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Researchers and Staff
September 1, 2009
Update is an official newsletter of the Masonic Cancer Center for faculty, members, staff, colleagues, and friends. The next publication date is September 15. Please submit items to Gina Kennedy, kenne069@umn.edu, by noon Friday before the publication date.
In This Issue
Cancer Center Seminar resumes next week
Funding News and Opportunities
Cancer Center Seminar
The Masonic Cancer Center's weekly seminar series resumes next week:
Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 Masonic Cancer Research Building
DNA damage checkpoints and DNA repair
Junjie Chen, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
Host: Hoajie Huang, Ph.D.
See the Cancer Center Seminar calendar.
News
Masonic Cancer Center announces internal grant awardees
The Masonic Cancer Center’s internal grants are awarded to researchers with novel ideas for cancer research. The goal of the grant program is to provide funding support for researchers who would ultimately apply for larger national research grants. Following are the awardees, their research projects, and award amounts:
Brainstorm Awards
Principal investigators (PIs): William F Elmquist, James McCarthy
Role of CD44 in blood-brain barrier function
$50,000
PIs: Michael Farrar, David Largaespada
The role of STAT5 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
$50,000Cancer Prevention & Control Award
PI: Kim Robien; co-investigators: Jian-Min Yuan, Lesley Butler
Vitamin D and cancer risk among Singapore Chinese
$25,000
Tobacco Research Awards
PI: Raj Gopalakrishnan; co-investigator: Kim Mansky
Effects of nicotine on osteoclast formation
$25,000PI: Marc Mooney; co-investigators: Dorothy K. Hatsukami, Michael Kotlyar, Jon Ebbert
Human laboratory study of smokeless tobacco products
$25,000
Translational Breast Cancer Research Award
PI: Jaime Modiano; co-investigator: Robert Weiss
Targeting p21 to increase chemosensitivity in breast cancer
$25,000
Translational Sarcoma Cancer Research Award
PI: Daniel Saltzman; co-investigators: Lance Augustin, Karen Wasiluk
Studies of attenuated salmonella with IL2 against unresectable malignancies
$25,000
Members in the news
- Michael Garwood, Ph.D., Women’s Cancer Research Program, was interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio about the August 20 groundbreaking of the 65,000 square-foot expansion of the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research. The $53.2 million expansion, which will house one of the world’s largest imaging magnets, is part of the Biomedical Discovery District, a $292 million state-funded investment in biomedical research. Watch a video of the groundbreaking ceremony.
- Deepak Kademani, D.M.D., M.D., was quoted in a vitals.com article about his research that found patients with early stage oral tongue carcinoma can go without receiving radiation to the oral cavity without increasing their risk of recurrence. He presented his study July 9 at the 2nd World Congress of the International Academy of Oral Oncology in Toronto.
- Christopher Moertel, M.D., was quoted in a story on Duluth’s Fox21-TV about a boy who battled brain cancer at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital.
- Irina Stepanov, Ph.D., member of the Hecht Laboratory, was quoted in Time magazine’s wellness blog, Eau Claire’s WEAU.com, and bartlesvillelive.com about her research which found that smokeless tobacco contains as many, and sometimes more, carcinogens than cigarettes.
- John Wagner, M.D., co-leader of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Research Program, was quoted in an article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about a young girl battling epidermolysis bullosa, a rare, genetic skin disease.
Shared Resources Announcement
Effective July 2009, the Tissue Procurement Facility Shared Resource became part of an AHC-wide initiative, The University of Minnesota Biological Materials Procurement Network (BioNET), directed by Stephen Schmechel, M.D., Ph.D., Tumor Biology and Progression Research Program. Visit the BioNET Web site to learn more.
Education and Events
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.
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 114 LHI/KE
Monthly Cancer Biology Research Club presentation
Casey Dorr, graduate student, Mansky lab
Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Eric Rahrmann (rahr0003@umn.edu) or Susan Rathe (rath0096@umn.edu).
Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 2 p.m., 6th floor, Masonic Cancer Research Building
Ice cream and fixings are $1 at the door. Contact Sabine Fritz at fritz017@umn.edu for more information.
Cancer Benefit Fund Food & Wine Experience
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 6-10 p.m., Harrington Mansion/Zuhrah Shrine Center, 2540 Park Ave., S., Minneapolis
Cirque Pour Un Cure (Circus for the Cure) is the theme of this year's Cancer Benefit Fund Food & Wine Experience. Sample premier wines and delicious hors d'oeuvres paired by some of the top chefs and sommeliers in the Twin Cities. The event supports the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota and the HealthEast Cancer Care Salon at St. John's Hospital. Tickets are $75 per person. Visit www.cancerbenefitfund.com for more information and to buy tickets.
Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Symposium
Monday, September 21, 2009, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
The first annual Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Symposium will feature world-renowned speakers discussing cutting-edge research on some of the most pressing food and health issues affecting our society today. Mindy Kurzer, Ph.D., Women’s Cancer, and Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Programs, has organized the event in her role as director of the University’s Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute, which is co-sponsoring the event with the Minnesota Obesity Center. Allen S. Levine, Ph.D., director of the Minnesota Obesity Center, and Marilyn (Susie) Nanney, Ph.D., both of the Prevention & Etiology Research Program, will participate in a panel discussion of "Diet vs. Drugs for Obesity Prevention and Treatment." For a complete symposium schedule and to register, visit the HFHL Institute Web site, or contact 612-625-8693 or hfhl@umn.edu.
Minnesota Chemoprevention Consortium: Meeting 7
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 11:30 a.m-3 p.m., Room 105, 717 Delaware St. S.E., Minneapolis
The seventh meeting of the Minnesota Chemoprevention Consortium (MC2) will be hosted by the University of Minnesota's Institute for Therapeutics Discovery & Development. MC2 is a collaboration of researchers from the Masonic Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Hormel Institute, Southern Research and Outreach Center, and Hormel Foods, with the mission "to facilitate and implement interdisciplinary agent development and delivery for cancer prevention." Learn more about MC2 and see the speaker schedule (PDF). Lunch will be provided. Please contact Bob Carlson, carls307@umn.edu, if you plan to attend.
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.
Women’s Health Conference: Nursing the Science of Caring
Thursday, October 8, 2009, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center, A.I. Johnson Great Room
Masonic Cancer Center is one of the sponsors of the fourth annual Women’s Health Conference, which will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA). Melissa Geller, M.D., Women’s Cancer Research Program, will present an ovarian cancer update. Additional presentations include "Impact of the Economy on Nursing Practice", "Hot Topics in Nutrition: Vitamin D", "Journey to Zero Birth Injury", “Infection: What We Can Do?”, “Support for Cancer Patients in Israel”, and "Nursing in the Military". Additional sponsors of the conference are the Department of Obstetrics Gynecology & Women’s Health, School of Nursing, Deborah E. Powell Center for Women’s Health, and University of Minnesota Medical Center. Continuing nursing education credits are available. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Cost is $30. Visit www.med.umn.edu/obgyn to register.
Cancer Prevention and Control Fall Retreat
Friday, October 30, 2009, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, MacMillan Auditorium, Chaska
The retreat offers a full agenda of outstanding speakers and opportunities for discussions among participants within the beautiful setting of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Leaders of the Masonic Cancer Center's Cancer Prevention and Control research programs (Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention, Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, and Prevention and Etiology) are hosting the retreat. Pre-registration is required: Please R.S.V.P. to Kathy Longley (klongley@umn.edu) by October 1, 2009. More information and schedule of speakers and topics.
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
TOCCS Seminar
Friday, September 11, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 Masonic Cancer Research Building
Anne Joseph, M.D., M.P.H., Wexler Professor of Medicine and co-program leader of the Prevention and Etiology Research Program will present "Tobacco Longitudinal Care Study."
The new TOCCS (Tobacco, Obesity, Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention and Screening) seminar series for the cancer center's Cancer Prevention and Control research area replaces the seminars for the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program and the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC); the series also will include some topics from the Prevention and Etiology Research Program. Light lunch provided.
Brain Tumor Program Data Club Meeting
Monday, September 14, 2009, 9-10 a.m., 450 MCRB
David Largaespada, Ph.D., director of the University of Minnesota Brain Tumor Program, will provide an update of the first year of the program. Refreshments will be served. Please contact Amy Gaug, gaugx002@umn.edu, with any questions.
Visit the Professional Education Web page for complete program meeting schedules.
Funding News and Opportunities
News & Notices:
Revised PHS 2590 (DHHS Public Health Service Noncompeting Continuation Progress Report) Now Available-Policy Changes Implemented
(NOT-OD-09-139)
National Institutes of Health
These new documents replace all 11/07 revision progress report form pages. This is important for anyone submitting paper progress reports for NIH grants. The process for eSNAP progress reports remains the same.
NIH:
Exploratory Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R21)
(PAR-09-219)
National Cancer Institute (among others)
Application Receipt Date(s): next cycle - October 16, 2009
Funding: $275,000 over 2 years
American Cancer Society:
Research Grants for Independent Investigators
- Research Scholar Grants in Basic, Preclinical, Clinical and Epidemiology Research
- Research Scholar Grants in Cancer Control: Psychosocial and Behavioral Research
- Research Scholar Grants in Cancer Control: Health Services and Health Policy Research
Application Due Date: October 15, 2009
Funding: $200,000/yr for 4 years.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
American Cancer Society
Application Due Date: October 15, 2009
Funding: Awards may be for three years with progressive stipends of $44,000, $46,000, and $48,000 per year, plus a $4,000 per year fellowship allowance
Mentored Research Scholar Grant in Applied and Clinical Research
American Cancer Society
Application Due Date: October 15, 2009
Funding: $135,000/yr. for up to 5 years
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.