article "Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase and Thymidylate Synthase Genotypes and Risk of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia," published in the September 2006 issue of the journal. The award will be presented during the BMT Tandem Meetings in Keystone, Colo. in February. Read the journal article.

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CCFA names Rothenberger Outstanding Physician of the Year

David Rothenberger, M.D., co-leader of the Translational Research Program, was chosen as the 2007 Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America Outstanding Physician of the Year for the Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter. There will be an awards ceremony June 9.

Vickers elected SSAT trustee

Selwyn Vickers, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery and Cancer Center member, was elected as trustee of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

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New Cancer Center pathologist

The Masonic Cancer Center Histopathology Shared Resource is pleased to announce the upcoming addition (March 2007) of Dr. Gerry O'Sullivan, board certified veterinary pathologist. Dr. O'Sullivan currently serves as the head of pathology at 3M Pharmaceuticals. This additional position was made possible due to the increased volume of work being submitted to the resource.

New member

Hee Yun Lee, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
Program area of interest: Prevention and Etiology
Area of scientific interest: Research on quality-of-life issues of minority older people with cancer; development of psychosocial intervention for older adults.

New University travel policies

As of December 2006, travel to Canada is now considered international travel. In addition, please note that extra charges for aisle seats are not a reimbursable expense. Visit the University Policy Library for more information about University travel policies

Effective January 1, 2007, the mileage reimbursement rate has changed to 48.4 cents per mile. A new Employee Expense Worksheet is available that will automatically calculate total expenses. PDF forms can be downloaded form the University Forms Library (PDF) .

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Education and Events

Cancer Biology Journal Club

Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 12-1 p.m., 5-122 MCB
Micah Gearhart, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Bardwell lab, will present the paper "A stem cell-like chromatin pattern may predispose tumor suppressor genes to DNA hypermethylation and heritable silencing," Ohm J et al. (Nat Genet. 2007 Jan 9)

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).

Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases Conference

Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 4-5 p.m., 450 CCRB
Current Treatment Modalities in Retinoblastoma in Childhood
Vivian Nnebe, M.D., Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/BMT
For more information contact Linda Devoe, 612-626-2778

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Cervical Cancer News Conference with Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, Levi Downs

Thursday, January 18, 2007, 11 a.m., Sanford Hall, 1122 University Avenue S.E., Minneapolis.
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau and Levi Downs, M.D., gynecologic oncologist and Cancer Center member, will hold a news conference to highlight the importance of cervical cancer awareness and prevention. Coverage of the news conference will be available on the Masonic Cancer Center Web site as well as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month resources, including an interactive quiz.

Population Sciences Faculty Town Meeting

Thursday, January 18, 2007, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
The purpose of the first Population Sciences faculty town meeting is to foster collaborations among individuals and provide updates on Cancer Center activities. The agenda will include updates from Cancer Center Administration, Clinical Sciences, and Basic Sciences and Core Facilities. In addition, Steve Hecht, Ph.D., Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., and DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., will provide updates on the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention and Prevention and Etiology Programs. Parking tickets will be validated and lunch will be provided at the beginning of the meeting. For more information contact Ginny Oie at 612-626-2902.

Special Seminar

Friday, January 19, 2007, 1-2 p.m., 450 CCRB
HSCT for pediatric APL: Current status and future directions
Christopher C. Dvorak, M.D., Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center
Sponsored by K. Scott Baker, M.D., Associate Professor, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program. Refreshments provided.

Stem Cell Conference

Monday, February 26, 2007, Coffman Memorial Union
"Creating Stem Cells by Research Cloning: Scientific, Ethical, Legal & Policy Challenges" will explore the issues raised by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the options open to universities, and how policy should progress. The conference is sponsored by the University's Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences, Joint Degree Program in Law, Health, & the Life Sciences, Academic Health Center, and Stem Cell Institute. Visit www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/conferences/scnt.php or e-mail lawvalue@umn.edu for more information and to register.

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Cancer Center Program Meetings

Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program Seminar

Thursday, January 18, 2007, 4:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
Metabolism of tobacco-specific carcinogens 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) by CYP2A13 polymorphic variants and functional characterization of CYP2A13 mutant Asn297Ala
Kari Schlicht, Graduate Student, Murphy Lab

For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/outreach/seminars-carcinogenesis.html

Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group

Friday, January 19, 2007, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Room A-110 Mayo Building (next to the room from last semester)
Genetic epidemiology of CLL and the GEC Consortium
Susan L. Slager, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Please RSVP to Logan Spector (spector@epi.umn.edu) by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, if you would like lunch. For a complete schedule visit http://www.cancer.umn.edu/outreach/seminars-epidemiology.html.

Cancer Biology Research Club

Friday, January 19, 2007, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
Heat shock protein 70-induced activation of dendritic cells and antigen-specific CD8+ T cells
Christopher Pennell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
For a complete schedule visit www.cancer.umn.edu/outreach/cbrclub.html.

BMT Conference

Monday, January 22, 2007, 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
Non-myeloablative sibling donor transplants
Marcie Tomblyn, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule visit the Web site.

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Grant Information and Announcements

AHC Faculty Seed Grant Program 2007

The Academic Health Center (AHC) is requesting applications for seed grants to fund faculty research. These funds will be distributed through a competitive peer review process. Fourteen awards will be funded. The maximum award per project is $25,000. For details, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/research/funding/seedgrants/home.html.
Deadline: April 6, 2007

NIH NOTICES:

Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for Dissemination of Surveillance Research
 (NOT-CA-07-004)
National Cancer Institute
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-CA-07-004.html

NIH REQUESTS FOR APPLICATIONS:

CDC Mentored Public Health Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
 (RFA-CD-07-003)
Office of Public Health Research
Application Receipt Date(s): March 30, 2007
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CD-07-003.html

NIH PROGRAM ANNOUCEMENTS:

Mechanisms, Models, Measurement, and Management in Pain Research (R01)
(PA-07-282)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-282.html

Information Technologies and the Internet in Health Services and Intervention Delivery (R01)
(PA-07-295)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-295.html

NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00)
(PA-07-297)
National Institutes of Health Application
Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-297.html

Community Participation in Research (R01)
(PAR-07-283)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): May 17, 2007
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-283.html

Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness Studies of CAM Using Existing Practice-based Research Networks (R21)
 (PAR-07-291)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): April 10, 2007; April 10, 2008; April 10, 2009
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-291.html

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