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Researchers and Staff
November 18, 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 18, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Regulation and role of cyclin E in the genotoxic stress response
Alex Almasan, Associate Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Co-leader: Radiation and Cellular Stress Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Host: Hoajie Huang, Ph.D.
A peek at next week's seminar:
Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Indrajit Roy, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Biophotonics Division, Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, SUNY-Buffalo
Host: Jayanth Panyam, Ph.D.
News
Members in the news
Dan Kaufman, M.D., Ph.D., Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, was interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio about President-elect Obama's plans for embryonic stem cell research.
Douglas Yee, M.D., director, was quoted in an article "Cancer research seeing positive impact" in the fall/winter 2008 Blue Cross Blue Shield member publication.
Michael Verneris, M.D., Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, is quoted in the Bemidji Pioneer in an article regarding a former patient of his who underwent total marrow irradiation and participated in the recent 40th anniversary celebration of the University's Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program.
Check out the link to Minnesota Masonic Charities on Web pages
Masonic Cancer Center faculty and staff can now readily learn more about one of our vital partners, Minnesota Masonic Charities, which last spring donated $65 million to the University of Minnesota for cancer research and treatment. The logo for the Minnesota Masonic Charities is located in the left column on the cancer center's Web pages. Clicking on the logo will take you to the Web site of the Minnesota Masonic Charities.
Watch for the new signs in MCRB
The first of the new signs with our new wordmark will go up in the Masonic Cancer Research Building (MCRB) this week. Watch for a new maroon color sign above the bulkheads and above the bulletin boards on each floor. We'll let you know when other signs with our new name are scheduled to go up.
McCarthy received honorary professorship in Chang Sha, China
Jim McCarthy, Ph.D., leader of the Tumor Biology and Progression Program, was made an honorary professor in recognition of his accomplishments in cancer research at Central South University in Chang Sha, China, during a recent visit. McCarthy was invited to the university by Guiyuan Li, M.D., Ph.D., vice-president of Central South University and director of the university's Cancer Research Institute. The goal of visit was to create a long-term collaboration with Li's laboratory on the importance of the microenvironment in modulating tumor suppressor function and expression. Li's research is focused on the identification of tumor suppressor genes and the identification of early biomarkers that are associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a specific type of cancer that is common to that region of China. McCarthy presented his research on the importance of the tumor microenvironment in prostate tumor progression and metastasis to the administration, faculty and students of the university.
Masonic Cancer Center researchers address international conferences
Deepak Kademani, D.M.D., M.D., will speak on "The management of the mandible in oral cancer" and "Obturation versus reconstruction for maxillary tumors" at the First Gulf Symposium on Head and Neck Oncology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Keith Skubitz, M.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, gave an oral presentation on "Activity of SCH717454 in subjects with relapsed osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma (Study P04720)" at the Connective Tissue Oncology Society in London. Skubitz was also an author on two posters presented at the meeting: "Response of imatinib-resistant extra-abdominal aggressive fibromatosis to sunitinib," Skubitz KM and Frolich JW; and "Aggressive pattern of recurrence in Kaposi sarcoma treated with bevacizumab," Haddah PA and Skubitz KM.
Kudos
Seunguk Oh, Ph.D., received the Hirshberg Award for "the best abstract in pancreatic cancer" presented at the 39th annual meeting of the American Pancreatic Association in Chicago. The recognition includes a $500 cash prize. Oh is a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Daniel Vallera, Ph.D., Tumor Biology and Progression Program. The abstract described research on a new genetically engineered anti-cancer drug and a new method of delivering it. This research was a collaboration between Vallera's lab in the Masonic Cancer Center and the laboratory of Selwyn Vickers, M.D., member of the Tumor Biology and Progression Program and chair of the Department of Surgery. The collaboration was supported by the cancer center and the Department of Surgery.
Data Safety and Monitoring Plan for clinical trials is now available
As an NCI-designated cancer center, the Masonic Cancer Center is required to have a Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (DSMP) for monitoring subject safety and the progress of clinical trials. In September 2008, the NCI approved the plan (version dated 1/9/08), which can be found on the Clinical Trials Office Web site. Read the approved plan (PDF).
To help researchers understand their obligations, a Data and Safety Oversight Frequently Asked Questions document (PDF) is also available in the Clinical Trials Office section of the Web site. Contact Valerie O'Brien (dene008@umn.edu) or Carol Letourneau (letou003@umn.edu) for further information.
Education and Events
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 14 LHI/KE
Monthly Cancer Biology Research Club Seminar
Todd Knutson, graduate student, Lange lab, will discuss "DNA sequencing of a cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukaemia genome" by Ley et al, Nature 2008;456:66-72.
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).
Center for Drug Design Seminar
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 1-451 Moos Tower
Wanderings with nature: Mother Nature and natural products
David J. Newman, D. Phil., Natural Products Branch, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Md.
Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases Conference
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 4 p.m., 450 CCRB
Spinal cord astrocytoma
Jenny McCormack, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT Fellow
Genetics Cell Biology and Development Seminar
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 2-101 NHH
Rho signaling to transcription and metastasis through the SRF coactivator MAL
Richard Treisman, Ph.D., F.R.S., Director, Cancer Research UK London
Research Institute, London
Host: Vivian Bardwell
Co-sponsor: Masonic Cancer Center
Prescription for Reform: Health Care Summit 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Mayo Auditorium
With a new administration in Washington, health care reform will be near the top of the agenda in 2009. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar invites faculty and staff to attend this summit, which will focus on how to strengthen America's health care system so it delivers the best quality at the best price. Speakers include Senator Klobuchar and leaders in health care delivery and policy. The summit is free and lunch will be provided. Read more and RSVP.
Program Meetings
Tumor Biology and Progression Meeting
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 9:15-10:15 a.m., 2-633 Moos Tower
Program organizing committee to discuss retreat and program budget.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program Meeting
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 4-5 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower
Adenoviral vector-based gene therapy for gastrointestinal cancers
Masato Yamamoto, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor and Co-Director, Division of Basic and Translational Research, Department of Surgery
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site
Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group
Friday, November 21, 2008, Jackson 2-137
New approaches to cervical cancer prevention in Canada
Shalini L. Kulasingam, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
Please RSVP to Logan Spector if you would like lunch.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Program Conference
Monday, November 24, 2008, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 MCRB
Mislocalized self-proteins as targets for anti-leukemia immunotherapy
Gheath Alatrash, D.O., Ph.D., Instructor, Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Barbara Rattay Foundation Advanced Scholar Fellow, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Hosted by: Daniel Weisdorf, M.D.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Funding News and Opportunities
NIH:
National Cancer Institute Program Project (P01) Applications
(PAR-09-025)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple, see announcement
Funding: Varied
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), invites grant applications for investigator-initiated Program Projects (P01) in any area of cancer research. P01 grants support integrated, multiproject research programs involving a number of independent investigators who share knowledge and common resources while working towards a unifying overall scientific goal. Therefore, every P01 program project proposed should have a well-defined unifying research theme.
Collaborative Research in Integrative Cancer Biology and the Tumor Microenvironment (U01)
(PAR-09-026)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): February 19, 2009
Funding: Varied, based on availability of NCI funds
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage new research into the complexity of cancer by fostering new interactions with two existing and related programs within the NCI: the Integrative Cancer Biology Program (ICBP) and/or the Tumor Microenvironment Network (TMEN). The NCI specifically encourages new collaborative projects between investigators associated with the ICBP or TMEN and researchers who are not involved with the program with which they propose to collaborate. These new collaborative projects will be composed of multi-Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) teams, led by at least one ICBP or TMEN PD/PI and at least one currently non-affiliated investigator, and will be aligned with the general mission of the ICBP or TMEN. These new projects are intended to bring new expertise, methods, ideas, and resources to the fields of integrative cancer biology and tumor microenvironment research.
Visit the Funding News & Opportunities Web page to see listings previously published in Update. Also, a list of organizations that provide funding for cancer research is provided on our Research Funding Resources page.