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Researchers and Staff
August 18, 2009
Update is an official newsletter of the Masonic Cancer Center for faculty, members, staff, colleagues, and friends. The next publication date is September 1. Please submit items to Gina Kennedy, kenne069@umn.edu, by noon Friday before the publication date.
In This Issue
Funding News and Opportunities
News
Major grant awarded to Blazar and Dana-Farber researchers
Bruce Blazar, Ph.D., Transplant Biology and Therapy Research Program, and two researchers with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston have been awarded a $9.5 million from the National Institutes of Health for research on chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease. Read more.
U chosen by NCI as Chemical Biology Consortium Center
The University of Minnesota was recently selected by the National Cancer Institute for a leading role in the newly formed Chemical Biology Consortium (CBC), a collaborative drug discovery partnership focused on advancing new cancer therapeutics active against novel molecular and genetic cancer targets. Based on its expertise in drug discovery and development, and its strong history in cancer research, the University was chosen as a Chemical Diversity Center, one of four sites in the U.S. to be awarded this designation.
Gunda Georg, Ph.D., professor and head of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, member of Masonic Cancer Center, and a principal investigator of the CBC at the University, was invited to join the CBC Steering Committee. The committee is an advisory panel that will ensure that the CBC Centers effectively support drug discovery and development projects that will ultimately provide novel therapeutics for NCI-supported clinical research.
According to Georg, the University was chosen as a consortium member because of its Masonic Cancer Center and the College of Pharmacy’s Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development. The CBC brings together an integrated network of chemical biologists, molecular oncologists, and compound screening centers from government and academia to focus on drug candidate identification and optimization. These efforts aim to enhance the entry of early-stage drug candidates into the NCI therapeutics pipeline.
Dudek to raise funds for melanoma research by training for Twin Cities Marathon
Arek Dudek, M.D., Tumor Biology and Progression Research Program, is raising funds for melanoma research with every mile he runs to train for the Twin Cities Marathon in October. All of the funds raised will go directly to the Experimental Therapeutic Research Fund at the Minnesota Medical Foundation. Visit Dudek’s Web site, www.runformelanomaresearch.com, to learn more.
Minnesota Cancer Alliance seeks Spirit of Collaboration Award nominations
In preparation for the Minnesota Cancer Alliance’s upcoming Cancer Summit, November 17, 2009, the Alliance is accepting nominations for its annual Spirit of Collaboration Awards. These awards honor both an individual and a group for collaborative cancer control work. The nomination deadline is September 1; awards will be presented at the Cancer Summit. For more information or to submit a nomination, visit www.mncanceralliance.org. For questions, contact Nicole Bennett Engler at 507-266-9087 or engler.nicole@mayo.edu.
Members in the news
- Margot Cleary, Ph.D., Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program, was quoted in articles by CanWest News Service, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Ivanhoe Newswire and other media outlets about her recent study that restricting calories may be protective against developing breast cancer. Read more.
- DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., co-leader of the Prevention and Etiology Research Program, was quoted in a Star Tribune article about tanning beds reclassified as carcinogenic to humans.
- John Ohlfest, Ph.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer and Tumor Biology and Progression research programs, and G. Elizabeth Pluhar, D.V.M., Ph.D., were featured in news reports by KARE-TV, Minnesota Public Radio, WCCO-TV, and KSTP-TV about the one-year anniversary of the surgery and experimental treatment of Batman the dog for a brain tumor, and about the researchers receiving funding to offer clinical trials to other dogs with brain tumors. Read more.
- Cancer center member Wendy Rahn, Ph.D., founder and president, Survivors' Training, was featured in the summer issue of Women & Cancer magazine in an article about the benefits of exercise for cancer survivors. Rahn also was interviewed for a Pioneer Press story about a study published in New England Journal of Medicine on the benefits of weight lifting for women with breast cancer-related lymphedema.
- Irina Stepanov, Ph.D., member of the Hecht Laboratory, was quoted in Science Daily about her research findings that a single pinch of smokeless tobacco exposes the user to the same amount of a group of dangerous chemicals as the smoke of five cigarettes. Stepanov reported her findings at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.
- Brian Van Ness, Ph.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Research Program, was quoted in an article about genetics and individualized medicine in Acura’s magazine, Style.
- John Wagner, M.D., co-leader of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Research Program, was quoted in a Star Tribune article about the Twin Cities Polo Classic’s support for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.
Shared Resources Announcement
Welcome back to Robin Bliss, senior research fellow for the Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource. She is currently working part-time.
Education and Events
Poster Session: Masonic Cancer Center Health Disparities Summer Internship Program
Friday, August 21, 2009, 1-2 p.m., Mayo Memorial Auditorium Lobby (map)
The Masonic Cancer Center in collaboration with the Medical School's Program in Health Disparities Research received an NIH American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Supplement to provide summer cancer research and education experiences that benefit minority and underserved communities in Minnesota. The program’s 10 undergraduate students, selected from a group of over 50 applicants, are finishing their eight-week internship by presenting research posters in the Mayo Memorial Auditorium Lobby. Light refreshments will be served.
Masonic Cancer Center and Center for Prostate Cancer at the Minnesota State Fair
Thursday, September 3, 2009, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., University of Minnesota Building, Dan Patch Avenue, State Fairgrounds
Masonic Cancer Center and Center for Prostate Cancer faculty, staff, and friends will provide information about cancer on Seniors Day at the Minnesota State Fair. Visitors will be able to pick up educational materials, take a cancer quiz, and compare healthy tissue samples with tissues affected by cancer.
Norma K.C. Ramsay, M.D., Distinguished Visiting Professor Lectureship
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 12:15-1:30 p.m., Moos Tower 2-650
Carolyn A. Felix, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Attending Physician, Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, will present “A New Drug for Infant Leukemia and the Cell Death Mechanism that it Activates.” The fourth annual Norma K.C. Ramsay, M.D., Distinguished Visiting Professor Lectureship, taking place at Pediatric Grand Rounds, is sponsored by the Children's Cancer Research Fund.
Developmental Biology Symposium: Development and Cancer: Good Cells Gone Bad
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 8:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Coffman Memorial Union
The Developmental Biology Center is partnering with the Masonic Cancer Center to present "Development and Cancer: Good Cells Gone Bad." The program will include a full slate of distinguished speakers and a poster session. A banquet is scheduled for Tuesday evening, September 29, 5:30 p.m. at the Weisman Art Museum on the Minneapolis campus. For more information and to register online, visit the Developmental Biology Center Web site. Contact Amelie Hyams (hyams003@umn.edu, 612-624-4981) with questions.
Attention graduate students: The first 25 graduate students (who are presenting posters) to register for the Developmental Biology Symposium will attend the talks and the banquet for free. You must register online to take advantage of this option.
Visit the Upcoming Events Web page for more event listings.
Program Meetings
University of Minnesota Sarcoma Program
Wednesday, August 19, 1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Jill Schappa (Modiano lab) will discuss “Development of Recombinant Targeted Toxins for Anti-Cancer Therapy Using Comparative Models”
Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group Seminar
Friday, August 21, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Moos 1-450
Bharat Thyagarajan, Assistant Professor, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, will discuss “DNA Repair Polymorphisms: Implications for Hematopoietic Cell Transplants”
Please R.S.V.P. to Logan Spector by 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, if you would like lunch.
Visit the Professional Education Web page for complete program meeting schedules.
Funding News and Opportunities
News & Notices:
Reminder: Investigators Should Update their eRA Commons Profiles to Include Degree and Residency Completion Dates
(NOT-OD-09-134)
National Institutes of Health
This is extremely important to all investigators applying for NIH grants. NIH is moving closer and closer to an entirely eResearch grant proposal submission and administration process. The cornerstone of this process is the use of eRA Commons.
NIH:
Clinical Investigator Development Program
Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): October 15, 2009
Funding: Successful applicants will be awarded a 3-year appointment; competitive salary; dedicated laboratory space and budget; a full-time research support person; travel and training funds; and access to an extensive infrastructure that includes research nursing, data management support, animal facilities, core services, and advanced technologies such as imaging/microscopy, protein chemistry and purification, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, genomics and transgenic and knockout mice.
The Biology of Estrogen Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer in Various Racial and Ethnic Groups (U01)
(RFA-CA-09-026)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): January 05, 2010
Funding: $667,000/year for up to 5 years
Image-guided Drug Delivery in Cancer (R01)
(PA-09-253)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date(s): next cycle deadline: October 5, 2009
Funding: standard R01 limits apply
Department of Defense:
Idea Award
2009 Bone Marrow Failure Research Program (BMFRP)
Pre-Application Preproposal: September 22, 2009
Invited Application: January 14, 2009
Funding: $375,000 over 3 years
Synergistic Idea Award
2009 Bone Marrow Failure Research Program (BMFRP)
Pre-Application Preproposal: September 22, 2009
Invited Application: January 14, 2009
Funding: $750,000 over 3 years
Clinical Fellow Research Award
2009 Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP)
Pre-Application Preproposal: November 19, 2009
Invited Application: December 3, 2009
Funding: $200,000 over 2 years
Collaborative Translational Research Award
2009 Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP)
Pre-Application Preproposal: November 19, 2009
Invited Application: December 3, 2009
Funding: $800,000 over 4 years
Concept Award
2009 Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP)
Pre-Application Preproposal: October 20, 2009
Invited Application: September 3, 2009
Funding: $75,000 for 1 year
Lung Cancer Promising Clinician Research Award
2009 Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP)
Pre-Application Preproposal: November 19, 2009
Invited Application: December 3, 2009
Funding: $375,000 over 3 years
Employment Opportunities
Clinical Data Associate I(professional non-faculty, requisition number 162301) working in the Clinical Trials Office.
Clinical Data Associate Manager (professional non-faculty, requisition number 162306) working in the Clinical Trials Office.
Research Fellow: Biostatistics and Informatics Core
The Research Fellow serves as a consulting statistician in the Biostatistics and Informatics Core of the Masonic Cancer Center. The primary duty involves collaboration with investigators to address research questions: designing cancer clinical trials and lab experiments, estimating sample size; authoring statistical components of written materials; implementing statistical methodology; conducting statistical analyses; assisting with interpretation; recommending presentation methods; and reviewing written materials prior to submission. A master’s degree in biostatistics or statistics, familiarity with spreadsheets and relational databases, and knowledge of SAS is required. The successful candidate will demonstrate: excellent verbal and written communication skills; the ability to work independently; and the ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with other statisticians, basic scientists, and clinicians. Any training and/or experience in statistical consulting, as well as knowledge of S-plus and/or R, would definitely strengthen the candidacy. See requisition number 162196.
Postdoctoral Position
One postdoctoral position is available immediately to study growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase-initiated signal transduction pathways relevant to human breast cancer cell biology and tumor progression. Ongoing research projects in the laboratory include the study of the role of steroid hormones and their receptors, protein tyrosine kinases, cell cycle mediators, and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades in human breast cancer cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis, and their contribution to mechanisms of steroid hormone resistance in human breast cancer. Qualified candidates must have a Ph.D. Interest and expertise in cancer biology, signal transduction, endocrinology or hormone action, protein biochemistry and modern molecular biology is preferred. See requisition number 160725.
For information about additional opportunities visit the Employment Opportunities Web page.