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Researchers and Staff
March 25 , 2008
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, March 25, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Surface-engineered nanoparticles for tumor targeted drug delivery and imaging
Jayanth Panyam, Ph.D., Assistant Professor , Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota
A peek at next week's seminar:
Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Pancreatic cancer stem cells: Implications for treating pancreatic cancer
Diane Simeone, M.D., Associate Professor of Surgery, Multidisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Host: Ashok Saluja, Ph.D.
Visit the Cancer Center Seminar Series calendar for a complete schedule of lectures.
News
New members
David M. Ferguson, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry
Program areas of interest: Tumor Biology and Progression, Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention
Area of scientific interest: Therapeutic development and an emphasis on DNA binding agents that disrupt topoisomerase function in cell proliferation; bringing therapeutic agents from the bench to the bedside using a combination of medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, and animal studies.
Juan Leal, Ph.D.
Scientific Director, Center for Translational Medicine
Program area of interest: Tumor Biology and Progression
Area of scientific interest: Drug discovery and development of targeted therapy drugs, translational medicine from preclinical animal models to clinical trials, and biomarkers strategy of oncology drugs.
Subbaya Subramanian, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology
Program areas of interest: Tumor Biology and Progression, Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer
Area of scientific interest: MicroRNA mediated gene regulation in cancer; gene expression profiles - developing novel diagnostic markers and identification of therapeutic targets in sarcomas and other cancers.
Presentations at AACR annual meeting
Several Cancer Center researchers will be presenting their research at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research April 12-16 in San Diego. If you or someone from your laboratory is giving an oral or poster presentation at AACR, and you have not been listed yet, please e-mail Sandi Sherman, sherm019@umn.edu, to be included on the list and in a future edition of Update.
Poster presentation
Maki Inoue, M.S., R.D., Kim Robien, Renwei Wang, David van den Berg, Woon-Puay Koh, Mimi C. Yu, "Green tea intake, folate pathway genotypes, and breast cancer risk: the Singapore Chinese Health Study."
A complete list of presentations can be found on the Web site.
Education and Events
Annual Safety Training
Tuesday, March 25, 9-10:30 a.m., 450 CCRB or Wednesday, March 26, 2-3:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
All Cancer Center laboratory personnel are required to attend annual safety training. Please attend one of the sessions listed above. Contact Sabine Fritz, fritz017@umn.edu, 624-7151 with questions.
2008 Center for Bioethics Seminar Series
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, 12:15-1:30 pm, 1-451 Moos Tower
Changing paradigms in research ethics: What's so different about predictive health studies?
Eric Meslin, Ph.D.,Director, Center for Bioethics; Associate Dean for Bioethics, Indiana University School of Medicine; Professor of Medicine, Medical & Molecular Genetics, and Philosophy
Pre-registration is preferred if you are attending for CME credit. Call 612-624-8478 to pre-register. Registration will also be available on site.
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 2-120 Moos Tower
David Largaespada, Ph.D., will discuss "Epigenetic-mediated dysfunction of the bone morphogenetic protein pathway inhibits differentiation of glioblastoma-initiating cells," Cancer Cell 2008;13:69–80.
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).
Cancer U: Ask the Experts
April 3 and April 10, 2008
This free community education series will include sessions on prostate and breast cancer. "Prostate Cancer: What men need to know" will be offered April 3, 6-8 p.m., at the Radisson University Hotel on the U of M's Minneapolis campus. Speakers Tony Makhlouf, M.D., Ph.D., and Joe Lee, M.D., will discuss research advances in the treatment of prostate cancer and managing sexual dysfunction after treatment. "Breast Cancer: What women should know" will be offered April 10, 6-8 p.m., at Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center. Milena Elimelakh, M.D., and Todd Tuttle, M.D., will discuss breast cancer treatment innovations. Attendance is free for each program, but seating is limited, so pre-registration is encouraged. Call 612-624-2620 or visit the Web to learn more about the programs and to register online.
Free Breast and Cervical Screening Day
April 10, 2008, 8:30-11:30 a.m., 555 Cedar Ave., Downtown St. Paul
Women who have no insurance and need a clinical breast exam and pap test are invited to participate in this free cancer screening. Free breakfast and a spa gift set will be provided for all who are screened. An appointment is required. Please call 651-255-8112 to schedule an appointment. The event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Minnesota Department of Health SAGE Screening Program, St. Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public Health, Three Rivers Pathology, and the Masonic Cancer Center.
Cancer Center Spring Poster Session and Symposium
Thursday, May 15, 2008, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Cancer Center Research Building
Thursday, May 15, 2008, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Cancer Center Research Building
The Ninth Annual Spring Poster Session and Symposium sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center Core Facilities will include oral presentations from 11 a.m. to noon followed by a poster session and lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. Students, staff, post-docs and PIs are invited to participate by presenting a poster. The research presented in the poster must include the use of a Cancer Center Cores Facility.
Registration opens Monday, March 31 on the Web site. The final registration deadline is April 25, 2008. For more information, call Sabine Fritz at 624-7151 or send an e-mail to fritz017@umn.edu.
Health Maintenance Organization Research Network-Cancer Research Network annual meeting
April 13-16, 2008, Hilton Hotel, Minneapolis
In 2007, the Cancer Center signed a memorandum of understanding with HealthPartners to formally explore research opportunities through the NCI-funded Cancer Research Network (CRN), of which HealthPartners is a member. The Prevention and Etiology Program has as one of its goals for the renewal period to enhance this relationship. Of particular relevance is a session planned for April 15 at 3:30 p.m., entitled "Best Practices in Community and Translational Research," which speaks directly to how to foster academic/HMO partnerships. View the program (PDF). For more information about the CRN, visit the web site (PDF). Contact DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., 612-626-9099, lazov001@umn.edu for any questions about the affiliation or the upcoming meeting.
Cancer Summit 2008: Members in Motion
(April 2 deadline for early registration)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008, Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center
The Minnesota Cancer Alliance invites partners, members, and interested individuals to the fifth annual Cancer Summit. In her role as Minnesota Cancer Alliance chair for 2008, DeAnn Lazovich, M.P.H., Ph.D., Prevention and Etiology Program co-leader, will deliver the welcome and opening remarks at the conference. Keynote speaker Tina Gill, M.P.H., public health advisor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will discuss how to motivate members to move from a shared vision to collective action. The Summit also will feature a variety of working sessions and a cancer data update with the most recent cancer statistics for Minnesota. The Cancer Connections Expo during the Summit will showcase statewide organizations' dedication to reducing cancer in Minnesota by implementing objectives outlined in Cancer Plan Minnesota. April 2 is the deadline for early registration for the Cancer Summit. To have the Masonic Cancer Center pay for your registration, visit the Web site.
Time to Fly™ Walk/Run registration open
Saturday, June 28, 2008, Harriet Island Regional Park, St. Paul
Time to Fly is a family-friendly walk/run event perfect for everyone from the competitive runner to the recreational participant. Set along the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River, Time to Fly race events include: 10K run, 5K run, 5K walk, and a kids' fun run. The day also features live entertainment, performance t-shirts, event bags, complimentary food and beverages, an abundance of kids' activities, and inspirational stories by families with children affected by cancer. Awards are presented to top race finishers in eight age categories, as well as the top corporate, community, and individual fundraisers through a competitive online pledge program. The 6th annual Time to Fly will be held in conjunction with the Picnic of Hope.
Plan to form a team. For additional information visit the Children's Cancer Research Fund Web site.
Cancer Center Program Meetings
Women's Cancer Interest Group
Thursday, March 27, 2008, 10 a.m., 450 CCRB
Making the case for progesterone as a chemotherapeutic agent to treat ovarian cancer
Nate Charles, MICaB graduate student, Lange lab
Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program Meeting
Thursday, March 27, 2008, 4-5 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower
Regulation of S phase progression and cell cycle checkpoints in human cells
Anja Bielinski, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program meeting
Thursday, March 27, 2008, 4:15pm, 450 CCRB
Arsenic: How a non-mutagenic carcinogen influences cancer risk
Heather H. Nelson, M.P.H., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Cancer Biology Research Club
Friday, March 28, 2008, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
The role of Dmrt1 in testicular germ cell tumors
Tony Krentz, Bardwell lab
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Conference
Infectious disease update
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
No items were submitted to Update this week.
Visit the Funding News & Opportunities Web page to see listings previously published in Update.