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Researchers and Staff
November 4 , 2008
Update is sent to Masonic Cancer Center members and staff every Tuesday morning. 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, November 4, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Molecular target-based drug discovery from bench to the clinic
Ching-Shih Chen, Ph.D., Lucius A. Wing Chair of Cancer Research & Therapy, Kimberly Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Internal Medicine and Urology, Ohio State University
Host: Haojie Huang, Ph.D.
A peek at next week's seminar:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Cell-cell contact regulation in the pancreas and pancreatic cancer
Markus M. Lerch, M.D., F.R.C.P., Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, A. Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universitat, Greifswald
Host: Ashok Saluja, Ph.D.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
News
Members in the news
Selwyn Vickers, M.D., Tumor Biology and Progression Program, will be interviewed about pancreatic cancer treatment and research on Wednesday, November 5 on WCCO Radio's Mondale & Jones program, 9:20-10:00 a.m. The program can be heard on 830 AM or by visiting the WCCO Web site and clicking on "Listen Live."
Douglas Yee, M.D., was quoted in a MinnPost.com article about the higher risk of breast cancer among Ashkenazi Jews, Jewish women of European ancestry.
Brian Van Ness, Ph.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, was quoted in news reports by Minnesota Daily, Medical News Today, and United Press International about his study that showed a link between gene variations and cancer survival.
Masonic Cancer Center leaders, supporters elected to MMF board of trustees
Masonic Cancer Center members and supporters were elected to the Minnesota Medical Foundation board of trustees at the foundation's annual meeting October 27. Eric Neetenbeek, J.D., president and CEO of Minnesota Masonic Charities, the philanthropic arm of Minnesota Masonry, was elected treasurer. Selwyn Vickers, M.D., Masonic Cancer Center associate director of translational research, and Winston Wallin were elected to four year terms as trustees. Wallin is a member of the Masonic Cancer Center Community Advisory Board. He established the Winston R. and Maxine H. Wallin Land-Grant Chair in Cancer Prevention with his wife, Maxine, and played leadership roles in establishing the Masonic Cancer Center and the John H. Kersey Chair in Cancer Research at the University of Minnesota , which is currently held by Douglas Yee, M.D. Wallin also established the Winston R. and Maxine H. Wallin Land-Grant Chair in Cancer Prevention, held by Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., leader of Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program. Visit the MMF Web site for more information about the foundation's new officers and board members.
New Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma content on Masonic Cancer Center Web site
New cancer information pages for Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma have been added to the Web site. The pages are part of the site's special sarcoma section, www.cancer.umn.edu/sarcoma. The section was developed by Masonic Cancer Center member Edward Y. Cheng, M.D., Mairs Family Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,with the support of the Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Fund.
Education and Events
Employee Health and Benefits Fair 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Coffman Memorial Union Great Hall
Tuesday November 11, 2008, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., St. Paul Student Center (North Star Ballroom)
Benefits Fair offers information of medical plans, dental plans, flexible spending accounts, life and disability benefits, retirement savings, and employee wellness. Free flu shots, healthy and tasty treats, free massages, prizes and give-aways too!
Biostatistics Seminar
Wednesday, November 5, 2008, reception 3 p.m., A434 Mayo; lecture 3:30 p.m., 5-125 Moos Tower
Case-parent triad analyses of genes related to bone growth in osteosarcoma
Logan Spector, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine; Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Public Health
Cancer U: Emerging Trends in Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Thursday, November 6, 2008, 6-8 p.m., Radisson University Hotel, Minneapolis
University of Minnesota medical oncologist Robert Kratzke, M.D., will present information and answer questions about lung cancer. More information and registration.
Medical School celebrates BMT 40th anniversary
The celebration will include a Continuing Medical Education (CME) event from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2008, in the Great Hall at Coffman Memorial Union. Visit the CME Web site to register. A 40th anniversary celebration is slated from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, also in Coffman Memorial Union. E-mail Melinda Baxter at mbaxter1@Fairview.org, or call (612) 672-7272 to RSVP.
Fifth meeting of the Minnesota Chemoprevention Consortium
Friday, November 7, 2008, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Hormel Foods Corporation sales cabin, Austin, Minn.
The fifth meeting of the Minnesota Chemoprevention Consortium will include presentations from Navtej Buttar, M.D., and Paul Limberg, M.D., Department of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic; Max Pecht and Phil Minerich, Hormel Foods Corporation; Sabrina Peterson, Ph.D., and Jian-Min Juan, Ph.D., Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota; and Peter Ruvolo, Ph.D., Hormel Institute. The meeting will conclude with a tour of the Hormel Corporation R&D facilities. Lunch will be available. Reply to carls307@umn.edu if you plan to attend.
Institute for Therapeutics Discovery & Development Seminar Series
Friday, November 7, 2008, 3 p.m., Room 105, 717 Delaware
Targeted dual agent nanoparticles to overcome P-glycoprotein-mediated tumor drug resistance
Jayanth Panyam, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics
Minnesota Health Disparities Conference
Health Equality: Honoring Culture While Closing the Gap
November 12-14, 2008, Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel, Prior Lake, Minn.
The goal of this conference, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, is to create a dynamic forum on health equality for all levels of community engagement and diverse populations while celebrating effective health initiatives. For more information visit the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health Web site.
More Upcoming Events
November 13, 2008: Cancer U: Emerging Trends in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Program Meetings
Immunology Program Meeting
Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 1:30-2:30 p.m., 6-120 NHH
Target T cells with nanomaterials
Haojie Huang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Program Conference
Monday, November 10, 2008, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 MCRB
Hematopoietic stem cell niches and expansion
Linheng Li, Ph.D., Investigator, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, USA
Hosted by: John Wagner, M.D.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Funding News and Opportunities
The University of Minnesota Brain Tumor Program
Children's Cancer Research Fund
Deadline: December 15, 2008, 4:00 p.m.
Funding: $200,000 over two years
A collaborative effort with at least one faculty member of the Divisions of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplant, or Epidemiology/Clinical Research at the University of Minnesota. This funding is for basic, translational, or clinical research with a direct application to pediatric neuro-oncology or nervous system tumor research. See the complete application instructions (PDF) for more information. Contact Amy Gaug at gaugx002@umn.edu with questions.
Mini-Grant Funding Opportunity
Minnesota Cancer Alliance
Funding: $4,000 maximum
Deadline: December 1, 2008
In 2009, the MCA will engage in a pilot project by making a total of $8,000 available in mini-grants for small projects that support Cancer Plan Minnesota priorities. The goal is to add capacity to Cancer Plan-related projects that are currently underway. The online application can be found on the MCA website at http://www.mncanceralliance.org/rfp. Questions? Contact Jane Korn at jane.korn@state.mn.us.
Visit the Funding News & Opportunities Web page to see listings previously published in Update.
Employment Opportunities
Postdoctoral Research Positions
Novel Approaches To Prevent Murine Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD)
NIH-funded postdoctoral positions are available in the area of GVHD and tolerance induction. Current studies are focused on regulatory T-cells and the GVHD pathophysiology as affected by positive and negative costimulatory pathways. Cellular and in vivo GVHD analyses will be performed utilizing wild-type, knockout, and transgenic cells. Relevant 2008 references include: Blood 112:3508; ibid 111:3257; ibid 110:3480. Successful applicants will have an M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree and a track record of accomplishments and expertise in manipulating rodent immune cell responses, especially to foreign antigens. Excellent facilities are available in the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. Salary will be competitive. The selected candidate will be hired through Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics. Applicants should include a letter of application and a current C.V. by email along with names and email addresses of 2-3 references to: Dr. Bruce R. Blazar, MMC 109; University of Minnesota, 420 S.E. Delaware St., Minneapolis, MN 55455, FAX 612-624-3913; e-mail: blaza001@umn.edu.
Lung Injury after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
An NIH-funded postdoctoral position is available in the area of lung injury after hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Current studies are focused on the pathophysiology of idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) and obliterative bronchiolitis that occur post-bone marrow transplant, and the use of cell therapies to repair lung injury. In vivo and ex vivo analyses will be performed utilizing wild-type, knockout, and transgenic mice. Relevant references include: Amer. J. of Respir. and Crit. Care Med., 176:713-723, 2007. Successful applicants will have an M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree and a track record of accomplishments and expertise in rodent models of disease. Experience in pulmonary disease or bone marrow transplant in rodents is a plus. Excellent facilities are available in the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. Salary will be competitive. The selected candidate will be hired through Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics. Applicants should include a letter of application and a current C.V. by e-mail along with names and email addresses of 2-3 references to: Dr. Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari, MMC 366; University of Minnesota, 420 S.E. Delaware St., Minneapolis, MN 55455, FAX 612-626-4074; e-mail: panos001@umn.edu.
For more information about these positions and additional opportunities visit the Employment Opportunities Web page.