Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota
Public and Patients
- About Us
- Cancer Information
- Clinical Trials
- Events & Outreach
- Make a Gift
- News & Feature Stories
- Survivorship
Researchers and Staff
March 17 , 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
Today's 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
A peek at the next seminar:
Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
End negotiations: The roles of the Ku heterodimer at telomeres and double strand breaks
Alison Bertuch, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
Host: Eric Hendrickson, Ph.D.
For a complete schedule and to watch recorded seminars, visit the Web site.
News
David Largaespada, Ph.D., leader of the Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Research Program, postdoctoral fellows Timothy Starr, Ph.D., and Vincent Keng, Ph.D., were quoted in the Pioneer Press and KARE-11 News about their discovery of 32 new genes linked to colorectal and liver cancers using the Sleeping Beauty method. Starr led the research on the colorectal cancer genes, published in Science, and Keng was the lead investigator on the liver cancer genes, published in Nature Biotechnology. Largaespada was the senior scientist on both studies. He also was quoted in news reports by WCCO Radio.
Douglas Yee, M.D., and Jaime Modiano, V.M.D., Ph.D., were quoted in The Cancer Letter about the collaboration between the Masonic Cancer Center and the College of Veterinary Medicine to establish the Animal Cancer Care and Research program for research in comparative oncology to benefit companion animals and people with cancer.
Rahel Ghebre, M.D., Women's Cancer Research Program, was featured in Accelerate, the newsletter of the Office of Clinical Research at the University of Minnesota. Ghebre is a scholar in the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) program.
Masonic Cancer Center Spring Poster Session and Symposium
The 10th Annual Spring Poster Session and Symposium sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center Shared Resources will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., Thursday, May 14, 2009. This year, posters will be judged by Masonic Cancer Center leaders in several categories, which will be announced when poster registration opens. Oral presentations and recognition of the winning posters will begin at 1 p.m. The poster session will be from 2:30 to 4 p.m. with light snacks available on each floor of MCRB.
Students, staff, postdocs, and PIs are invited to participate by presenting a poster. The research presented in the poster must include the use of a Masonic Cancer Center Shared Resource facility. Online registration will open on Monday, March 30, 2009 at www.cancer.umn.edu/postersession. The registration deadline is May 1, 2009. For more information, call Sabine Fritz at 612-624-7151 or e-mail fritz017@umn.edu.
Basic Science research programs featured in Recognition Program event
Basic Science research programs were the focus of the Masonic Cancer Center's Recognition Program event March 11, 2009. Program leaders David Largaespada, Ph.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer; Yoji Shimizu, Ph.D., Immunology; and James McCarthy, Ph.D., Tumor Biology and Progression; gave presentations about their programs' accomplishments. Recognition awards were given to outstanding individuals who have contributed to the success of the programs. The award recipients were Chang Hwa Jung, Ph.D., Timothy Starr, Ph.D., and Micah Gearhart, Ph.D., for Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer; Paul Champoux and Nisha Shah for Immunology; and Rudd Dings, Ph.D., Lu Gan, Ph.D., and Steve Oh, Ph.D., for Tumor Biology and Progression. Visit the Web site for more information about the award recipients and links to the program leaders' presentations.
Education and Events
Cancer Biology Journal Club
No meeting this week due to Spring Break.
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).
University Forum Series on Research and Professional Ethics
Monday, March 30, 2009, 4-5:30 p.m., President's Room, Coffman Memorial Union
I want to do clinical research but the FDA wants me to do what?!?
Harvey M. Arbit, PharmD, M.B.A., Director of the IND/IDE Assistance Program, AHC Office of Clinical Research, Adjunct Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy
The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) sponsors the University Forum series to help faculty and investigators meet the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) continuing education Awareness/Discussion requirement. The session is targeted for faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students conducting drug trials. For more information and to register, visit the OVPR Web site.
Masonic Cancer Center Spring Poster Session and Symposium
Thursday, May 14, 2009, 1-4 p.m., MCRB; poster registration opens March 30, 2009
The 10th Annual Spring Poster Session and Symposium sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center Shared Resources will include oral presentations and a poster session. Students, staff, post-docs and PIs are invited to participate by presenting a poster. The research presented in the poster must include the use of a Masonic Cancer Center Shared Resource facility. This year, posters will be judged by Masonic Cancer Center leaders in several categories, which will be announced when poster registration opens. Online registration will open on Monday, March 30, 2009 at www.cancer.umn.edu/postersession. The registration deadline is May 1. For more information, call Sabine Fritz at 4-7151 or e-mail fritz017@umn.edu.
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
Cancer Epidemiology Research Interest Group
Thursday, March 19, 2009, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-137 Jackson Hall
Applying uncertainty analysis to cancer epidemiology studies
Anne Jurek, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Epidemiology/Clinical Research
Please RSVP to Logan Spector by 4 p.m. on Tuesday to reserve a lunch.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program Meeting
Thursday, March 19, 2009, 4 p.m., 450 MCRB
PPAR gamma activation as chemoprevention for oral precancerous Llesions: From the lab to the clinic
Frank Ondrey, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Program Conference
Monday, March 23, 2009, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 MCRB
Toward clinical applications from human embryonic stem cells
Dan S. Kaufman, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Associate Director, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Funding News and Opportunities
NIH:
Research on Clinical Decision Making in People with or at Risk for Life-Threatening Illness (R01)
(PA-09-122)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement
Funding: Standard R01 limits apply.
This funding opportunity announcement seeks to stimulate research on the decision-making processes made by persons at risk for and those faced with life-threatening illness. These illnesses are ones that almost always lead to death in a fairly short period of time if left untreated, but may be chronic—or even cured—if dealt with early in the disease process. An example of a life-threatening illness that may be chronic for some years would be HIV infection when treated. An example of a life-threatening illness that may be cured in its early stages would be breast cancer.
Exploratory/Developmental Clinical Research Grants in Obesity (R21)
(PA-09-124)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement
Funding: Standard R21 limits apply.
This funding announcement encourages research grant applications from institutions/organizations that propose to conduct exploratory/developmental clinical studies that will accelerate the development of effective interventions for prevention or treatment of overweight or obesity in adults and/or children. Exploratory epidemiological research with a goal of informing translational/clinical research will also be supported within this program.
Biobehavioral Methods to Improve Outcomes Research
(PA-09-125) - R01
(PA-09-126) - R21
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement
Funding: Standard R01/R21 limits apply.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement solicits grant applications from institutions/organizations that propose to foster biobehavioral research and develop innovative research designs, methods of measurement, and data analysis techniques.
Exploratory Grants for Behavioral Research in Cancer Control (R21)
(PA-09-130)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites the submission of applications in developmental and formative behavioral research in cancer prevention and control. This FOA will support innovative pilot projects or feasibility studies, which will facilitate the growth of research science in the cancer control continuum from a behavioral perspective.
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.
Employment Opportunities
MCA/MCC Program Coordinator (professional non-faculty requisition number 160258) working part time (75%) with the Masonic Cancer Center representative to the MCA Steering Committee, currently Dr. DeAnn Lazovich.
Research Fellow (student/professional in training requisition number 160348) working part time (50%) with Dr. Jian-Min Yuan.
For more information about these positions and additional opportunities visit the Employment Opportunities Web page