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Researchers and Staff
March 10 , 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
Funding News and Opportunities
Director's Message
Dear Colleagues:
As you plan your research work, I encourage you to consider using the shared resources available to you through the Masonic Cancer Center. We offer 11 shared resources that are funded in part by our Cancer Center Support Grant from the National Cancer Institute. These resources are a benefit to you as a research faculty member of the Masonic Cancer Center.
They include analytical biochemistry, biostatistics and informatics, cytogenetics, clinical trials, comparative pathology, flow cytometry, mouse genetics, tissue procurement, health survey research, translational therapy, and laboratory services. Their purpose is to provide professional scientific consultation, state of the art technologies, and reliable services to help you do your research.
A goal of the Masonic Cancer Center is to provide resources for you to make your research easier, more efficient, and more innovative. In these times when we all have to optimize our research dollars the best we can, I urge you to look within the cancer center to find expertise and instrumentation available for your research.
Visit www.cancer.umn.edu/sr. I think you may be pleased at what you find.
Douglas Yee, M.D.
Director
Masonic Cancer Center
University of Minnesota
Today's Seminar
Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Folic acid supplementation and colorectal cancer risk: A tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Young-In J. Kim, M.D., F.R.C.P., Associate Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto
Host: Kim Robien, Ph.D.
A peek at the next seminar:
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
ITDD and CTM at U of M: Bridging the gap between biomedical research and the clinic
Gunda I. Georg, Ph.D., Professor and Head, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Robert Vince Endowed Chair Director, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule and to watch recorded seminars, visit the Web site.
News
Members in the news
Douglas Yee, M.D., director, co-leader of the Women's Cancer Research Program, talked with Governor Tim Pawlenty about cancer and the research done at the Masonic Cancer Center on the WCCO radio program Midday Live, March 2. Yee also commented in a WCCO Radio news report about a British study that found that even one glass of any type of alcoholic drink per day increases the risk of cancer for women.
Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., associate director of cancer prevention and control, was quoted in reports by U.S. News & World Report, HealthDay News Service, Minnesota Daily, WCCO Radio, Minnesota Public Radio, and Winston-Salem Journal about the conclusions of the Strategic Dialogue on Tobacco Harm Reduction panel she co-led that called for tougher regulations on smoking and tobacco use. She also was interview on WCCO Radio's Mondale & Jones program.
Robert Madoff, M.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, was quoted in a Reuters Health news report about study results showing that in patients with operable rectal cancer, a short course of preoperative radiotherapy can reduce local recurrence. Madoff wrote the editorial that accompanied the article published in the British journal The Lancet.
U of M cancer researchers discover 32 new genes linked to colorectal and liver cancers
Scientists at the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Center and Medical School report remarkable laboratory findings—17 new genes that could cause colorectal cancer and 15 new genes linked to liver cancer—using the Sleeping Beauty method. The studies are published in the current online issues of the top-tier scientific journals Science and Nature Biotechnology.
The findings help pave the way for development of individualized, genetically-based treatments for patients with colorectal and liver cancers. Learn more about the research.
Kudos
Congratulations to Daniel Weisdorf, M.D., co-leader of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, on his election as vice president of the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the premier international society focused on human cell and immune based therapies.
U's Leukemia Research Fund receives $335,000 from Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament
The Leukemia Research Fund at the University of Minnesota received $335,000 from the 2008 Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament in Sun Valley, ID. Read more.
Masonic Cancer Center researchers receive Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics awards
Two of the six research teams to receive funding from the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics include members of the Masonic Cancer Center:
Masato Yamamoto, M.D., Ph.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, University of Minnesota; and John Morris III, M.D., Mayo Clinic, received $957,093 for their study "New Generation Oncolytic Adenovirus for Refractory Cancers." The goal of this project is to develop viral constructs that will have clinical impact on such cancers as prostate, breast, pancreatic, esophageal and lung and bring them to the threshold of clinical trials.
Gunda Georg, Ph.D., University of Minnesota; and Jim Maher, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic, received $723,690 for their study "Small Molecule Screens for Selective Growth Inhibitors in a Yeast Model of Familial Paraganglioma." The goal is to develop novel drugs that would stop small neuroendocrine tumors from becoming malignant cancers.
The Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics is a collaboration among the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, and the State of Minnesota. Learn more.
New member
Francois Sainfort, Ph.D.
Mayo Professor, Health Policy and Management
Program areas of focus: Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Prevention and Etiology
Area of scientific interest: Decision-making under risk and uncertainty, cancer outcomes measurement and monitoring, risk perception and communication, decision support systems.
Welcome new staff
Clark Mattila is a new junior scientist in the lab of Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention researcher Lisa Peterson, Ph.D. Clark recently received a B.S. in biology from the University of Minnesota. He will be investigating the hypothesis that genetic differences in DNA damage repair and response genes contribute to ethnic differences in tobacco-related lung cancer risk.
Report on joint 3rd Hormel Institute Frontiers in Cancer Conference and 8th International Skin Carcinogenesis Conference published
"Signal Transduction Molecules as Targets for Cancer Prevention," by Ann Bode, Ph.D., and Zigang Dong, M.D., Dr.P.H., has been published in Science Signaling. The article reports on the joint 3rd Hormel Institute Frontiers in Cancer Conference and 8th International Skin Carcinogenesis Conference, held at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota October 4-7, 2008.
Education and Events
Public Engagement Symposium: Meeting the Standards of Scientific Inquiry in Community-Engaged Research
Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 9 a.m.-noon, A.I. Johnson Room, McNamara Alumni Center
A panel of distinguished researchers and federal agency representatives will present their perspectives on how community engagement is viewed within the national funding agencies that support scientific research. Following their presentations, the panelists will respond to questions from the audience and participate in small-group roundtable discussions with audience members. The panel moderator is Dr. Judith Ramaley, president, Winona State University; panelists include Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy (National Science Foundation); Dr. Paul Targonski (National Institutes of Health); and Dr. Frances Lawrenz (University of Minnesota, Office of the Vice President for Research). Visit engagement.umn.edu for more information.
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 114 LHI/KE
Monthly Cancer Biology Research Club seminar
Wednesday, March 11, 12-1 p. m., 1-114 LHI
Exploring the role of progesterone receptor/MAPK-module complex formation in breast cancer models
Christy Hagan, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate, Lange lab
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).
Masonic Cancer Center Recognition Program Awards
Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 3 p.m., 450 Masonic Cancer Research Building
The quarterly Recognition Program Awards event will recognize the Basic Science research groups. Light refreshments will be provided.
Visit the Upcoming Events Web page for more event listings.
Visit the Professional Education Web page for more conference and special lecture listings.
Program Meetings
Women's Cancer Interest Group Seminar
Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 10 a.m., 450 MCRB
MR spectroscopy for monitoring treatment response in breast cancer
Patrick J. Bolan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Cancer Biology Research Club
Wednesday, March 11, 12-1 p. m., 1-114 LHI
Exploring the role of progesterone receptor/MAPK-module complex formation in breast cancer models
Christy Hagan, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate, Lange lab
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Transdisciplinary Tobacco Research Center Lecture
Friday, March 13, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Tobacco research to action: Advocacy and research in collaboration
Jeanne Weigum, M.S.W., President, Association for Nonsmokers
Co-presenters: Brittany McFadden, B.A., Betsy Brock, M.P.H., Katie Engman, B.S.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Program Conference
Monday, March 17, 2009, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 MCRB
Is mini-allograft enough for adult ALL?
Veronika Bachanova, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Funding News and Opportunities
NIH:
NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research
(RFA-OD-09-003)
Application Receipt Date: April 27, 2009
Funding: Up to $1,000,000 in total costs (direct & indirect) over 2 years
NIH has received new funds for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The NIH has designated at least $200 million in FYs 2009-2010 for a new initiative called the NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research. This new program will support research on topic areas that address specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral research that would benefit from significant 2-year jumpstart funds. For more information, please visit the NCI Challenge website.
Recovery Act Limited Competition: High-End Instrumentation Grant Program (S10)
(PAR-09-118)
National Center for Research Resources
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009
Application Receipt Date: May 06, 2009
Funding: Equipment costing between $500,000 and $8,000,000
The NCRR High-End Instrumentation Grant (HEI) program encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase a single major item of equipment to be used for biomedical research that costs at least $600,000. The maximum award is $8,000,000. Additionally, it is expected that the funds will be expended expeditiously, within 18-24 months from the date of award. Instruments in this category include, but are not limited to, structural and functional imaging systems, macromolecular NMR spectrometers, high-resolution mass spectrometers, cryoelectron microscopes and supercomputers.
The Integrative Cancer Biology Program (ICBP): Centers for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB) (U54)
(RFA-CA-09-011)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date: June 18, 2009
Funding: Up to $2,000,000/year for up to 5 years.
The NCI solicits applications for Centers for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB). CCSBs will be the core of a continued Integrative Cancer Biology Program (ICBP). The goal of the ICBP is to stimulate the development and application of integrative systems approaches and mathematical/computational modeling to cancer research. This re-issuance seeks to continue those efforts, with explicit emphasis on the development of predictive computational modeling. CCSBs proposed in response to this FOA must be designed to address an overarching cancer biology problem and must include three integrated components: (1) experimental systems biology; (2) mathematical modeling and/or computer simulation (both focused on a common basic or translational research area); and (3) educational and outreach efforts complementary to the goals of the center.
Recovery Act Limited Competition: Core Facility Renovation, Repair, and Improvement (G20)
(RFA-RR-09-007)
National Center for Research Resources; American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009
Application Receipt Date: September 17, 2009
Funding: Between $1,000,000-$5,000,000 over 5 years
The major objective of this FOA is to upgrade core facilities to support the conduct of PHS supported biomedical and/or behavioral research. Support can be requested to alter and renovate (A&R) the core facility as well as to improve the general equipment in the core facility or to purchase general equipment for specialized groups of researchers. Specialized equipment over $100,000 in cost cannot be requested as part of this FOA. In situations when similar core facilities exist in different departments at an institution, funding can be requested in support of centralizing these core facilities.
Department of Defense:
Ovarian Cancer Academy—Early-Career Investigator/Designated Mentor
Department of Defense
Application Receipt Date(s): Pre-Application-May 8, 2009; Full Proposal-May 22, 2009
Funding: $750,000 over 5 years
The OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy Award is intended to develop a unique, interactive virtual academy that will provide intensive mentoring, national networking, and a peer group for junior faculty. The overarching goal of the Ovarian Cancer Academy is to develop successful, highly productive ovarian cancer researchers in a collaborative and interactive research training environment.
Other:
2008-2009 Bridge Grant Program
The Endocrine Society
Application Receipt Date: May 1, 2009
Funding: Up to $50,000
The program is open to members engaged in basic, clinical, and translational science whose projects have been denied funding by a federal agency or large granting institution. Interim funding will allow members to keep key personnel and continue laboratory research operations while other outside funding is being sought. Applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Investigators who have been or are currently funded under a mentored transitional award (such as an NIH K award) may apply based on a non-funded new independent research grant (R01 or equivalent) provided the project is an extension of their mentored work.
- Investigators with a history of independent grant funding may apply based on a non-funded renewal grant for an ongoing project. Established investigators are not eligible to apply based on a non-funded new grant.
- Non-funded grants on which applications are based must have been ranked within the top 40th percentile in the original review.
For more information contact The Endocrine Society, 301-941-0200.
Request for Nominations for Forbeck Scholar Award
William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation
Deadline: April 2, 2009
Funding: Travel and meeting expenses
The Foundation is looking for outstanding junior clinical or postdoctoral fellows to attend the annual Foundation Forum, "The Biology and Treatment of Primary Brain Tumors," November 5-8, 2009 in Hilton Head Island, SC. The forum will be chaired by Tracy Batchelor, M.D., M.P.H., Harvard Medical School and Luis Parada, Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.During the meeting recipients of the award have an opportunity to interact with international experts in a particular field of cancer research. In addition, award recipients will be invited to participate in the Foundation's new program, the "Scholar Retreat" held annually in Lake Geneva, WI. For more information visit the Web site or email jforbeck@wgfrf.org.
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.