Cancer Center Update is sent to Cancer Center members and staff every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Please submit items to Gina Kennedy, kenne069@umn.edu, by noon the previous Friday.

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In This Issue

Today's Cancer Center Seminar

News

Education and Events

Cancer Center Program Meetings

Funding News and Opportunities

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Today's Cancer Center Seminar

Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Conditionally replicative adenovirus for GI cancers
Masato Yamamoto, M.D, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
Co-Director, Division of Basic and Translational Research, University of Minnesota

A peek at next week's seminar:
Tuesday, September 25, 2007, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Mouse models of NF1 and glioma
Luis F. Parada, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Center for Developmental Biology, The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Host: Faris Farassati, Ph.D.

Visit the Cancer Center Seminar Series calendar for a complete schedule of lectures.

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News

New issue of News from Your Cancer Center newsletter now available
The Fall 2007 issue of the News from Your Cancer Center newsletter includes the story of cancer survivor Kristi Kellogg, who has successfully undergone treatment at the University of Minnesota for cervical cancer (twice) and for breast cancer; an article about breakthrough research for breast cancer using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy; and a story about the "Stick it to Cancer" women's hockey tournament, which raises money every year for breast cancer research at the University of Minnesota. Download a PDF copy or visit the Feature Stories section of the Web site to read the newsletter articles.

A message from the Cancer Center Histopathology Shared Resource:
Please note that a revised histopathology request form and a rate sheet for the 2008 fiscal year are now available on our Web site at: http://www.cancer.umn.edu/research/cores/histopath/index.html. In order to accommodate small projects more rapidly, we have reduced our turnaround times for technical work to 1 week for HE slides and 2 weeks for IHC preparations for submissions of < 25 slides. We look forward to working with you during the 2008 fiscal year.
Sincerely, Cathy Carlson and the Cancer Center Histopathology Shared Resource staff

Web site offers database of free/low-cost cervical cancer screening programs
The Minnesota Women's Cervical Cancer Screening Resources Database, which allows women to search by zip code or city for clinics and programs offering free or low cost pap smears, is now available on the healthymnwomen.org Web site. Healthymnwomen.org is a collaborative project between the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's Health. For information about how the project was completed, visit the Minnesota Cancer Alliance Web site.

Tribal leaders, health professionals unite to examine the unequal burden of colorectal cancer among American Indians in Minnesota
Tribal leaders from Minnesota's 11 tribes, health professionals, cancer survivors, and community members met September 11-12 at Grand Casino Mille Lacs to discuss how they can work collectively to begin tackling the unequal burden of colorectal cancer among American Indians in Minnesota. The dialogue was funded by the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, which has supported statewide dialogues in the past; however this was the first dialogue specifically on American Indian colorectal cancer disparities within a state. "This dialogue was a monumental step in helping Minnesota's tribes begin thinking about strategies to work together to combat colorectal cancer in American Indian communities," said University of Minnesota gastroenterologist David Perdue, M.D., M.S.P.H., co-chair of the project in Minnesota and a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. At the Cancer Center, Perdue is a member of the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention program and the Prevention and Etiology program. Read more about the conference.

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Education and Events

Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 12-1 p.m. Note new location: 2-120 Moos
Rachel Bergerson from the Largaespada lab will present "Ultraconserved Regions Encoding ncRNAs Are Altered in Human Leukemias and Carcinomas" from Calin et al., 2007 Cancer Cell, 12:215-229. 
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).

Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases Conference
Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 4 p.m., 450 CCRB
Case presentations:
"Infant Leukemia," presented by Marcy Ellwein, M.D., Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT
"Optic Glioma," presented by Jill Beck, M.D., Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT

Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development grand opening
Thursday, September 20, 2007, 3-5 p.m., 717 Delaware Street, Minneapolis
There will be a program at 3 p.m. followed by tours and a reception. For more information call 612-626-6317.

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," will be presented by Margarita Alegria, Ph.D., Director, Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, and Professor, Department of Psychiatry at 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. Visit the Health Disparities Research Web site for more information or contact the program at PHDR@umn.edu.

Bioethics Center Seminar
Friday, September 21, 2007, 12:15 to 1:30 pm, Mayo 3-125
"Bioethics and the Tragedy of the Commons," will be presented by Steven Miles, M.D., Professor, Center for Bioethics and Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School. Seminars are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Center for Bioethics Web site.

Open House at Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center
Thursday, September 27, 2007, 5-8 p.m., 14500 99th Avenue N., Maple Grove
The public is invited to meet the physicians and staff at the newly opened Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center. Fairview has partnered with University of Minnesota Physicians to offer convenient access to coordinated, patient-centered care in more than 20 specialties, including cancer. Cancer Center members who will be treating patients in Maple Grove include Levi Downs, Jr., M.D., Kathryn Dusenbery, M.D., Milena Elimelakh, M.D., Maria Evasovich, M.D., Edward Greeno, M.D., Maria Hordinsky, M.D., Todd Tuttle, M.D., and Selwyn Vickers, M.D. The event will include a Cancer U: Ask The Experts program about breast cancer (see below) as well as facility tours, activities and prizes for children, demonstrations, refreshments, and door prizes. For more information, visit the University of Minnesota Physicians Web site.

Cancer U: Ask The Experts: Breast Cancer: Advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment, and what we know about diet and exercise
Thursday, September 27, 2007, 6-8 p.m., Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center, 14500 99th Avenue N.
This free educational event will provide cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and others interested in learning more about breast cancer with an opportunity to get accurate information from University of Minnesota cancer researchers and physicians. Speakers will include Mimi Yu, Ph.D., cancer epidemiologist; Tufia Haddad, M.D., medical oncologist; and Michael Nelson, M.D., radiologist. For more information and to pre-register, visit the Web site.

Cancer Benefit Fund: Dancing for Life
Saturday, October 13, 2007, 6:30-10 p.m., Medtronic, Fridley
Enjoy a variety of wines, delicious hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, dancing, a silent auction, and a chance to win a dream vacation at the Cancer Benefit Fund's annual event to raise funds for cancer research and for support for those living with cancer. So far, the Cancer Benefit Fund has raised nearly $500,000 to help in the fight against cancer. At this year's event, 75 percent of the proceeds will go to the Cancer Center; the remaining 25 percent will go to the HealthEast Healing Partners Program. Cancer Center Director Doug Yee will attend the event to thank the Cancer Benefit Fund for its support since 2002. Visit the Cancer Benefit Fund Web site for more information and to purchase tickets ($50 through October 1; then $75).

Whether or not you're able to attend the Cancer Benefit Fund event, you are invited to donate auction items including gift certificates, airline miles, or small items that could be grouped with other things for baskets. Contact Barb Fellegy at fellegy1@comcast.net if you would like to make a donation.

The Children's Cancer Research Fund's 27th Dawn of a Dream®: 'Be Amazing'
Saturday, November 3, 2007, Milwaukee Road Depot, Minneapolis
The 27th annual Dawn of a Dream Gala, presented by the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation, will be headlined by three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Keb' Mo'. Keb' Mo's music is a living link to the seminal Delta blues, which has evolved into a universally celebrated art form. The evening will also feature dinner, dancing, live and silent auction. Tickets are available for purchase on the Children's Cancer Research Fund Web site ($250/$200 tax deductible).

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Cancer Center Program Meetings

Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group Seminar
Friday, September 21, 2007, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Mayo A110
Project Quit, a tailored web-based intervention to encourage smoking cessation
Cheri Rolnick, HealthPartners
Host: Logan Spector, Ph.D.
Lunch is provided. To reserve a lunch, please RSVP to Logan Spector at spect012@umn.edu by 4 p.m. Wednesday.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.

BMT Conference
Monday, September 24, 2007, 1:15-2:15 p.m., Room 450, CCRB
Attending meeting
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.

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Funding News and Opportunities

NIH Announcements:
Research on malignancies in the context of HIV/AIDS
(PA-07-455) — R01
(PA-07-454) — R21
National Cancer Institute (among others)
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
Funding: Various, see announcement.
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to advance our understanding of the risks, development, progression, diagnosis, and treatment of malignancies observed in individuals with an underlying Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Through this FOA, the NCI and NIDCR seek to encourage research in areas such as the study of the etiologic factors, cofactors, pathogenesis, and consequences of HIV-associated malignancies in [the members of] diverse populations. Research on non-AIDS defining malignancies in the context of HIV infection is also encouraged.

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

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