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

News

Education and Events

Funding News and Opportunities

Employment Opportunities

---

News

Yee and Modiano speak at College of Veterinary Medicine ceremony
Cancer Center Director Doug Yee, M.D., and Jaime Modiano,V.M.D., Ph.D., participated in ribbon-cutting ceremonies August 21 for the new linear accelerator facility at the College of Veterinary Medicine. The new equipment will enhance research and treatment for animals with cancer. (More information about the linear accelerator is available on the college's Web site.) Yee spoke about the unique collaboration between the Cancer Center and the College of Veterinary Medicine on cancer research from basic studies to applied therapeutic interventions.

The college and Cancer Center worked together to recruit Modiano to lead the college's comparative cancer research program and conduct his research within the Cancer Center. Modiano arrived in June as the Al and June Perlman Professor of Oncology. His position brings together animal and human health in an interdisciplinary approach to research and treatment of cancer. He describes his focus as "discovering new knowledge that will benefit animals and people—both in learning more about cancer, treating cancer, and sharing this knowledge across the veterinary and medical professions." Modiano also serves as the director of the Veterinary Medical Center's Animal Cancer Center.

Members in the news
Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., leader of Chemoprevention and Carcinogenesis Program, was quoted in the New York Times, Miami Herald, Detroit Free Press, Jerusalem Post, and other national and international media outlets about his study on smokeless tobacco exposing users to some of the same potent carcinogens as cigarettes. The study was published in the August issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Read more.

Center for Immunology lands large grant renewal
Cancer Center members Kris Hogquist, Ph.D., and Matt Mescher, Ph.D., Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Marc Jenkins, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology, and Dan Mueller, M.D., Department of Medicine, recently were awarded a competitive renewal of an NIH/NIAID Program Project grant "Mechanisms of peripheral induction of T-cell tolerance." The five-year grant will provide nearly $7 million dollars.

McIvor awarded gene therapy grant
Scott McIvor, Ph.D., member of the Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, was recently awarded a 5-year grant in the amount of $1,537,165 for his research project "Transposon mediated gene therapy for colorectal cancer." McIvor will use the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon vector system to provide sustained expression of the transgene which is required to halt tumor growth and prevent recurrence of metastatic cancer cell growth. "These experiments will provide a clinically relevant model for targeted cancer gene therapy. Successful completion of these studies will set the stage for large animal model studies with subsequent development of a clinical trial for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer by non-viral gene therapy," notes McIvor.

Cancer Center members invited to meet with Luis Parada, Ph.D.
Faris Farassati, Ph.D., invites Cancer Center members to schedule short meetings with Luis F. Parada, Ph.D., professor at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and director of the Center for Developmental Biology. Parada, a world-renowned scientist in the field of cancer biology, neurooncology, and animal modeling for cancer research, is the speaker at the Cancer Center Seminar Series on September 25, 2007. His talk "Mouse models of NF1 and glioma" is scheduled from 12 to 1 p.m. in 450 CCRB. Faculty interested in meeting with Dr. Parada can contact Laura Connor at 612-624-5620, conne171@umn.edu.

Back to top

Education and Events

Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases Conference
Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 4 p.m., 656 CCRB
High grade glioma
Dr. Heather Stefanski, M.D., Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT

Distinguished Visiting Scholar Series in Health Disparities lecture
Friday, September 21, 2007, 12-1 p.m., 1-450G Moos Tower
The role of health services research in closing the health services gap for racial and ethnic minorities
Margarita Alegria, Ph.D., Director, Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance

Sandwiches and beverages will be provided for the first 50 attendees. This event is co-sponsored by the Program in Health Disparities Research in the Medical School and the AHC Office of Clinical Research.

For more information about the Program in Health Disparities Research, visit the Web site, or contact the program at PHDR@umn.edu.

Back to top

Funding News and Opportunities

Request for breast cancer detection pilot project applications
Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test
Deadline: December 1, 2007

Applications are requested for pilot projects that focus on new methods to improve detection of early breast cancer with special interest in the development of new techniques in the areas of biological or immunologic methods of early detection. It is hoped that the pilot projects will provide preliminary data that leads to applications for more substantial peer-reviewed funding.

Applications are accepted form both established investigators who have funding but want to embark on a new area, as well as those less experienced.
Proposals should represent a new approach to the area of interest. Funds will not be given to enhance an ongoing area of research unless it is clear that a new line of inquiry is being explored. International proposals are welcome. Visit the Web site to learn how to apply.

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

Back to top

Employment Opportunities

Regulatory Specialist (professional non-faculty, requisition number 150487) working under the supervision of Meadow Schroeder.

For more information about this position and additional opportunities visit theCancer Center's employment Web page.

Back to top