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Researchers and Staff
January 27 , 2009
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
Shared Resources Spotlight: Comparative Pathology
Funding News and Opportunities: Important notice: SPA requests early submission of Grants.gov proposals
Today's Seminar
Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
A functional genomics approach to copy number variation: Dissecting 1p36 deletion in human cancer
Anindya Bagchi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota
A peek at the next seminar:
Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 12-1- p.m., 450 MCRB
The role of novel AR splice isoforms in prostate cancer progression
Scott Dehm, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Shared Resources Spotlight: Comparative Pathology
The Comparative Pathology Shared Resource provides full pathology support for Masonic Cancer Center members who use laboratory animals in their research. This includes generation of histological sections from frozen and formalin-fixed animal tissues, detection of common cell antigens by immunohistochemistry, and development of new immunohistochemical protocols. The resource also provides lesion analysis, interpretation, and imaging services by board-certified veterinary pathologists.
Learn more:
Shared Resources Seminar: Comparative Pathology
Monday, February 2, 2009, 10-11 a.m., 450 MCRB
From mouse to microscope to manuscript: The role of the Comparative Pathology Shared Resource
Gerry O'Sullivan, M.V.B., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P. & E.C.V.P. and Ilze Matise D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P., Veterinary Anatomic PathologistsBulletin Boards
Bulletin boards highlighting the Comparative Pathology Shared Resource services are on display in the Masonic Cancer Research Building and on the second floor of Moos Tower, near Masonic Cancer Center faculty laboratories.On the Web: www.cancer.umn.edu/cpsr
The Comparative Pathology Shared Resource Web site features a video about its services, frequently asked questions, and detailed descriptions of services.
News
State of the Masonic Cancer Center: Yee calls 2008 'a milestone year'
Over 150 Masonic Cancer Center faculty and staff attended the State of the Masonic Cancer Center presentation given by Director Douglas Yee, M.D., on January 21, 2009 in the Masonic Cancer Research Building. Representatives from Minnesota Masonic Charities also gave a presentation during the event to give faculty and staff an overview of the organization and its history. Read more about the event and view a recording of Yee's presentation.
Years of Service Recognition: The State of the Masonic Cancer Center event concluded with Yee delivering Years of Service Awards and recognizing the retirements this year of the following faculty and staff:
- 5 Years: Anne-Michelle Bakritzes, Deborah Biegert, Anthony Hooten, Yasir Ibrahim, Rachel Loeber, Mesfin Negia, Leann Oseth, Judy Witte, Siyi Zhang, Yan Zhang
- 10 Years: Cathy Carlson, Guang Cheng, Levi Downs, Cuong Nguyen, Bernardo Prigge, Ashley Schempp, Kevin Silverstein, Nicole Thomson
- 15 Years: Paul Champoux, Kate Cole, Shaomei Han
- 20 Years: Jeffrey Miller
- 25 Years: Bruce Lindgren, Mary Sumpmann
- 30 Years: Chap Le, Philip McGlave, Daniel Weisdorf
- Retiring in 2009: Donna Mattson, Robert Kovarik, Linda Kruse, Kate Cole, Laurie Latimer
Eagles Telethon donates to Masonic Cancer Center
Masonic Cancer Center received a $125,000 donation from the 55th Annual Eagles Telethon held January 17 and 18 in Rochester and aired on KTTC-TV. The donation will be used to help support research projects by cancer center investigators.
Masonic Cancer Center members to present at Mini Medical School
Masonic Cancer Center members will present during the Academic Health Center's Spring 2009 Mini Medical School: New Frontiers in Medicine, scheduled for Monday nights February 23-March 23. Members presenting are: Michael Maddaus, M.D.; Nelson Rhodus, D.M.D., M.P.H.; John Ohlfest, Ph.D.; Elizabeth Pluhar, D.V.M., Ph.D.; and Michael Garwood, Ph.D. See the AHC Web site for more information and registration.
Minnesota Cancer Facts and Figures 2009 available online
The 2009 issue of Minnesota Cancer Facts and Figures is available online at www.cancerplanmn.org. This report was jointly published by the American Cancer Society, Minnesota Department of Health, and Minnesota Cancer Alliance and provides cancer information and rates for Minnesota. The report also contains a special section on increasing colorectal cancer screening in Minnesota.
Members in the news
James McCarthy, Ph.D., Tumor Biology and Progression Program leader, was quoted in an article on the death of prostate cancer pioneer Donald Gleason, M.D., in the January 19 issue of the Minnesota Daily. The article also includes information about research led by McCarthy to identify new tumor targets that can be used to stop the growth and spread of prostate cancer.
Masonic Cancer Center in the news
- The "Discoveries" section of the January-February issue of Minnesota magazine, published by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, highlights Masonic Cancer Center research, including the discovery that a gene involved in an often fatal infant leukemia is also associated with glioblastoma; and the identification of combinations of genes associated with early relapse of multiple myeloma.
- The Masonic Cancer Center was cited as an example of successful interdisciplinary research in the Minnesota Daily article "Health care education focused more on collaboration."
Education and Events
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, January 28, 2008, 12-1 p.m., 114 LHI/KE
Justin Haworth, Bielinksy lab, will discuss "Stabilization of N-Myc is a critical function of aurora A in human neuroblastoma," Otto T, et al., Cancer Cell 2009;15-67-78.
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).
Department of Pediatric Hem/Onc/BMT Special Lecture
Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 3 p.m., 450 MCRB
Epidemiology and outcomes of invasive fungal infections in pediatric patients
Antonio Arrieta, M.D., Director, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Infectious Diseases Clinical Research, Children's Hospital of Orange County
Shared Resources Seminar
Monday, February 2, 2009, 10-11 a.m., 450 MCRB
From mouse to microscope to manuscript: The role of the Comparative Pathology Shared Resource
Gerry O'Sullivan, M.V.B., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P. & E.C.V.P. and Ilze Matise D.V.M., Ph.D., Veterinary Anatomic Pathologists
For a complete schedule visit the Web site.
Mini Medical School Spring 2009: New Frontiers in Medicine
February 23-March 23, 2009 on Mondays, 6-8:30 p.m., University of Minnesota
This biannual five-class endeavor will feature health topics spanning new frontiers in medicine. Cost is $75 (includes binder and printouts of PowerPoint presentations), or $60 (paperless, with ability to download presentations). More information and registration.
Developmental Origins of Cancer: A Minnesota Futures Grant Symposium
February 28-March 1, 2009, University of Minnesota
The Developmental Origins of Cancer Symposium is a free conference presented as part of the Minnesota Futures Grant Program. The goals of this symposium are to bring together scientists and other professionals across disciplines to discuss the latest research in the field, to promote interdisciplinary interactions, and to stimulate the development of new research projects centered on the developmental origins of cancer. This interactive symposium includes internationally recognized experts on this topic and will provide a forum to identify the most pressing questions related to the early life origins of cancer and ways to address them through presentations, discussions, and brainstorming sessions. Registration is required and is expected to fill quickly. More information and registration.
More Upcoming Events
February 4-5, 2009: Annual Safety Refresher Training
February 4-5, 2009: Molecular Targets for Cancer Prevention Symposium
February 13-15, 2009: Genes, Dogs & Cancer: 5th International Canine Cancer Conference
February 28, 2009: Cancer and the Human Body Exhibit
March 23-25, 2009: Targeted Anticancer Therapies Symposium
April 4, 2009: Survivorship Series: Living Well After Cancer
Program Meetings
Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program Seminar
Thursday, January 29, 2009, 4-5 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower
Clinical cancer genetic testing: From the bench to the patient
Mary Ahrens, M.S., C.G.C., Cancer Genetics Counselor, Familial Cancer Clinic
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship Program Seminar
Monday, February 2, 2009, 12-1 p.m., Moos Tower 2-118 (Note room change)
A balancing act: Work and health concerns during and after cancer treatment
Nancy Nachreiner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota
RSVP to drei0022@umn.edu by Thursday, January 29 an appropriate number of lunches can be ordered.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Program Conference
Monday, February 2, 2009, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 MCRB
New directions in post-HSCT lung injury
Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplant, and Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Funding News and Opportunities
IMPORTANT NOTICES:
New Grants.gov Adobe Format: SPA requests that Grants.gov proposals be submitted as early as possible
Effective starting with the February 5 NIH deadline, Grants.gov proposals must be submitted using the new Adobe format proposal packages. These will permanently replace the older PureEdge version. Because of these new forms, there have been several issues and challenges associated with the Adobe formatted packages above and beyond the typical Grants.gov issues (errors, warnings, etc.) so an earlier-than-usual submission of your proposal is HIGHLY recommended:
- Limited capacity on Grants.gov servers leading to very slow uploads. The servers are currently equipped to handle 365 concurrent uploads without slowing down. Since this happens frequently, NIH plans to upgrade the server's capabilities in order to accommodate the increased volume of proposals. However, this will NOT be in place for the February/March NIH deadlines.
- Each package takes approximately 5 minutes for SPA to upload to the Grants.gov servers, and frequently, this causes the upload to time out. This leads to other problems stemming from the limited server capacity.
- Corruption of the Adobe package happens when the package is opened by a user with a version of Adobe (Acrobat or Reader) other than the approved versions (8.1.1, 8.1.2, 8.1.3, or 9.0). Unfortunately, there is no way for another user to tell that the package has been accessed by an older version of Adobe until an upload to Grants.gov is attempted. IMPORTANT: If corruption of the package occurs and the upload fails, an entire new package will need to be prepared. Please avoid this issue at all costs.
Salary limitation on grants, cooperative agreements and contracts under the current continuing resolution
(NOT-OD-09-037)
National Institutes of Health
Effective January 1, 2009, the NIH salary cap increased from $191,300 to $196,700.
Eligible PIs urged to establish Early Stage Investigator status; Update Personal Profile in eRA Commons
National Institutes of Health
Attention Principal Investigators! If you attained your terminal research degree or completed your medical residency within the past ten years, and you have not previously received a substantial NIH research grant, you may be eligible to qualify as an Early Stage Investigator (ESI) for the purposes of your NIH R01 research grant application. An ESI is a subset of the New Investigator category. How exactly does that benefit you, you may ask? Well, for one, your R01 grant application will be flagged as an Early Stage Investigator application beginning with the February 2009 R01 submissions. In reviewing this application, reviewers will be instructed to focus more on the research portion of your application and less on your track record. Beginning in May 2009, Early Stage Investigator applications will be clustered for review.
Here are some important links:
New and Early Stage Investigator Policies
- NOT-OD-09-034 Requesting an Extension of the ESI Period
- NOT-OD-09-021 Implementing the Early Stage Investigator Policy: Updating eRA Commons Profiles to Include Degree and Residency Completion Dates
- NOT-OD-09-013 Revised New and Early Stage Investigator Policies
- NOT-OD-08-121 Encouraging Early Transition to Research Independence: Modifying the NIH New Investigator Policy to Identify Early Stage Investigators
NIH:
Cancer Prevention, Control, Behavioral, and Population Sciences Career Development Award (K07)
(PAR-09-078)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement
Funding: Roughly $130,000/year in direct costs
The purpose of the NCI Cancer Prevention, Control, Behavioral and Population Sciences Career Development Award is to provide support for salary and research costs for up to 5 years for individuals with health professional or science doctoral degrees who are not fully established investigators and who want to pursue research careers in the cancer prevention, control, population, and/or behavioral sciences. The primary objective of this program is to increase the number of investigators who have made commitments to focus their research endeavors on cancer prevention, control, behavioral, and the population sciences.
NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22)
(PAR-09-069)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): February 12, 2009; June 12, 2009; October 12, 2009
Funding: Roughly $150,000/year in direct costs
The purpose of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Career Transition Award (K22) is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists are available in adequate numbers and in appropriate research areas to address the nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. The Diversity Training Branch (DTB), the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) (http://crchd.cancer.gov/), and the Office of the Director (OD) (http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/), invite applications from recipients of the NCI Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Diversity, or from advanced postdoctoral and/or newly independent research scientists representative of groups that are underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and/or social sciences.
Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs:
FY09 Neurofibromatosis Research Program:
NF Clinical Trial Award
Pre-Application Letter of Intent deadline: March 24, 2009
Proposal deadline: April 14, 2009
NF Investigator-Initiated Research Award
Pre-Application Letter of Intent deadline: March 24, 2009
Proposal deadline: April 14, 2009
FY09 Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program:
TSC Clinical and Translational Research Award
Pre-Application Letter of Intent deadline: March 24, 2009
Proposal deadline: April 14, 2009
TSC Idea Development Award
Pre-Application Letter of Intent deadline: March 24, 2009
Proposal deadline: April 14, 2009
FY09 Breast Cancer Research Program
BC Predoctoral Traineeship Award
Pre-Application Letter of Intent deadline: February 25, 2009
Proposal deadline: March 11, 2009
BC Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
Pre-Application Letter of Intent deadline: February 25, 2009
Proposal deadline: March 11, 2009
BC Impact Award
Pre-Application (Preproposal) deadline: March 12, 2009
Invited Proposal deadline: June 17, 2009
BC Multi-Team Award
Pre-Application (Preproposal) deadline: March 12, 2009
Invited Proposal deadline: June 17, 2009
To be released on February 2, 2009:
BC Era of Hope Scholar Award
Pre-application (Nomination) deadline: March 12, 2009
Invited Proposal: June 17, 2009
BC Innovator Award
Pre-application (Nomination) deadline: March 12, 2009
Invited Proposal deadline: June 17, 2009
BC Idea Award
Pre-application (Letter of Intent) deadline: March 25, 2009
Proposal deadline: April 8, 2009
BC HBCU/MI Partnership Training Award
Pre-application (Letter of Intent) deadline: March 25, 2009
Proposal deadline: April 8, 2009
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.