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

Note: Tuesday seminars will be offered occasionally during the summer before the regular Seminar Series begins again in the fall.

Next seminar
Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Translational control of cancer
Nahum Sonenberg, Ph.D., James McGill Professor, Department of Biochemistry and McGill Cancer Centre, Montreal

Host: Vitaly Polunovsky, Ph.D.

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News

Members in the news
Selwyn Vickers, M.D., associate director of translational research, discussed pancreatic cancer research and treatment on WCCO Radio's Mondale & Jones program May 28.

Kudos

Mulrooney selected for Best of ASCO Meetings
The research abstract that Daniel Mulrooney, M.D., M.S., member of the Masonic Cancer Center's Prevention and Etiology Program, will present today at the 44th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago has also been selected to be included the Best of ASCO Meetings. The abstract is titled "Cardiovascular disease in adult survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS)." Best of ASCO Meetings increase global access to cutting-edge science. Mulrooney's abstract will be included in two domestic and approximately five international meetings.

Following the ASCO meeting, Mulrooney will present this research abstract at the 10th annual International Conference on Long-Term Complications of Treatment of Children and Adolescents June 7 in Ontario.

Wagner named a 'Health Care Hero'
John Wagner, M.D., co-leader of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, has been selected a "Health Care Hero" in the category of innovation in health care. He is one of eight Twin Cities health care professionals being honored by Twin Cities Business magazine and Medica. Wagner was selected because of his pioneering use of umbilical cord blood. In 1990, he performed the world's first cord-blood transplant for pediatric leukemia. In 1999, he and two colleagues developed the Minneapolis Regimen for treating adults with leukemia and lymphoma. Most recently he completed the world's first bone marrow transplant for a deadly childhood disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

Retreat fosters discussion on new Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship Program
More than 50 people involved in cancer research and patient care participated in the Masonic Cancer Center's third annual Population Sciences Retreat May 28 to discuss the center's Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship Program (COS). Read more.

ASCO presentation
Alice Shapiro, Ph.D., is one of several authors on a poster being presented at the ASCO annual meeting. The poster is titled "Survival analyses from the Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) evaluating dietary fat reduction and breast cancer outcome." See last week's Update for a list of other members participating in the ASCO annual meeting.

Call for speakers for 2008-09 Masonic Cancer Center Seminar Series
Carol Lange, Ph.D., director of the Masonic Cancer Center Seminar Series, is encouraging members to suggest external speakers they wish to host for the 2008-09 series, which is held every Tuesday, 12-1 p.m., in 450 CCRB. This continues to be the major forum for discussion of research activities in all areas of cancer-related research that reflect the interests of our members, including basic, clinical/translational and population-based research. Internal faculty and new faculty are also encouraged to present their research. Available dates are listed on the Web site. Contact Carol Lange, lange047@umn.edu and Robin Toy, ccsem@umn.edu, with your ideas. After Dr. Lange has finalized a balanced program, hosts and approved speakers will be notified. All details with respect to the seminar itself are coordinated by Robin Toy, 625-2159, ccsem@umn.edu.

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Education and Events

Center for the Study of Impulsivity in Addiction seminar
Tuesday, June 3, 12-1 p.m., 717 Delaware St. S.E., Room 105B
Sweet preference and impulsivity: traits that predict drug abuse
Marilyn Carroll, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota

A luncheon platter will be available—first come, first served.

NCMHD Comprehensive Centers of Excellence RFA/EXPORT (P60) meeting
Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 12-1:30 p.m., 717 Delaware St. S.E., room 202
The NIH has reissued the NCMHD Comprehensive Centers of Excellence RFA, otherwise known as the EXPORT (P60). The deadline is August 29 which leaves 80 working days to create a strong collaborative effort across programs and schools. Faculty interested in responding to this RFA are invited to join the discussion at Wednesday's meeting, and are encouraged to read the RFA beforehand.

Lunch will be provided. RSVP to phdr@umn.edu by noon Tuesday.

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.

The Masonic Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office Training Series
How to make the clinical trial start-up process the most efficient possible
Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 7:30-9:30 a.m., 450 CCRB
Learn tips to streamline study start-up and learn what resources are available through the CTO. This session will cover the basic steps required to take a clinical trial from concept to initiation:

• Project Management (oversight from protocol to initiation)
• Budget/Contracts (draft budget to final contract)
• Medical writing of protocols, informed consents (review of template and required elements of protocol, how to survive CPRC review)
• Regulatory approvals (getting approval from the CPRC, IRB, and other committees);Guest speaker from IRB, Patrice Webster
• IND process (assist with preparation of documents)
• Systems (clinical trial management/data management)
• Study Initiation (staff training/open to enrollment)

RSVP by Tuesday, July 1, 2008, to Katy Lind, lindx141@umn.edu or 625-3650.

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

Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center Lecture
Friday, June 6, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 CCRB
Fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and smoking status: Exploring pre- and post-cessation relationships
Gary Giovino, Ph.D., M.S., Professor, Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo

For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.

BMT Conference
Monday, June 9, 2008, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 CCRB
A Multi-faceted approach to immunotherapy for neuroblastoma utilizing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Bryon Johnson, Ph.D. Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin

Host: Bruce Blazar, M.D.

For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.

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Funding News and Opportunities

Validation of Novel Combinations and Novel Compounds
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
Deadline: June 30, 2008
Funding: Up to $200,000 for 2 years
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) seeks proposals for the MMRF Validation of Novel Combinations and Compounds.  This initiative will support the testing of:

• Novel single agents against molecular targets in multiple myeloma
• Novel agents with approved multiple myeloma therapeutics in innovative, rationally-designed combinations and/or sequences. 

2008 Audrey Meyer Mars International Fellowship in Clinical Oncology
American Cancer Society
Deadline: December 1, 2008
Funding: $45,000/yr
The purposed of this fellowship is to provide one year of advanced training in clinical oncology at participating U.S. cancer centers to qualified physicians and dentists from other countries, particularly countries where advanced training is not readily available.

For a full description of this grant program, as well as applications, instructions, and
policies, visit the Web site or contact the ACS at 404-329-5734, E-mail: grants@cancer.org.

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

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