June 9, 2008

MESSAGE FROM DR. STANTON GERSON: Case CCC Retreat

The 2008 scientific retreat of the Cancer Center will be July 11-12 at Sawmill Creek Resort and Conference Center in Huron, Ohio. This annual gathering is an important event for the Cancer Center, as it gives us the opportunity to evaluate our current initiatives and adjust our development and scientific priorities as needed.

The overall theme will be building disease-related translational initiatives, and speakers will address a range of topics to inform the members of emerging initiatives and development of support structures, and provide updates on ongoing research activities. An important outcome of the retreat is the identification of potential new scientific areas that should be developed, along with support and core facility needs.

The program begins on Friday with presentations from members of the Basic Science of Cancer Focus Groups, giving the full Cancer Center membership perspective on the progress of this initiative.

Later that day, we will have a session that will highlight informatics and biostatistics, with topics ranging from statistical design to genomic analysis in cancer. The Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Research and Aging-Cancer Research Programs will address recent activities and future directions of these two programs. Dr. Gerson will address the development of survivorship programs.

Program breakouts are scheduled for later on Friday afternoon. After cocktails and dinner on Friday evening, Dr. Stark will present on drug discovery.

Saturday's program will be directed toward clinical research, and will include overviews of the disease-based initiatives as well as presentations aimed to link the clinical translational elements. Clinical research infrastructure will be addressed with presentations and discussions about clinical trial review as well as the developing biorepository core and access to tissue.

The program will end at approximately noon on Saturday, but we encourage you to stay and enjoy area attractions.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Sawmill Creek, the resort is in a lovely setting in Huron, Ohio and offers numerous outdoor activities including golf, swimming, volleyball, tennis, basketball, and walking trails. There is also an indoor pool, fitness center, and game room on the grounds. Nearby attractions include Cedar Point, Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve, wineries, the Lake Erie Islands, and Maritime Museums.

Please fill out the Registration Form and let us know whether or not you are able to attend. Please return the form to Gillian Irwin (gillian.irwin@case.edu) as soon as possible.

Thank you for the time commitment that you have already made to the Cancer Center. I am hoping that you will take more time out of your busy schedule to come and participate in the discussions and planning, and later take in a little sun, golf, or walks in this wonderful area. I look forward to seeing you on July 11-12.

Komen for the Cure Power of One Award

Congratulations to Gabrielle Brett, who recently received the Power of One Award from Susan G. Komen for the Cure Northeast Ohio Affiliate, for her work with cancer in the community. Gabrielle is the Partnership Program Coordinator for NCI’s Cancer Information Service based at the Case CCC.

For details, please click here.

CANCER CLINICAL TRIAL LEGISLATION PASSED

The Ohio House of Representatives recently passed SB 186, which would prohibit insurers, public employee benefit plans, and multiple employer welfare arrangements from excluding coverage for routine patient care administered as part of a cancer clinical trial.

To view the entire bill, please click here.

NEW EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATIONAL SEMINAR– MesoScale Multiplex Analyzer

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and CTSC will be making available to the research community a multiplex analyzer with a broad range of analytical capabilities.

As an introduction we are holding a seminar on Wednesday, June 11 at 12:00 pm in WRB 3-136 to present more information about the technology. All are welcome to attend for pizza and a presentation by Jill Clampit, Senior Application Scientist at MesoScale Discovery, who will present Performance Advantages of Multiplex MSD Immunoassays.

MesoScale Discovery (MSD) single- and multi-plex immunoassays offer substantial assay performance advantages relative to conventional immunoassay techniques, such as ELISA or Western Blotting. Specifically, MSD immunoassays exhibit much larger linear dynamic range, greater precision, superior tolerance of complex sample matrices, and the ability to measure 1-10 analytes per well at low cost. Please attend to learn more about the MSD technology and relevant applications of MSD assay panels for Immunology, Oncology, and Metabolic research.

If you plan on attending this seminar or if you need directions to the Wolstein Building, please contact Paul Hartman, phh@case.edu or 216-844-1579. This event is sponsored by the Clinical Research Units of the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (UL1 RR024989) and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Faculty Positions Available Soon– K12 Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Award

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center expects to have its K12 Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Award (CORP) funded soon, and wanted to circulate award information to any interested parties. Positions will be available for July 2008 and July 2009. If you are interested in applying, please contact Margy Weinberg (margy.weinberg@case.edu or 216-844-5375). An official announcement and deadline dates will be released when we receive a notice of award.

Program Directors
Stanton L. Gerson, MD, Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
Alvin H. Schmaier, MD, Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology

Career Development
Junior faculty appointment in medical, surgical, radiation, or pediatric departments at CWRU and UHCMC. Clinical oncology research that is focused on laboratory-based translational research and includes therapeutic clinical research.

Requirements
MD with clinical training in an oncologic discipline. May be completing a residency and/or fellowship, depending on discipline. Interest and training in clinical trials and/or laboratory-based research. Intent to focus on translational research leading to a clinical trial. Willingness to participate in didactic training in clinical and translational research, to publish and author clinical trials. Minimum two-year commitment required.

Mentoring Faculty
Mentoring provided by nationally recognized basic, clinical, and translational faculty at CWRU and UHCMC.

Resources
The Case CCC has 9 multidisciplinary programs and 17 shared resources that promote focused cancer research and provide unique training opportunities.

Salaries and Research Seed Funds
Salary support at $75,000 for 75% effort plus generous annual research seed money provided through NCI-funded K12 CORP Award. Additional salary for 25% effort provided for clinical responsibilities.

NIH PEER REVIEW SYSTEM UPDATES

At a recent Meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Director, NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, announced "critical changes to enhance and improve the NIH peer review system". This marks the end of a year-long effort to determine ways to improve the NIH peer review process. The new plan shows a commitment to investigator-initated high-risk, high-impact reseach. The Implementation Plan Report consists of four main priorities and highlights include:

• Priority 1: Engage the Best Reviewers: Increase flexibility of service, formally acknowledge reviewer efforts, further compensate time and effort (up to a $250,000 grant supplement for those reviewers attending at least 18 meetings), and enhance and standardize training;

• Priority 2: Improve Quality and Transparency of Reviews: Shorten (from 25 pages to 12) and redesign applications to highlight impact and to allow alignment of the application, review and summary statement with five explicit review criteria, and modify the rating system;

• Priority 3: Ensure Balanced and Fair Reviews Across Scientific Fields and Career Stages (support a minimum number of early stage investigators and investigators new to NIH, and emphasize retrospective accomplishments of experienced investigators; encourage and expand the Transformative Research Pathway; create a new investigator-initiated Transformative R01 Award program funded within the NIH Roadmap with an intended commitment of a minimum of $250 million over five years; continue the commitment of, and possibly expand the use of, the Pioneer, EUREKA, and New Innovator Awards. NIH will invest at least $750 million in these three programs over the next 5 years; and reduce the burden of multiple rounds of resubmission for the same application, especially for highly meritorious applications); and

• Priority 4: Develop a Permanent Process for Continuous Review of Peer Review.

For more information about the changes, please click here. For more information about the implementation plan, please click here.

EVENTS

**All events are open to anyone interested in attending

June 9

Cancer Genetics/ Biology Journal Club
Patrick Weitzel
Graduate Student, Laughlin Lab, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/ UH
Topic: Translational Regulation of the NFATc2 Gene in UCB CD4+ T-cells by hsa-miR-184
12:00 pm WRB 2-136 Conference Room

Physiology & Biophysics Seminar
Ben Strowbridge, PhD
Associate Professor, Neurosciences
CWRU
Topic: Local Circuits and Information Processing in the Olfactory Bulb
4:00 pm SOM W203

June 10

CSCRM and Applied Biosystems Seminars
Doug Rains
Applied Biosystems
Topic: Assessing Human Stem Cell Safety: Understanding Critical Safety and Efficacy Issues
and
Mike Irwin
Applied Biosystems
Topic: Distinct MicroRNA Expression Signatures in Stem Cell Lines
and
Horst von Recum, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
CWRU
Topic: The Use of Embryonic Stem Cells in Blood Vessel Formation
10:00 am - 2:00 pm WRB 1413
RSVP to Molly Schneider

June 11

Grand Rounds
Andrew Sloan, MD
Associate Professor, Neurological Surgery
CWRU/ UH
Topic: Immunotherapy for Malignant Glioma
8:00 am Lerner B-151

MesoScale Multiplex Analyzer Seminar
Jill Clampit
Senior Application Scientist
MesoScale Discovery
Topic: Performance Advantages of Multiplex MSD Immunoassays
12:00 pm in WRB 3-136

June 12

Aging-Cancer Seminar cancelled

Cancer Prevention and Control Seminar
Gregory Cooper, MD
Professor, Medicine- Gastroenterology
CWRU/ UH
and
Susan Flocke, PhD
Associate Professor, Family Medicine
CWRU/ UH
Topic: Discussion of Upcoming Case CCC Retreat
3:30 pm Wearn 137

June 13

Cancer Center Seminar Series/ Blood Club will resume in the Fall

Annual Update on Breast Cancer: Highlights of the National Meetings
Hilton Cleveland East, Beachwood
Course Directors: Janice Lyons, MD, Halle Moore, MD, and Paula Silverman, MD
Brochure and Registration

Hematology/Oncology Fellows Seminar
Shilen Patel, MD
Fellow, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/ UH
Topic: TBA
8:00 am Wearn 137

Taussig Cancer Center Grand Rounds
Christopher Willett, MD
Professor and Chair, Radiation Oncology
Duke University Medical Center
Topic: Innovations in the Treatment of Rectal Cancer
8:00 am R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic

Let's Band Together: Inaugural Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Initiative Symposium
10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Marriott Cleveland Key Center
Registration and Details

more

For a complete listing of LRI seminars click here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

UPCOMING CANCER CENTER SYMPOSIUMS

**For more information on these symposiums, please contact Christine Rhoads.

ASCO Review 2008
June 27
InterContinental Hotel & Bank of America Conference Center
Course Directors: Robert Dreicer, MD and Hillard Lazarus, MD
Brochure and Registration

MARK YOUR CALENDARS– Let's Band Together

The Ireland Cancer Center and Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital present Let's Band Together: Inaugural Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Initiative Symposium, Friday, June 13 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Marriott Cleveland Key Center. Patients, healthcare professionals, clinicians, government leaders and others interested in learning more about ongoing efforts to fight against adolescent and young adult cancer are encouraged to attend. For details and registration information, please click here, or contact Sante Ghetti at (216)844-4886 for more information.

Also mark your calendars for the Rise Above It (RAI) Inaugural "Black Dress, Yellow Tie" Keep the Fight Alive! Reception that evening, from 6:00 pm - 11:30 pm also at the Marriott Cleveland Key Center. For details on this event, click here. To learn more about RAI, please click here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS–AACR Accelerating Anticancer Agent Development and Validation Workshop

June 18-20, 2008
North Bethesda, MD

This is a postgraduate workshop for clinical and translational investigations focused on strategic planning to develop and validate new anticancer and cancer prevention agents and pathways. This is an intensive and interactive workshop in how to design effective strategies– from clinical trial initiative, to enabling trials, to pivotal efficacy trials– to develop new anticancer and prevention agents, taught by a distinguished faculty from across the academic, industry, consumer, and government (FDA) sectors.

For more information, click here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS– Cancer Health Disparities Summit

July 14-16
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
Bethesda, MD

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) is pleased to present the Cancer Health Disparities Summit 2008, July 14–16, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Bethesda, Maryland. The overall theme for this year's Summit is Eliminating Cancer Health Disparities Through Science, Training, and Community. The Cancer Health Disparities 2008 will highlight the science of the programs and grantees funded through the CRCHD.

For more information, please click here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS– AACR Centennial Conference

July 20-23
Hyatt Regency Monterey
Monterey, California

The AACR Centennial Conference on Translational Cancer Medicine 2008: Cancer Clinical Trials and Personalized Medicine is the second in the AACR Centennial Conference series on Translational Cancer Medicine and the first to be held in the United States. Translational research is a key programmatic priority of the AACR, and this meeting will showcase the latest scientific discoveries from the laboratory and their clinical applications.

For more information, please click here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS– Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy: Realizing the Promise

September 11-12
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD

The Center for Cancer Research (CCR) at the National Cancer Institute will be hosting a two-day, national symposium entitled Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy: Realizing the Promise. This meeting will host leaders in the field of cancer immunology and immunotherapy, include recent advances in both translational and clinical research, and should provide an exciting forum for discussion and debate on promising immunologic approaches to prevent and treat cancer.

Registration is free, but seating is limited so be sure to register early! Abstracts are being accepted for the poster session. Deadline for abstract submission is July 15.

For more information, please click here.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Administrative Supplements to Active R01, P01, P50, U01, and U19 Grants Focused on Cancer Survivorship
Deadline: June 9

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Career Catalyst in Disparities Research
Pre-Application Deadline: June 10

DOD PCRP Clinical Consortium Agreement
Pre-App/LOI Deadline: June 11

DOD PCRP Clinical Trial Award
Pre-App/LOI Deadline: June 11

DOD PCRP Health Disparity Research Award
Pre-App/LOI Deadline: June 11

DOD PCRP Health Disparity Training Award
Pre-App/LOI Deadline: June 11

DOD PCRP Laboratory-Clinical Transition Award: Stage 1
Pre-App/LOI Deadline: June 11

HRSA Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Demonstration Program
Application Deadline: June 13

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Post-Baccalaureate Training in Disparities Research
Pre-Application Deadline: June 19

DOD OCRP Consortium Development Award
Pre-Application Deadline: June 25

DOD PCRP Laboratory-Clinical Transition Award: Stage 1
LOI Deadline: June 30

DOD PRMRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award
Proposal Deadline: July 2

DOD PRMRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award (Specific appropriation for bone marrow failure disorder research)
Proposal Deadline: July 2

DOD PRMRP Translational Research Award
Proposal Deadline: July 2

DOD PRMRP Advanced Technology/Therapeutic Development Award
Proposal Deadline: July 2

DOD PRMRP Clinical Trial Award
Proposal Deadline: July 2

DOD OCRP Consortium Development Award
Proposal Deadline: July 9

Cleveland Clinical and Translational Sciences Collaborative (CTSC)
Deadline: July 15

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Career Catalyst in Disparities Research
Full Application Deadline: July 31

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Post-Baccalaureate Training in Disparities Research
Full Application Deadline: July 31

Doris Duke CSDA Bridge Grant
Deadline: September 1

NIH Bulletin – Notices and Funding Opportunities

Rapid Access to Intervention Development (RAID) (NOT-CA-08-024)

Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (U01) (RFA-CA-08-026)

Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R01) (PA-08-156)

Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R21) (PA-08-157)