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Researchers and Staff
September 15, 2009
Update is an official newsletter of the Masonic Cancer Center for faculty, members, staff, colleagues, and friends. Please submit items to Gina Kennedy, kenne069@umn.edu, by noon Friday before the publication date.
In This Issue
Funding News and Opportunities
Cancer Center Seminar
Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 450 Masonic Cancer Research Building
Developing potent new cancer immunotherapies
Nicholas P. Restifo, M.D., Principal Investigator, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.
Host: Wynette M. Dietz, Graduate Student, MiCAB
Next week's seminar:
Targeted in vivo gene delivery via tropism modified adenoviral vectors: A ten year quest for the holy grail
David Curiel, Director, Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Host: Masato Yamamoto, M.D., Ph.D.
See the Cancer Center Seminar calendar.
News
Yuan awarded $3 million grant for research to predict lung cancer risk
Jian-Min Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., Prevention and Etiology Research Program, has been awarded a five-year grant of more than $3 million from the National Cancer Institute to continue research on tobacco byproducts expelled in the urine that can be used to predict a person's risk of lung cancer. News release.
Largaespada awarded $558,000 grant from National Brain Tumor Society
David Largaespada, Ph.D., program leader, Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Research Program, received a $558,000 grant ($186,000 per year for three years) from the National Brain Tumor Society. The grant will be awarded Thursday, September 24, at the organization's annual meeting in Arlington, Va.
Lamba awarded $92,000 in stimulus funding
Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., cancer center member, was awarded $92,000 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The award is to further support the research proposed in Lamba's parent R01 grant, "Pharmacogenetics of Ara-C Metabolic Pathway."
Members in the news
- Douglas Yee, M.D., director, was interviewed for the cover story of the September 10 issue of Hem Onc Today, "Experts debate if the cost of end-of-life cancer care is too high."
- September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the Children's Cancer Research Fund has coordinated with WCCO-TV health reporter Dennis Douda to do a series of reports about advances in research and treatment of childhood cancer. Several cancer center members are featured in these reports, airing during the 5 p.m. newscast every Wednesday in September. Brenda Weigel, M.D., Transplant Biology and Therapy Research Program, was interviewed in the September 2 report about developing treatments for childhood cancer. Last Wednesday, Christopher Moertel, M.D., was featured with a 3-year-old patient with brain cancer who is receiving therapies to overcome the brain blood barrier disorder, and tomorrow at 5 p.m., Daniel Mulrooney, M.D., Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship Research Program, can be seen in a report about the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic for survivors of childhood cancer, which he directs.
- DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., M.P.H., co-leader, Prevention and Etiology Research Program, was interviewed about her research on tanning beds and skin cancer risk for the Public Health Moment podcast, produced by the School of Public Health.
- Jaime Modiano, V.M.D, Ph.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer and Immunology Research Programs, was interviewed about canine cancer treatments for the Genome Barks podcast, produced by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and AKC Canine Health Foundation.
- Brian Van Ness, Ph.D., Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Research Program, wrote an article about cancer genetics research and its role in individualized medicine, published in the August issue of Minnesota Physician.
Education and Events
Acute Leukemia Research Seminar
Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 2:30-3:30 p.m., 450 Masonic Cancer Research Building
John Kersey, M.D., founding director emeritus, Masonic Cancer Center, will present "Apoptotic death pathways as the Achilles heel in leukemia and lymphoma stem cells." Please contact Amy Gaug at 612-626-2778 with questions.
Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 12-1 p.m., 114 LHI/KE
Eric Rahrmann will discuss "Smoothened Mutation Confers Resistance to a Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor in Medulloblastoma," R.L. Yauch et. al., published in September 3, 2009, Science Express, DOI: 10.1126/science.1179386. Cancer Biology Journal Club is held every Wednesday. For more information contact Eric Rahrmann (rahr0003@umn.edu) or Susan Rathe (rath0096@umn.edu).
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. Prevention & Etiology Research Program members Allen S. Levine, Ph.D., and Marilyn (Susie) Nanney, Ph.D., 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.
Program change: Dr. Steven Leach will not be presenting; taking his place is Kunxin Luo, Ph.D., professor of cell and developmental biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley. Luo will present "Regulation of proliferation and senescence in tumorigenesis."
Program in Health Disparities Research Poster Session and Awards Dinner
Tuesday, October 6, 2009, Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis
The Program in Health Disparities Research will host a poster session and dinner banquet to recognize this year's grantees and showcase local health disparities research from grantees of the last two years of the Planning Grants Program and Program in Health Disparities Research. The poster session begins at 4:30 p.m.and awards dinner at 5:15 p.m. All members of the community and University are welcome to attend this special and free event. Space is limited; please R.S.V.P. by October 1, 2009, to phdr@umn.edu or 612-626-9192.
Herberger's raises funds for breast cancer research
Wednesday, October 7, 2009, Herberger's department stores
Herberger's will donate 1 percent of all purchases made with its "Rose" charge card to breast cancer research at the Masonic Cancer Center. Also, throughout the month of October, Herberger's will promote its Pink Shop, featuring breast cancer awareness items including lunch totes and a new reusable shopping tote created by Sheryl Crow. Herberger's has donated funds to the Masonic Cancer Center through its "Charge Against Breast Cancer" program since 2001.
Women's Health Conference: Nursing the Science of Caring
Thursday, October 8, 2009, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center, Johnson 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.
Klobuchar to speak at David A. Rothenberger M.D. Lecture
Monday, October 12, 2009, 4 p.m., Mayo Memorial Auditorium.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar will speak about health care reform for the second annual David A. Rothenberger M.D. Lecture. This Medical School Department of Surgery event is free and open to the public.
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
Tumor Biology and Progression Program Meeting
Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 9:15-10:15 a.m., 11-207 Moos Tower
Studies on the role of FOXO1 inactivation in prostate cancer bone metastasis
Haojie Huang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Lab Medicine and Pathology
Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group Seminar
Friday, September 18, 2009, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-118 Moos Tower
Integrating basic science with cancer epidemiology: a case example
Kimberly J. Johnson, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Epidemiology/Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics
Please R.S.V.P. to Logan Spector (spector@umn.edu, 612-624-3912) by 4 p.m., Wednesday, September 16, if you would like lunch.
Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program Seminar
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 4-5 p.m., 3-110 Moos Tower
Disease aggressiveness-associated biomarkers in prostate cancer: Identification and initial validation utilizing new BioNet core facilities
Steven Schmechel, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
BMT Conference
Monday, September 21, 2009, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 Masonic Cancer Research Building
Respiratory infections
Jo-Anne Young, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine/Infectious Disease
Monday, September 28, 2009, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 Masonic Cancer Research Building
BMT program meeting
Visit the Professional Education Web page for complete program meeting schedules.
Funding News and Opportunities
PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network):
PanCAN Pathway to Leadership Grant
Supports highly promising early career scientists beginning in their postdoctoral positions and continuing through their transition to independence to build future leadership in pancreatic cancer research.
Terms: Up to five years of support, totaling $600,000.
Number of Grants: One grant will be provided in 2010.
Eligibility: Applicants must be in the first five years of their postdoctoral or clinical research fellowships (i.e., started fellowship on or after July 2, 2005).
Application Deadline: October 28, 2009, Noon ET
PanCAN Fellowship Award
Supports early career scientists during their mentored research phase.
Terms: One-year grant totaling $45,000.
Number of Awards: One grant will be provided in 2010.
Eligibility: Applicants must be in the first three years of their postdoctoral or clinical research fellowships (i.e., started fellowship on or after July 2, 2007).
Application Deadline: October 28, 2009, Noon ET
PanCAN Career Development Award
Supports newly independent investigators develop or strengthen their research program in pancreatic cancer.
Terms: Two-year grant totaling $200,000.
Number of Awards: Three grants will be provided in 2010.
Eligibility: Applicants must be in the first four years of a faculty appointment (i.e., completed postdoctoral/clinical fellowship on or after July 2, 2006).
Application Deadline: October 28, 2009, Noon ET
PanCAN Innovative Grant (formerly Pilot Grant)
Supports the development of new and innovative ideas and approaches, including those successful in other areas of cancer that have promise for pancreatic cancer.
Terms: Two-year grant totaling $200,000.
Number of Grants: Four grants will be provided in 2010.
Eligibility: Independent junior and senior investigators (not including postdoctoral/clinical fellows)
Application Deadline: Letter of Intent due October 5, 2009, Noon ET
Guidelines and application instructions
American Association for Cancer Research:
PanCAN-AACR Innovative Grants
Formally titled Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR Pilot Grants
A two-year grant totaling $200,000 for independent investigators to support new ideas and innovative models that have direct application and demonstrate relevance to pancreatic cancer.
LOI Deadline: October 5, 2009 at 12 noon, Eastern Time
PanCAN-AACR Career Development Awards
A two-year grant of $200,000 for junior faculty to support meritorious research in basic, translational, clinical or epidemiological research with direct applicability to pancreatic cancer
Application Deadline: October 28, 2009 at 12 noon, Eastern Time
PanCAN-AACR Fellowship
A one-year grant of $45,000 for Postdoctoral Fellows and Clinical Research Fellows. The grant will support the salary and benefits of the fellow. Research must have direct applicability to pancreatic research.
Application Deadline: October 28, 2009 at 12 noon, Eastern Time
Other:
Cancer Research Network Pilot Study and Activity Fund
Application Receipt Date: October 19, 2009 (Abstract due Sept. 14)
Funding: 1 year pilot funding
Mayo Clinic Ovarian SPORE Announcement
The Mayo Clinic SPORE in Ovarian Cancer will fund four meritorious translational pilot research projects for one year.
Application Deadline: October 15, 2009
Funding: $50,000
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.