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February 2, 2010

Update is available on the Web at www.cancer.umn.edu/news/ccupdate/index.html.

Update is an official newsletter of the Masonic Cancer Center for faculty, members, staff, colleagues, and friends. The next issue will be February 16. All submissions for the next issue must be sent to Gina Kennedy, kenne069@umn.edu, by Friday, February 12.

In This Issue

Cancer Center Seminar

News

Education and Events

Program Meetings

Funding News and Opportunities

Cancer Center Seminar

Today’s Cancer Center Seminar:
Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Identification and validation of targets for therapeutic intervention in osteosarcoma
Cheryl London, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate ACVIM (Oncology), Associate Professor, The Thekla R. and Donald B. Shackelford Professorship in Canine Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University
Host: Jaime Modiano, V.M.D., Ph.D.

Next week:
Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
A leap towards understanding genomic integrity: Using xenopus laevis to decipher breast cancer-associated pathways
Alexandra Sobeck, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota
Host: David Largaespada, Ph.D.

In two weeks, a calendar change:
The date for the Cancer Center Seminar two weeks from now has been changed from the usual Tuesday time to Monday, February 15, 2010, 12-1 p.m., 450 MCRB.
Targeting self-renewal pathways in breast cancer stem cells
Max S. Wicha, M.D., Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Host: Douglas Yee, M.D.

See the Cancer Center Seminar calendar to see future seminars and to watch recorded seminars.

News

Members in the news

Robert Kratzke, M.D., and Don Connelly, M.D., and the research they are doing with Mayo Clinic researchers as part of the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics were mentioned in MedCity News. Kratzke and Stephen Russell, M.D., are genetically modifying the measles virus to treat mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer. Human clinical trials are expected to begin this year. Connelly and George Klee, M.D., are using bioinformatics for trying to predict aggressive prostate cancer by identifying protein patterns in blood and tissue.
Kolawole Okuyemi, M.D., was quoted in a news report by National Public Radio that menthol may be a factor in addiction to cigarettes. Okuyemi’s research focuses on the disparities between black and white smokers, and the effect of menthol cigarettes on biochemical markers.

Yuan awarded $8 million to search for risk factors for lung and liver cancer
Masonic Cancer Center researcher Jian-Min Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., has been awarded an $8 million research grant from the National Cancer Institute to study environmental and genetic risk factors for cancer. This grant also will support the development of an effective set of non-invasive markers that can be used to screen and identify people who are at high risk for lung or liver cancer. Read more.

Stepanov research finds more cancer-causing substances in snuff than previously thought
Smokeless tobacco—specifically moist snuff that is put in the mouth—contains some of the same harmful substances that are formed during smoking cigarettes, according to a study led by Masonic Cancer Center researcher Irina Stepanov, Ph.D. Read more.

Kaplan, Ohlfest receive McKnight Land-Grant Professorships
Masonic Cancer Center members Daniel H. Kaplan, M.D., Ph.D., and John Ohlfest, Ph.D., are among the 10 University of Minnesota faculty to receive McKnight Land-Grant Professorships for 2010-12. Recipients hold the title of McKnight Land-Grant Professor for two years, and they receive a research grant in each of the two years, summer support, and a research leave in the second year. See the Graduate School Web site for more information.

Comparative Pathology Shared Resource update
The Comparative Pathology Shared Resource (CPSR) announces changes in its operations as well as new initiatives that CPSR believes will result in stronger support for cancer center researchers. For more information about the following announcements, download the complete CPSR update.

Melissa Schutten D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate ACVP and Paula Overn, HT, QIHC (ASCP) are new members of the CPSR team.
CPSR staff responsibilities: whom to contact for specific services.
CPSR has increased capacity to take on pathology projects with rapid turnaround.
Tuesday morning pathologist office hours at MCRB 560F have resumed (prior notice of visit recommended, please e-mail cpsr@umn.edu).
CPSR will hold a Mouse Necropsy Workshop on March 5, 2010 as part of a series of new training sessions for investigators working with animals.
Read the complete CPSR update.

Randy Shaver Golf Tournament seeks sponsors, participants
The Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Outreach Fund is in the process of recruiting sponsors and participants for its 2010 golf tournament on Monday, June 7, 2010 at Rush Creek Golf Club. If you or someone you know is interested in being involved, please contact Catherine McGlinch, director of development, at 612-626-5456 or c.mcglinch@mmf.umn.edu. The fund's mission is to support research, prevention, treatment, and other needs of the cancer community throughout the state of Minnesota. Last year alone Masonic Cancer Center members received $165,000 in philanthropic research support from the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Outreach Fund.

Community Health Charities Minnesota to donate $80,000 for cancer research
Thank you to all Masonic Cancer Center members who supported Community Health Charities Minnesota through the University’s Community Fund Drive. Thanks to donors like you, Community Health Charities Minnesota will donate nearly $80,000 to support cancer research this year. If you’d like to learn more about Community Health Charities Minnesota you can visit www.healthcharitiesmn.org or contact Catherine McGlinch, director of development, at 612-626-5456 or c.mcglinch@mmf.umn.edu.

New issue of Women’s Health available
The Winter 2010 issue of Women’s Health, from the Medical School’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health, features the following cancer center members:

Linda Carson, M.D., department chair, is profiled.
Carson, Levi Downs, M.D., and Patrick Bolan, Ph.D., are featured in the article “U researchers collaborate on tech solutions for better patient care.”
Martina Bazzaro, Ph.D., and Amy Skubitz, Ph.D., are included in an article about a five-year, $1 million award received by Bazzaro from the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program.
Peter Argenta, M.D., is quoted about his colleague, the late Charles (Chuck) Blomquist, Ph.D., in an article about the Charles H. Blomquist, Ph.D., Fund for Gynecologic Cancer Research.

Lab Safety Refresher
All Masonic Cancer Center faculty, lab staff, and students who work in laboratories must attend. The sessions will be Monday, Feb. 8 and Thursday, Feb. 11.
See calendar listing below.

New NCI online course for health professionals: Including Clinical Trials in Your Practice
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently announced the availability of this free online course for oncology professionals. More information and access to the course.

Education and Events

Center for Drug Design Seminar
Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 2-520 Moos Tower
Development of new methods for the preparation of hindered cyclohexene systems and treating prostate cancer: a synthetic chemist’s attempt
Michael E. Jung, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles
Light refreshments will be served.

Cancer Biology Journal Club
Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 12-1 p.m., KE114 Lillehei Heart Institute (LHI)
Xazmin H. Lowman will present "Dual role of proapoptotic BAD in insulin secretion and beta cell survival," Danial NN, et. al. Nat Med. 2008 Feb;14(2):144-53.

Tobacco Use Research Center Scientific Update Meeting
Thursday, February 4, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 717 Delaware St. SE, Room 105
Population-based approaches to tobacco cessation: Veterans Victory Over Tobacco Project
Steven Fu, M.D., M.S.C.E., Acting Associate Director, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota

Lab Safety Refresher
All faculty, lab staff, and students who work in laboratories are required to attend one of the annual Masonic Cancer Center Lab Safety Refresher sessions. The dates/times available are:

Monday, February 8, 2010, 9 a.m.
Thursday, February 11, 2010, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

You must register online. (Please note: the location listed on the form says “450 Dwan Variety Club/Cancer Center. This is the same as 450 Masonic Cancer Research Building.) For more information, contact Sabine Fritz, fritz017@umn.edu, 612-625-7151.

Cancer Biology Research Club
Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 12-1 p.m., 114 LHI
Characterizing the effects of CYP1A1 in the biology of breast cancer
Mariangellys Rodriguez, Cancer Biology Training Grant graduate fellow, Potter lab

Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 2-2:30 p.m., Molecular and Cellular Biology building, 5th floor lunch room
Visit with cancer center staff in MCB and enjoy a serving of ice cream for $1.

Webinar: Ambient temperature stabilization of feline and canine tumor cell RNA for use in gene expression assays
Wednesday, February 17, 2010, noon-1 p.m. The webinar will be shown in 450 MCRB.
Milcah Scott, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, will present data showing the use of GenTegra£ to preserve the integrity of purified RNA derived from feline and canine tumor cell lines at ambient temperature during storage in the liquid and dry states, with no effect on performance in gene expression analysis. Learn more and register.

The Minnesota Chemoprevention Consortium–MC²
Friday, February 19, 2010, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., The Hormel Institute, 801 16th Ave N.E., Austin, MN, 55912
The Hormel Institute is hosting the Minnesota Chemoprevention Consortium (MC²). The tentative agenda includes the following speakers:

Zigang Dong: Update on activities at the Hormel Institute
Johnny Lu, Yong Yeon Cho: Proposal review
Pramod Upadhyaya: A biomarker for indole-3-carbinol
Vince Fritz: Update on ginger project in high tunnels
Steve Hecht: Reflections on 3 years service on the chemo-dietary prevention study section
Paul Limburg: Update on activities at the Mayo Clinic
Rick Herreid: Update on regulatory issues

If anyone would like a proposal reviewed at this meeting, please contact Steve Hecht, hecht002@umn.edu. Lunch will be provided at the meeting. Please contact Bob Carlson, carls307@umn.edu, if you plan to attend.

Gaylord Anderson Lecture
Friday, February 19, 2010, 10 a.m., Weisman Art Museum, William G. Shepherd Room
Sharon Eubanks, J.D., former U.S. Justice Department lawyer, will deliver the lecture entitled "Public Interest, Public Health, and Political Hubris: The Making of Tobacco Litigation and United States v. Philip Morris." A reception with light refreshments will follow. Eubanks also will participate in an informal roundtable at 1:30 p.m. in the museum’s seminar room. The roundtable discussion will be “Litigation or Legislation: Which is the Better Path to Better Public Health?” Seating is limited; contact Nichole Axtman at 612-626-9303 or mart1047@umn.edu if you would like to attend the roundtable. The lecture and the roundtable are free and open to the public. To learn more, go to www.sph.umn.edu/gaylord.

Cancer and the Human Body
Saturday, February 27, 2010, 1-4 p.m., Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul
The Masonic Cancer Center's tenth annual Cancer and the Human Body event at the Science Museum of Minnesota will include hands-on exhibits where visitors of all ages can learn about cancer and the research being done to understand the disease. For more information, contact Sandra Rivera, river039@umn.edu, 612-625-4441.

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

BMT Conferences
Monday, February 8, 2010, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 MCRB
Meeting for attendings.

Monday, February 15, 2010, 1:15-2:15 p.m., 450 MCRB

Pediatric SAA Algorithm & Iron Overload Algorithm
Jakub Tolar, Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Adult SAA Algorithm
Arne Slungaard, Professor, Department of Medicine/HOT
Cell Source Algorithm
Claudio Brunstein, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine/HOT

Women's Cancer Research Program
Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 9-10 a.m., 450 MCRB
Role for myosin II co-chaperone GC UNC-45 in ovarian cancer progression
Martina Bazarro, Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health

TOCCS Seminar
(Tobacco, Obesity, Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention, and Screening)
Friday, February 12, 2010, noon-1 p.m., 450 MCRB
Can defective genes be good for you? Smoking and Pharmacogenetics
Rachel F. Tyndale, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology, University of Toronto
Lunch provided. Call 612-624-4983 with questions.

Visit the Professional Education Web page for complete program meeting schedules.

Funding News and Opportunities

SP³ Grant (SPORE/ PPG/ Pilot/Planning)
Masonic Cancer Center
Maximum Award: $100,000/year 3 years
Deadline: LOI: March 15, 2010 Full App.: June 1, 2010

2010 Ovarian Cancer Research Awards
Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance
Maximum Award: $100,000 for 1 year
Deadline: March 12, 2010

The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice
Families USA
Maximum Award: $38,000 + benefits for 1 year
Deadline: February 5, 2010

Postdoctoral Cancer Research Fellowship
Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Maximum Award: $100,000 over 2 years
Deadline: March 1, 2010

Ovarian Cancer Research Program Translational Pilot Award
Department of Defense
Maximum Award: $200,000 over 2 years
Pre-Application (Pre-Proposal) Deadline: March 11, 2010
Proposal Application Deadline: June 10, 2010

Ovarian Cancer Research Program Pilot Award
Department of Defense
Maximum Award: $200,000 over 2 years
Pre-Application (Pre-Proposal) Deadline: March 11, 2010
Proposal Application Deadline: June 10, 2010

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.