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Researchers and Staff
March 31 , 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: Translational Therapy
Funding News and Opportunities
Today's Seminar
Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Comparative examination of human T-cell leukemia virus and human immunodeficiency virus: diverse strategies for retrovirus persistence and pathogenesis
David Derse, Ph.D., Head, Retrovirus Gene Expression Section, Senior Investigator, National Cancer Institute
Host: Louis Mansky, Ph.D.
A peek at the next seminar:
Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Alcohol abuse, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer
Stephen Pandol, M.D., Professor of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Staff Physician, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Host: Ashok Saluja, Ph.D.
For a complete schedule and to watch recorded seminars, visit the Web site.
Shared Resources Spotlight: Translational Therapy
The Translational Therapy Shared Resource provides translational research support services to Masonic Cancer Center members interested in pre-clinical and clinical research involving the development of therapies using biologic products. It offers investigators a wide array of immune monitoring assays to assess the in vivo effects of novel experimental therapies in patients. These assays include immunophenotyping, proliferation and cytotoxicity assays, ELISpot assays, intracellular cytokine staining, and tetramer staining.
The staff consults with investigators to plan, develop, and perform informative immune monitoring assays for clinical trials. The laboratory information management system (MSC-LIMS) tracks all immune monitoring samples providing real-time results and customized reports to investigators. Laboratory staff also collaborates with investigators to develop good manufacturing practice (GMP) cell processing protocols for clinical trials, and provide large-scale blood, marrow and cord blood cell separation, manipulation and culture facilities for basic research.
Learn more:
Shared Resource Seminar: Translational Therapy
10-11 a.m., April 6, 450 MCRB
Julie Curtsinger, Ph.D., coordinator of the Translational Therapy Shared Resource, will provide information and answer questions about using Translational Therapy services. David McKenna Jr., M.D., director of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, will discuss services provided by the GMP clinical production facility located on the St. Paul campus. Sarah Cooley, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, will discuss the immune monitoring services provided by the Translational Therapy Shared Resourcefor one of her clinical trials.Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards highlighting the Translational Therapy 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
For more information about Translational Therapy services, visit the Web site.
More Shared Resources news:
Poster Registration now open for Spring Poster Session and Symposium
Online poster registration is now open for the 10th Annual Spring Poster Session and Symposium sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center Shared Resources on May 14, 2009.
This year, posters will be judged by Masonic Cancer Center leaders in the following categories:
- Best in Each Cancer Center Program
- Best Use of Shared Resources
- Best New Technique
- Best Translational Research
- Best Clinical Research
Visit the Web site for more information and to register.
Comparative Pathology Shared Resource: Pathology consultation is now by appointment
Gerry O'Sullivan, M.V.B., Ph.D., board certified veterinary pathologist, is available for consultation on projects (including study design and review of microscopic lesions and immunohistochemical stain results) by appointment in MCRB 560E. To schedule a specific time, please contact Dr. O'Sullivan, gos@umn.edu; 612-625-3254.
News
Members in the news
Dan Mulrooney, M.D., Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship Program, will be the guest on WCCO Radio's Mondale & Jones program tomorrow, April 1. Mulrooney will be interviewed by host Susie Jones from 9:20 to 10 a.m. about childhood cancer survivorship and the annual survivorship educational conference on Saturday, April 4. To listen to the interview, tune in to 830AM or visit the WCCO Radio Web site.
Joel Slaton, M.D., Tumor Biology and Progression Program, was quoted on MinnPost.com about a New England Journal of Medicine article on the finding that annual screenings for prostate cancer do not result in fewer deaths from the disease.
Schwertfeger receives American Cancer Society grant
Kaylee Schwertfeger, Ph.D., Tumor Biology and Progression Program, received a four-year grant from the American Cancer Society for $734,359 to study "Inflammation in breast cancer initiation and promotion." The primary objective of these studies is to study the interaction between epithelial cells and macrophages during early stages of mammary tumor formation. The ultimate goal of the project is to design novel strategies to interfere with the tumor-promoting properties of the macrophages and convert the macrophages into tumor-inhibiting cells.
Masonic Cancer Center researcher speaks to Lymphoma Research Foundation
Kim Robien, Ph.D., Prevention and Etiology Program, spoke to members of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, Minnesota Chapter on March 26 about healthy nutrition for lymphoma patients during and after chemotherapy.
Kudos
Congratulations to Waddah B. Al-Refaie, M.D., assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology, on his appointment as Veteran's Administration Cancer Liaison Physician for the Commission on Cancer.
Welcome new staff
Welcome to Carrie Kodner, who has recently joined the staff of the Translational Therapy Shared Resource. Kodner has a B.S. in biology and worked for 27 years in the microbiology research laboratory of Russell Johnson, Ph.D., where she studied the epizootiology of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. She cultured isolates from wild small mammals, and conducted DNA extractions, PCR and serological assays. For five years, the Johnson laboratory was also a satellite clinical lab for Lyme disease serology. In her new job with the Translational Therapy lab, Kodner processes and performs immunological tests of research samples from patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials.
Education and Events
Children in Cancer Research Trials
Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-520 Moos Tower
Brad Miller, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, will discuss the unique set of challenges and considerations in conducting trials with pediatric research subjects. This forum is open to the research community.
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, April 1, 2009. 12-1 p.m., 114 LHI (KE)
Christopher Pennell, Ph.D., will discuss "Cancer metastasis is accelerated through immunosuppression during snail-induced EMT of cancer cells" Kudo-Saito C, et al., Cancer Cell 2009;15:195-206.
The Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Sonja Johnson (john4368@umn.edu) or Rachel Bergerson (sapl0005@umn.edu).
Survivorship Series: Living Well After Cancer
Saturday, April 4, 2009, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota, 200 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis
This annual conference focuses on questions and issues survivors and their families may face after cancer treatment or following stem cell transplantation. The emphasis is on educating and empowering survivors so they are better able to advocate for themselves to lead full and productive lives. Survivors, their families and health care professionals will have the opportunity to learn more about late medical effects, relationships, stress management, nutrition, physical function, legal matters, and cardiovascular health after cancer.
Randy Shaver, cancer survivor, KARE-11 sports director, and founder of the Randy Shaver Cancer Research & Community Fund, will speak during lunch at the conference. Daniel Mulrooney, M.D., M.S., Director, Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic, University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital, is the event moderator; and Masonic Cancer Center Director Douglas Yee, M.D., will provide opening comments.
Visit the Web site for a complete list of conference presenters and to register.
The Seventh Annual Cancer Survivorship Series: Living With, Through & Beyond Cancer
A Three-Part Telephone Education Workshop Program
This free series, made possible by CancerCare and with support from the National Cancer Institute and Lance Armstrong Foundation, offers cancer survivors, their families, friends and health care professionals practical information to help them cope with concerns and issues that arise after treatment ends.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Managing the Stress of Survivorship
Keith M. Bellizzi, Ph.D., M.P.H., cancer survivor, assistant professor, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut; David Spiegel, M.D., Wilson Professor in the School of Medicine, associate chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine; and Guadalupe R. Palos, R.N., L.M.S.W., Dr.PH., instructor, Clinical Research Faculty, assistant professor, Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
The Importance of Nutrition and Physical ActivityTuesday, June 23, 2009, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Survivors Too: Family, Friends and Loved Ones: Managing the Fatigue of Caregiving
These workshops are free and no phone charges apply; however, pre-registration is required. To register visit the CancerCare Web site.
Stick It To Cancer Hockey Tournament
April 17-19, 2009, Schwan Super Rink, National Sports Center, Blaine
Support breast cancer research at the Masonic Cancer Center and cheer on 74 girls' and women's hockey teams as they skate in support of family and friends in their fight against breast cancer. Last year, the tournament donated $67,500 (80 percent of the event's proceeds) to the Masonic Cancer Center. Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for students for a daily pass; or $20 for adults and $15 for students for a tournament pass. Volunteers are needed. Visit the Stick It to Cancer Tournament Web site for more information.
Writing Winning Grants Seminar
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Radisson University Hotel, 615 Washington Avenue S.E., Minneapolis
David C. Morrison, Ph.D., will present a day-long seminar for University faculty and staff who have had exposure to writing grant applications through training, mentoring, or personal experience. The seminar addresses practical and conceptual aspects that are important to the proposal-writing process. The program content is appropriate for senior graduate students, postdoctoral research fellows, and junior faculty members. Space is limited to 100 participants and will fill quickly.
Morrison, is an experienced academician, grant manager, and grant-reviewer with a wealth of experience and knowledge in proposal writing which has kept him continuously funded by foundations, industry and the NIH since the early 1970s, including a ten-year NIH MERIT award. To register, visit the Web site.
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
Immunology Research Program meeting
The April 1 meeting has been cancelled.
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship
Monday, April 6, 2009, 12-1 p.m., Moos Tower 2-118
Do ACE-I protect against the development of doxorubicin cardiac toxicity?
Anne Blaes, M.D., Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
BMT Program Conference
Monday, March 30, 2009, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 MCRB
Haplo NK (MT2003-23): Palliative care collaboration
Bronwyn Long, D.N.P., R.N., A.C.H.P.N., Palliative Clinical Nurse Specialist, University of Minnesota Medical Center
For a complete schedule, visit the Web site.
Funding News and Opportunities
2009 Masonic Cancer Center Internal Grants Program
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Statement of Intent due date: Friday, April 24, 2009(must be submitted online)
Application Receipt Date: Friday, May 22, 2009
Funding: Varies by mechanism
Five internal grant mechanisms are available through the Masonic Cancer Center. The goal of these programs is to foster the development of and provide support for novel research ideas that focus on a problem in cancer. In turn, the Masonic Cancer Center expects that internal funding will lead to nationally peer reviewed funding. The five specific mechanisms are Brainstorm, Cancer Prevention & Control, Translational Breast Cancer Research, Translational Sarcoma Cancer Research, and Tobacco Research. The required Statement of Intent and details regarding each mechanism can be found on the Masonic Cancer Center Web site (http://www.cancer.umn.edu/research/grants/internalgrants.html).
Contact person at the Masonic Cancer Center is Aaron Schilz, pre-award services coordinator, schil226@umn.edu, 612-624-0650.
NIH:
Recovery Act Limited Competition for NIH Grants: Research and Research Infrastructure Grand Opportunities (RC2)
(RFA-OD-09-004)
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009
Application Receipt Date(s): May 27, 2009
Funding: Minimum $500,000 in total costs per year for up to 2 years
The purpose of the "GO" grants program is to support high impact ideas that lend themselves to short-term funding, and may lay the foundation for new fields of investigation. The "GO" grants program will support large-scale research projects that accelerate critical breakthroughs, early and applied research on cutting-edge technologies, and new approaches to improve the synergy and interactions among multi and interdisciplinary research teams. The initiative seeks novel approaches in areas that address specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways.
Basic and Translational Research in Emotion (R01)
(PA-09-137)
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
Funding: Standard NIH R01 limits apply.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement encourages Research Project Grant (R01) applications to expand basic and translational research on the processes and mechanisms involved in the experience, expression, and regulation of emotion.
Incorporating Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Into Factors Affecting Quality-of-Life Health Related Research (R01)
(RFA-NR-09-005)
Application Receipt Date(s): May 18, 2009
Funding: Up to $300,000 per year for 3 years
This Funding Opportunity Announcement solicits Research Project Grant (R01) applications to study cost-effectiveness of interventions that will improve health outcomes. The focus on the use of cost-effectiveness analysis is necessary in order to expand the knowledge base, increase awareness of the value of cost-effectiveness utilization, and to identify the next steps for incorporating cost-effectiveness analysis into translational research and patient-focused interventions pertinent to health-related quality of life.
Research on Clinical Decision Making in People with or at Risk for Life-Threatening Illness (R21)
(PA-09-121)
Application Receipt Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
Funding: Standard NIH R21 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.
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.