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Researchers and Staff
April 29, 2008
Update is sent to Masonic 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
Funding News and Opportunities
Today's Seminar
Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
miRNA biogenesis and function in mammalian cells
Yan Zeng, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota
Host: Xianzheng Zhou, M.D., Ph.D.
A peek at next week's seminar:
Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Adhesive regulation during cell migration and invasion
Anna Huttenlocher, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin
Host: Yoji Shimizu, Ph.D.
Visit the Cancer Center Seminar Series calendar for a complete schedule of lectures.
News
Members in the news
Yoji Shimizu, Ph.D., leader of the Immunology Program, is the subject of a University of Minnesota Medical School Web site article, "From Research to a Rock Band." Read more.
A study of menstrual phase effects on smoking relapse by Sharon Allen, M.D., Ph.D., Prevention and Etiology Program member, was reported on the BBC.
Daniel Weisdorf, M.D., co-leader of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, was quoted in news reports by the Star Tribune , Pioneer Press, and WCCO about the treatment of Minnesota Vikings football player Kenechi Udeze, who announced earlier this month that his leukemia is in remission and that his brother is a 100 percent match for a bone marrow transplant, which is planned for later this year.
Masonic Cancer Center welcomes new director of development
Welcome to Catherine McGlinch, director of development for the Minnesota Medical Foundation cancer team. McGlinch was associate director of individual giving for the University's Carlson School of Management from 1996 to 1999. She then served as executive director of leadership giving for the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. For the past four years, she has been executive director of system and foundation relations for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. McGlinch received a B.A. in Russian area studies from DePauw University in Indiana and an M.A. in public administration from Hamline University in St. Paul. McGlinch will begin on May 27; her office will be in suite 760, Masonic Cancer Center Research Building.
Shared Resources welcome new staff
Linan Ma, M.S.P.H., has joined the Biostastics and Informatics Core in the biostatistics support group. Ma came to the University from the University of Florida. His office is in the Mayo Building, B412-4, 612-625-4311, maxxx290@umn.edu.
Marissa Makey is a new technician in the Tissue Procurement Facility. Markey earned her B.S. in biology at the University of Minnesota. During the past year, she worked as a teacher's assistant in the histology laboratory where she gained expertise in distinguishing and identifying a wide variety of human tissues. She'll be putting her knowledge to work by procuring tissues from the operating room and processing them for use by researchers.
Are you presenting at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting?
Members and staff who will be presenting their research at the upcoming ASCO meeting in Chicago May 30-June 3 are encouraged to send titles of the presentations to Update. We will publish the information in an upcoming issue.
Reminder: Please change your email signature and voice mail message
If you have the Masonic Cancer Center listed in your email signature and/or your voice mail message, please change it to Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. Instructions on changing email signatures are available on the Web site (Outlook-PDF, Thunderbird-PDF). If you need instructions for other e-mail clients, contact AHC help, 612-251-5100, Ahc-is@umn.edu.
Education and Events
Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department Faculty Candidate seminar
Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 8 a.m., 213 Pomeroy
Targeting tumor cells using peptide-based strategies: Approaches and application
Erin Dickerson, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Dr. Dickerson is a tenure-track Oncology faculty candidate.
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 2-120 Moos Tower
Jim McCarthy, Ph.D., will present "Blocking neuropilin-2 function inhibits tumor cell metastasis," Cancer Cell 2008;13:331-342.
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, April 30, 2008, 4 p.m., 450 CCRB
Acute myeloid leukemia
Jill Beck, M.D., Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT
Jessica Jarus album release party
Sunday, May 4, 2008, 8:30 p.m., Wooddale Church, 6630 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie
Twin Cities recording artist Jessica Jarus will donate 50 percent of the proceeds from the release of her fourth album, Dying to Love, to support research at the Masonic Cancer Center. Admittance to the release party is free. For more information, contact the church at 952-944-6300, 952-656-1056, or info@wooddale.org.
Canine Canter for Cancer
Sunday, May 4, 2008, 8 a.m., Como Lakeside Pavilion, St. Paul
Participate in a 2-mile run/walk around Lake Como to benefit human and canine cancer research. All proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Morris Animal Foundation (earmarked for canine cancer research). You do not have to bring a dog to participate! To register online, visit the Web site. Registration includes a T-shirt. The walk is sponsored by Purina. For more information, contact jlj@umn.edu.
Nanotechnology in Health Care: Possibilities, Risks, and Benefits
Thursday May 8, 2008, 6:30-9 p.m., Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul
What does the future of health care look like? How will we treat cancer in the next decade? Nanoscale science-enabled medical technologies have the potential to transform health care as we know it. But should new applications be available before we understand the possible risks?
The forum includes an introduction to nanoscale technology, an overview of the possible medical implications, and, finally, a group discussion. People of all fields and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Come explore this important and revolutionary topic!
The forum is free and space is still available! Register online. Contact Jen Scott, jscott@smm.org, for more information
Spring Poster Session and Symposium
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's 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.
The deadline to register your poster or oral presentation has been extended to Friday, May 2. Visit the Web site to register online.
For more information, call Sabine Fritz at 624-7151 or send an e-mail to fritz017@umn.edu.
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.
Program Meetings
Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC) Lecture
Friday, May 2, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Nicotine metabolism, in vivo and in vitro: The role of P450 enzymes
Jeanette Zinggeler-Berg, Ph.D. candidate, Research Assistant, Department Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics
Sharon Murphy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Cancer Biology Research Club
Friday, May 2, 2008, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 450 CCRB
Catching the boomerang in cancer research: From bedside to bench and back
Special seminar on cancer patient treatment and care/translational research
Denis Clohisy, M.D., Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery. University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Conference
Monday, May 5, 2008, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
Updates on cord blood transplantation
Veronika Bachanova, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine/HOT
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Funding News and Opportunities
Minnesota Futures Grant Program
Office of the Vice President for Research (Internal)
Application Receipt Date: May 23, 2008
Funding: $25,000 (Phase 1), $250,000 over 2 years (Phase 2)
The OVPR announces an internal grant program, the Minnesota Futures, to help convert the ideas of researchers into new pathways of discovery. In order to help propel research and scholarship beyond the ordinary, the OVPR is pleased to announce the Minnesota Futures Grant Program. Modeled on the successful National Academies "Keck Futures Initiative," the Minnesota Futures Grant Program will consist of two phases: Phase 1 is a call for proposals to develop and convene interdisciplinary symposia around research questions of current significance which are engaging teo multipl disciplines. Phasewill be a call for interdisciplinary research proposals that originate from symposia.
NIH Announcements:
Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers
PA-08-156-R01
PA-08-157-R21
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date: NIH Mechanism Deadlines
Funding: Standard R01 and R21 limits apply
This funding opportunity announcement encourages applications from institutions and organizations that propose to identify biomarkers for cancers where the etiology of the disease is attributed to infectious agents. Using the NIH Exploratory Grant (R21) funding mechanism, this FOA focuses on early and conceptual stages of research projects.
Visit the Funding News & Opportunities Web page to see listings previously published in Update.