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.

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In This Issue

Today's Seminar

News

Education and Events

Program Meetings

Funding News and Opportunities

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Today's Seminar

Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: Different cell or origin, similar therapeutic target
Charles Keller, M.D., Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Host: David Largaespada, Ph.D.

Co-sponsored by Masonic Cancer Center and University of Minnesota Sarcoma Program

This is the last weekly seminar of the academic year. Periodic seminars will be held over the summer. Visit the Cancer Center Seminar Web site for a complete schedule of lectures.

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News

Members to present research at ASCO annual meeting
The following members of the Masonic Cancer Center are presenting or have contributed to research that will be presented at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago May 30-June 2. Oral presentations
Daniel A. Mulrooney, M.D., M.S., will present "Cardiovascular disease in adult survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS)," in the "Treatment-Related Cardiovascular Disease in Survivors of Pediatric and Adult Cancers" session.

Douglas Yee, M.D., will present the oncology view in a special session: "Molecular Imaging and Cancer: Optimizing Clinical Trials and Clinical Practice-A Joint ASCO/Society of Nuclear Medicine Education Session."

Keith Skubitz, M.D., contributed to research being presented by David Thomas. M.D., Ph.D.; "Denosumab treatment of giant cell tumor of bone: interim analysis of an open-label phase 2 study" will be presented during the "Emerging Targets for Sarcoma Therapy" session.

Poster
Mary J. Nissen, Ph.D., M.P.H., will present "Mammography use among breast cancer survivors: administrative data and chart review."

If you are presenting or have contributed to research being presented at the ASCO annual meeting, e-mail Sandi Sherman (sherm019@umn.edu) to be included in the next issue of Update.

New members
Carla J. Berg, Ph.D.
Research Associate, Department of Medicine
Program area of interest: Prevention and Etiology
Area of scientific interest: Tobacco control among young adults; development of tailored eHealth interventions, market segmentation research, and other novel approaches to cancer prevention

Scott M. Dehm, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Program areas of interest: Tumor Biology and Progression, Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer
Clinical focus: Urologic/prostate cancer
Area of scientific interest: Mechanisms of androgen receptor transcriptional activation and development of prostate cancer therapy resistance

Jonathan D'Cunha, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery/Thoracic and Foregut
Program area of interest: Tumor Biology and Progression
Clinical focus: Thoracic cancer
Area of scientific interest: The molecular biology of lung cancer at both the basic science and translational levels.

Scott C. Fahrenkrug, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Animal Science
Program area(s) of interest: Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer, Tumor Biology and Progression
Area of scientific interest: Development of large animal models of human disease, with a current focus on stem cell reprogramming and transformation, mechanisms of DNA repair and recombination.

Jinhui Zhang, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Hormel Institute
Program area of interest: Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention
Clinical focus: Urologic/prostate cancer
Area of scientific interest: Identification of in vivo therapeutic biomarkers of selenium compounds through proteomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics approach; structure-activity relationships, ADME and activity-guided purification of herb-original anti-cancer natural products.

New EpiCH shuttle pick-up/drop-off point at Mayo Building
Starting with the 2008 Summer Schedule, the pick-up/drop-off point on the West Bank will be changing. Instead of stopping in the cul-de-sac in front of the Mayo Building, the pick-up/drop-off point will be on the west-side (back) of the Mayo building, just off of Church Street. This route change is permanent. For more information, visit the Epidemiology and Community Health Support Services Web page.

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Education and Events

Center for Drug Design Seminar
Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 5-125 Moos Tower
Tuberculosis: One big problem; two little stories
John Blanchard, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Randy Shaver Celebrity Golf Classic
June 1-2, 2008, Rush Creek Golf Club, Maple Grove
Through its annual Randy Shaver Celebrity Golf Classic tournament, the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund generously contributes to Masonic Cancer Center researchers each year. In 2007, Wei Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Jonathan D'Cunha, M.D., Ph.D., Arkadiusz Dudek, M.D., Ph.D., Melissa Geller, M.D., John Ohlfest, Ph.D., Daniel Vallera, Ph.D., and John Wagner, M.D., received a combined $232,000 for research in the areas of leukemia/lymphoma, lung cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, brain tumors, pancreatic cancer, and stem cell biology, respectively. D'Cunha is featured in a public service announcement with Randy Shaver currently running on KARE 11. For information about the Randy Shaver Celebrity Golf Classic, visit www.randyshavergolf.com.

The Minnesota Chemoprevention Consortium—MC²
Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Hormel Institute Multimedia Center, 801 16th Ave NE, Austin, Minn.
A tentative agenda is as follows:
11:30-12: Josh Liao, Ph.D.
12:00-12:30: Johnny Lu, Ph.D.
12:30-1:15: Focused discussion on indole-3-carbinol led by Stephen Hecht, Ph.D.
1:15-2: Discussion of processing, Hormel Foods Corp.
2-2:30: Mindy Kurzer, Ph.D.
2:30-3: Tour of new Hormel Institute facilities

Lunch will be provided. Reply to carls307@umn.edu if you plan to attend.

Herberger's Friends & Family Appreciation event
Friday, June 6, 2008, 5- 9 p.m., Herberger's at Southtown Mall, Bloomington
Masonic Cancer Center members and staff are invited to bring a friend and shop at a discount at the Herberger's at Southtown. Show your AHC employee badge at the Cosmetics entrance to pick up coupon booklets and take advantage of special savings, cosmetic consultations and summer makeovers, and refreshments. You can also register for the chance to win door prizes. Since 2001, Herberger's "Charge Against Breast Cancer" campaign has raised $340,000 for breast cancer research at the University of Minnesota, with a contribution every time a customer makes a purchase with the Herberger's Rose charge card.

Lymphomathon 5K Walk: "Take a Step, Find a Cure"
June 7, 2008, Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis
The 4th Annual Lymphomathon 5K Walk: "Take a Step, Find a Cure" is sponsored by the Minnesota chapter of the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF). To start a team or learn more about the event, visit www.lymphomathon.org or contact the Minnesota LRF office at 612-968-3757. Brochures are available from Sven Olsen, 754 Cancer Center Research Building.

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.

Registration open for Twin Cities Purple Ride
September 13, 2008, Elm Creek Regional Park
The Twin Cities Purple Ride is sponsored by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Riders can choose from three distances: an 8-mile family ride, 25-mile river route, and 50-mile touring route. No matter which distance you choose, the event promises to be a good time for everyone. If you can't make the ride, you can also register as a virtual rider and fundraise using their online tools. Those who don't want to ride can be a volunteer the day of the event by e-mailing Marilynn Tuchfarber. Visit the Web site for more information.

Challenges and Tensions in International Research Collaborations
October 2-3, 2008, University of Minnesota, MinneapolisSponsored by the U.S. Office of Research Integrity and the University of Minnesota
International research collaborations are expanding rapidly, but they involve certain challenges. Speakers will discuss problems stemming from cross-national differences in the organization and funding of science, cultural perspectives, the training of students and research personnel, and legal and policy systems. They will also propose ways to mitigate the effects of these challenges in collaborative research. Scientists who collaborate or intend to collaborate internationally, other scientific research personnel, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, and others interested in international collaboration are encouraged to attend.

Register early. Space is limited. Visit the conference Web site for information on the conference program and registration.

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Program Meetings

Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program Seminar
Thursday, May 29, 2008, 4-5 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower
The role of the BCOR corepressor complex in chromatin modifications, cancer and development
Vivian Bardwell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development

This is the final seminar for the academic year. For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.

Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship Seminar
Monday, June 2, 2008, 12-1 p.m., Mayo A-110
The Iowa Women's Health Study - CMS Data Linkage: An opportunity for cancer outcomes and survivorship research
Kim Robien, PhD, R.D., C.S.O., F.A.D.A., Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota
Beth Virnig, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy & Management

RSVP to drei0022@umn.edu by May 30 if you want lunch. Free parking will be available in East River Road and Washington Avenue ramps. Please bring your parking voucher to the meeting for validation.

This is the final seminar for the academic year. For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.

BMT Conference
Monday, June 2, 2008, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
Guidelines for dasatinib prophylaxis after hematopoietic-cell transplantation for Ph+ ALL and CML
Michael Burke, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics/H/O/BMT

For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.

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Funding News and Opportunities

No new funding announcements were submitted this week.

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

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