Cancer Center Update is sent to Cancer Center members and staff every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Please note: Items for June 5 Cancer Center Update should be submitted to Gina Kennedy (kenne069@umn.edu), by noon June 1.

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In This Issue

Message from the Cancer Center Director

News

Education and Events

Cancer Center Program Meetings

Funding News and Opportunities

 

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Message from the Cancer Center Director

What is a Cancer Center and why have one?

The term "cancer center" lacks a precise definition. Most people link this term to a hospital or clinic. If you ask the average Minnesotan to define the term "NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center", you are likely to draw a blank stare. The National Cancer Institute defines its group of designated comprehensive cancer centers as "the centerpiece of the nations effort to reduce morbidity and mortality from cancer. They are a major source of discovery of the nature of cancer, and of development of more effective approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy". Following the NCI's description, then we, as a Cancer Center, are charged with eliminating cancer's effects on people's lives!

It's pretty clear that no one individual or discipline can be as effective as a collection of talented investigators and staff. We are more than a hospital or clinic or basic research center. To paraphrase a popular term, "it takes a University" to meet the challenge of cancer and that's why our Cancer Center was formed. The NCI has awarded the Comprehensive Cancer Center designation to only 39 institutions in the United States. Minnesota is fortunate to have two comprehensive centers—ours and Mayo Clinic's.

Every five years, each Cancer Center is judged by the submission of a grant to the NCI that details the comprehensive nature and merit of its research programs. John Kersey, M.D., led us through two successful submissions. Our next competitive grant renewal application is due in February 2008. In my next Update message, I'll tell you how we are planning our grant submission and how you can help with this effort.

Doug

Douglas Yee, M.D.
Director, University of Minnesota Cancer Center
Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology
Tickle Family Land Grant Chair in Breast Cancer Research

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News

Members in the news

Rudolph Keimowitz, M.D., clinical associate professor of hematology at the University of Minnesota and physician with Fairview's Transitions and Life Choices Palliative Care Program, was quoted in an article "Helping L-carnitine supplement improved fatigue symptoms in patients with cancer," in the May 2007 issue of Hem/Onc Today.

Logan Spector, Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and member of the Cancer Center's Prevention and Etiology Program, was interviewed in a news report on WCCO radio and on Fox 9 News about the $1.7 million grant he received from the National Cancer Institute to conduct a national study on the causes of pediatric osteosarcoma.

Julie Ross, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics and associate director of the Cancer Center's Population Sciences Program, was quoted in Reuters Health
about results from a study she conducted on the association between childhood cancer and birthmarks. An article about the study, which is published in the May issue of Pediatrics, also appeared on the Scientific American website. Read more

Cancer Center members to speak at American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting

Three Cancer Center members will be leading educational sessions and giving a key presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), June 1-5, in Chicago:

Douglas Yee, M.D., Cancer Center director, will chair a clinical science symposia, "Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor Targeting: An Exciting New Strategy for Cancer Therapeutics."

Jospeh Neglia, M.D., member of the Cancer Center's Prevention and Etiology and Translational Research programs, will lead a "Meet the Professor" session with former Cancer Center member Les Robison, Ph.D., on "Growing Up and Growing Old after Cancer."

John Wagner, M.D., member of the Cancer Center's Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, will be one of three speakers at a special session on ASCO/American Society of Hematology Symposium: "Alternative Donor Options for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation."

If you or someone from your laboratory is presenting at ASCO please email Gina Kennedy with the information for the next Update.

ACR-Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation Award for Excellence in Cancer Prevention Research
The AACR is seeking nominations for the sixth annual AACR-Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation Award for Excellence in Cancer Prevention Research. The award will be given to a scientist residing in any country in the world for seminal contributions in basic, translational, clinical, epidemiology, or behavioral science investigations in cancer prevention research that have had a major impact on the field and stimulated new directions in this important area.

In order to share these important discoveries with the international cancer research community, the winner will present a major lecture during the International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, which will be held December 5-8, 2007 in Philadelphia.

Nominators must submit a letter of recommendation (no more than 1,000 words) and the nominee's CV to the AACR electronically no later than June 29, 2007. Complete details about the award and the nomination process are located on the AACR Web site.

New member
Sabeen Askari, M.D.
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota,
Pathologist, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services, VAMC
Director, Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine Service, VAMC (effective July 1, 2007)
Program areas of interest: Prevention and Etiology
Area of clinical interest: Gastrointestinal tract cancer and transfusion medicine
Area of scientific interest: Barrett's esophagus; colon polyps; transfusion medicine.

AHC announces new mentoring policy
The Academic Health Center has a new mentoring policy designed to nurture and retain faculty, particularly junior faculty. While many programs, divisions, and departments within AHC schools have highly developed, highly effective mentoring activities, others do not. The goal of the new policy is to ensure that all junior faculty have the opportunity to benefit from quality mentoring. The AHC is among the first academic health centers to address the need for a faculty career development program. To read the new policy, go to the AHC Web site. (PDF)

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Education and Events

Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Course
Friday, June 1, 2007, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
Nicotine sensitization in zebrafish: A new model for genetic analysis of vulnerability to addiction
Mark Thomas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota

For a complete schedule visit the Web site.

Special Seminar
Wednesday, June 6, 2007, 12 p.m., 450 CCRB
Gerard Socie, M.D., Ph.D., Hospital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
Chronic GVH late effects of cancer and transplant therapy

Host: Daniel Weisdorf, Ph.D.

Annual Salute to staff and faculty and Cancer Center picnic June 7, 2007
Join the Cancer Center's Salute to Staff and Faculty on Thursday, June 7, at 8:30 a.m. Light refreshments will be served in the atrium areas on all four floors of CCRB. Cancer Center director Dr. Doug Yee will present a State of the Cancer Center address at 9 a.m. in 450 CCRB.
The picnic will be held that same day at Newell Park (Pierce Butler Route at Fairview Ave N., St. Paul) from 5 to 7 p.m. Families are welcome.

Information about Newell Park can be found at the St. Paul Parks Web site.

Children's Cancer Research Fund 5th Annual Time to Fly™ Walk/Run
Saturday, June 23, 2007, Harriet Island, St. Paul
Plan to bring your family and friends to join the race against childhood cancer at the fifth annual Time to Fly™ Walk/Run. This family-oriented event offers something for everyone, from the recreational walker to the competitive runner. Events include: 5K walk, 10K and 5K runs, and 1K/2K Kids' Fun Runs. To register or for more information, visit the Children's Cancer Research Fund Web site.

12th Annual Picnic of Hope
Saturday, June 23, 2007, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Lunch 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Harriet Island Regional Park Pavilion, St. Paul
This Pediatric Oncology and BMT family picnic follows the Children's Cancer Research Fund's Time to Fly™ Walk/Run. RSVP to Mary Schultze by Thursday, June 13, 2007. Include the total number of persons attending from your family and the ages of all children.

Macy's Glamorama advance tickets available
Friday, August 17, 2007, 8 p.m., Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis
Advance tickets for Macy's Glamorama are available now, before they go on sale to the public. Some ticket levels offered include a pre-show party at Chambers at 6:30 p.m. Also new this year is another GLAM event, Prelude to Glam, on Saturday, July 28, at an estate in Eden Prairie. To purchase your tickets now, download the order form (pdf) or call 952-893-9355. Tickets will also be available on the CCRF website on June 7. For more information visit the CCRF Web site.

AHC Faculty Consultative Forum
Friday, November 2, 2007, 8 a.m-3 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center
The next AHC Faculty Consultative Committee forum will focus on mentoring a new generation of faculty members. Hear success stories from highly effective mentoring activities. Get ideas for a mentoring plan that fits your discipline and culture. Look for a personal invitation in campus mail.

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Cancer Center Program Meetings

Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program meeting
Thursday, May 31, 2007, 4-5 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower
Is the ZEB1 transcription factor a pivotal connection between obesity and cancer?
Michel Sanders, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics

For a complete schedule visit the Web site.

Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center Seminar
Friday, June 1, 2007, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Perspectives of ethnic minority smokers' and smoking cessation treatment: The POEMS study
Steve Fu, M.D., M.S.C.E., Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota, VA Medical Center

For a complete schedule visit the Web site.

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Funding News and Opportunities

No new funding opportunities were submitted this week.

Visit the Funding News & Opportunities Web page to see listings previously published in Update.

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