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Researchers and Staff
October 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
Cancer Center Program Meetings
Funding News and Opportunities
Today's Cancer Center Seminar
Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Imaging and targeted therapy: Imaging as a cancer biomarker
David Mankoff, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Nuclear Medicine Specialist, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Host: Doug Yee, M.D.
A peek at next week's seminar:
Tuesday, October 23, 2007, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Comparisons of different modes of calorie restriction and cancer prevention
Margot Cleary, Professor, Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota
Host: Stephen Hecht, Ph.D.
Sponsored jointly with the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program
Visit the Cancer Center Seminar Series calendar for a complete schedule of lectures.
News
Members in the news
Cancer Center Director Doug Yee, M.D., was interviewed Monday, October 15, 2007, on WCCO Radio's Mondale and Jones program about news from the nation's leading cancer organizations that the decline in cancer death rates has doubled. Visit the American Cancer Society Web site to read the news release or the report, "Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2004, Featuring Cancer in American Indians and Alaska Natives," published in the journal Cancer.
Yee was mentioned in an article published on the Medical News Today Web site about the American Association for Cancer Research's announcement of the inaugural recipients of the BCRF-AACR Grants in Translational Breast Cancer Research. Yee is the recipient of one of the grants for his study "Gene expression profiling to predict response to anti-IGF therapy." Read more.
Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., leader of the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program, was interviewed about his research on the danger of using smokeless tobacco (oral snuff) for HealthBeat, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services series that provides health tips in audio and text formats for the public and news media. Listen to "Thinking twice about smokeless" (MP3) or read the tip.
Treatment method allows more cancer patients to receive transplants
Transplant Biology and Therapy Program member Claudio Brunstein, M.D., Ph.D., led research published in the October 15, 2007, issue of Blood that showed by using a less toxic dose of chemotherapy and radiation in combination with umbilical cord blood, researchers were able to offer a transplant to patients who previously did not qualify for transplantation either because of age, extensive prior therapy before transplant, organ dysfunction, or lack of a matched donor. Read more.
Kudos
Congratulations to Peter Bitterman, M.D., member of the Cancer Progression and Metastasis Program, on his appointment as vice chair for research in the Department of Medicine.
Cancer Center members Patrick Lloyd, D.D.S., M.S., and Nelson L. Rhodus, D.M.D, M.P.H., School of Dentistry, were inducted as fellows in the International College of Dentists at the American Dental Association annual meeting. Rhodus has also been selected to testify before a United States Congressional Committee on behalf of the American Dental Association regarding methamphetamine use and oral health.
Education and Events
Deborah Powell Center for Women's Health/University of Minnesota Cancer Center Seminar
Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 4-5 p.m., 3-125 Mayo
Metabolic imaging of bone metastases and normal bones in breast cancer patients: An evolving approach for directing therapy
David A. Mankoff, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Nuclear Medicine Specialist, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine
For more information contact: wmhealth@umn.edu or 612-626-1125.
Center for Drug Design Seminar
Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 5-230 Moos Tower
Structural studies of HIV-1 coreceptors and inhibitors
Carole Bewley, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 12-1 p.m. 2-120 MoosT
Jose Gomez, Polunovsky lab, will discuss "Autophagy mitigates metabolic stress and genome damage in the mammary tumorigenesis," Genes and Development 2007 21:1621-1635.
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).
Center for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Seminar
Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 12-1 p.m., CMRR seminar room
MR imaging of lungs is not only possible - it can be rather good
Dean O. Kuethe, Ph.D., New Mexico Resonance, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Contact Djaudat Idiayatullin, Ph.D., (djaudat@cmrr.umn.edu), or Curt Corum, Ph.D., (corum@cmrr.umn.edu) for more information.
Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases Conference
Due to the Children's Oncology Group (COG) meetings being held this week in Denver, there will NOT be a Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases Conference on Wednesday, October 17th.
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development Seminar
Thursday, October 18, 2007, 12-1 p.m., Mayo Auditorium
Inherited and acquired mutations may underlie oncogenesis and disease progression in multiple myeloma
Linda Pilarski, Ph.D., Division of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Dr. Pilarski is a graduate student-invited speaker.
For information contact Mary Gosse, 612-624-9663.
Cancer U: Ask the experts about lung cancer
Thursday, October 18, 2007, 6-8 p.m., Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center 14500 99th Ave. N.
Learn about advances in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, and strategies for quitting tobacco. For more information and to pre-register, vist the Web site.
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).
Cancer Center Program Meetings
Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group
Friday, October 19, 2007, 12-1 p.m., A-110 Mayo
Update on cancer trends in Minnesota with a focus on breast cancer
Carin Perkins, Ph.D., Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System
Lunch is provided. To reserve a lunch, please RSVP to Logan Spector at spect012@umn.edu by 4 p.m. on Tuesday the week of the meeting. Please note if you require a vegetarian lunch.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Cancer Biology Research Club
Friday, October 19, 2007, 3:30-4:30 p.m., NOTE ROOM CHANGE TO 6-120 NHH
The APOBEC paradox: can DNA-mutating enzymes safely prevent cancer?
Mark Stenglein, Cancer Biology Training Grant predoctoral fellow, Harris lab
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Conference
Monday, October 22, 2007, 1:15-2:15 p.m., Room 450 CCRB or 2-520 MoosT
Immunomodulators and the risk of fungal infection
Jo-Anne H. Young, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease , University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Funding News and Opportunities
NIH Announcements:
Network for Translational Research (NTR): Optical Imaging in Multimodal Platforms (U54)
(RFA-CA-08-002)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date: January 24, 2008
Funding: Up to 5 years of funding at $1.5 million in total costs/year.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is an open competition initiative, designed to continue the efforts of the NCI to develop and translate cancer-relevant optical imaging technologies as a part of an overall imaging program for early cancer detection, diagnosis, therapeutic response, drug development, and image-guided therapy.
Research on Research Integrity
RFA-RR-07-003 (R21)
RFA-RR-07-004 (R03)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date: November 20, 2007
Funding: R21: Direct costs are limited to $275,000 over a two-year period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year. R03: $50,000/yr in direct costs for up to 2 years
The purpose of this small grant program is to foster research on research integrity in areas of study that have little published data. The sponsoring agencies are particularly interested in research that will provide clear evidence (rates of occurrence and impacts) of problem areas in community standards, self-regulation, practice norms, and non-adherence to accepted codes of conduct. The application should address the societal, organizational, group, or individual factors that affect integrity in research, both positively and negatively.
Other Announcements:
Kimmel Scholar Award
Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research, Sidney
Application Receipt Date: December 5, 2007
Funding: $100,000/yr for 2 years
The Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research funds the Kimmel Scholars Program, which each year, through a distinguished board of cancer researchers, provides research grants to the nation's most promising young cancer researchers. The goal of the grant program is to improve the basic understanding of cancer biology and to develop new methods for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Kimmel Translational Science Award
Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research, Sidney
Application Receipt Date: December 5, 2007
Funding: $100,000/yr for 2 years
The Foundation provides five additional awards specifically for physicians engaged in translational science. Eligibility includes those with M.D. or equivalent degrees, who have achieved the rank of Assistant Professor on or after July, 2003. Candidates must not hold R01 funding for the laboratory component of their cancer research. Applicants must demonstrate a significant personal involvement in the laboratory component of the translational project described. The translational research may involve primarily animal studies but must include reasonable application to subsequent human investigation.
Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH)
Deadline: October 25, 2007, 5 p.m.
The Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's Health invites eligible candidates interested in interdisciplinary research in women's health to apply for the BIRCWH. The BIRCWH program fosters the career development of junior faculty members who are engaging in basic, clinical, translational, behavioral, or health services research in any area relevant to women's health with an emphasis on sex and gender factors. The BIRCWH, an internal K-12 program, accomplishes this goal by providing protected time for junior faculty so they can obtain advanced research training while developing an independent research program. The BIRCWH mentors are established investigators who have a commitment to fostering interdisciplinary approaches to research in women's health and sex and gender factors. This program develops a cadre of independently funded scientists who can further advance and perpetuate an interdisciplinary team approach to science and gender specific health care.
More information, including application and eligibility, can be found at http://www.wmhealth.umn.edu/wmhlth/bircwh.html. Questions can be directed to Nancy Raymond, MD, or Diane O'Connor, RN, MPA at 612-626-1125 or wmhealth@umn.edu.
Visit the Funding News & Opportunities Web page to see listings previously published in Update.
Employment Opportunities
Employment Opportunities
Tissue Procurement Facility Coordinator
The Tissue Procurement Facility (TPF) prospectively obtains surgically resected tissue for research while safeguarding all aspects of patient care. Tissues are available fresh, frozen in liquid nitrogen, embedded in the cryopreservative O.C.T., or fixed in formalin and paraffin embedded. We are interested in an experienced tissue bank or pathology lab manager to serve as facility Coordinator. The full position description and application are available on the Human Resources Web site, requisition number 151527.
Informatics Project Manager
The Masonic Cancer Center IT infrastructure supports the administration of cancer research in all areas with particular emphasis on the efficient, safe, and accurate conduct of clinical research. We are interested in a skilled programmer with a high level of expertise in database systems. We are looking for a manager with good communication skills who is willing to build structures from the ground up in creative and innovative ways that would best serve the evolving needs of the Cancer Center. The successful candidate will be part of the Biostatistics and Informatics Core and will lead a team in the development of integrated IT operating platforms and database systems which are HIPAA-compliant and caBIG™-compatible. The full position description and application are available on the Human Resources Web site, requisition number 151528.
For more information visit the Masonic Cancer Center Employment Web page.