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January 19, 2009 | |
DIRECTOR'S NOTE 2009Welcome to the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Newsletter for 2009. I would like to reflect briefly on our accomplishments and outlook as we begin this new year. By the end of this year, our Center will be increasingly focused on preparing for the renewal application of the NCI core grant. Many of us will be involved in preparation throughout 2010 and until the grant is submitted in 2011. As is common for cancer centers, nothing is ever quite constant as priorities and opportunities change, prospects brighten, and we overcome barriers to research by strengthening our infrastructure. First, I would like to commend the more than 80 basic science investigators who contributed to the realignment of the basic science programs. Many of you were involved in the establishment of 11 scientific focus groups, each with a group leader, that self-assembled and prioritized cancer research. This effort was carefully scrutinized by our internal and external advisors, and was mentored by Drs. George Stark, Susann Brady-Kalnay, and Clark Distelhorst. Their support coupled with the hard work of the group leaders has resulted in stronger scientific focus groups, each with increased evidence of collaboration, and efforts towards multi-investigator project grant applications. As of January 2009, we have realigned these scientific focus groups into two scientific programs and one developing initiative in vascular cancer biology. The two scientific programs are the Molecular Basis of Cancer Program led by Drs. Susann Brady-Kalnay and George Stark, and the Cell Death Regulation Program led by Drs. Clark Distelhorst, Alex Almasan and Nancy Oleinick. These basic science programs remain large and complex. In future issues of this newsletter, the program leaders will provide details about each program. Second, last spring we had a very successful basic science pilot grant RFA that resulted in 16 applications, each from a minimum of 2 investigators participating in the scientific focus groups. This effort resulted in four awards. We will hear about awardee progress later this year as part of our new Cancer Center Scientific Series. Third, as part of our due diligence of review of scientific programs, we initiated an effort to establish a new Cancer Imaging Program. This effort was shared with our External Advisory Board. With their input, we officially established this Program comprised of 31 members and led by Drs. Jim Basilion and Jeff Duerk. The external funding is an overall annual total of $8,225,127 of research support. Of this total $5,462,987 is peer-reviewed funding, of which $3,231,646 is from the NCI. The Cancer Imaging Program provides a highly collaborative environment for basic engineering, translational, and clinical research in cancer using all forms of imaging technology from molecular to tumor targeted to drug analytical imaging. Please take advantage of this superb group as you plan your next research project or clinical trial. Details of this new program are also available on our web site. Fourth, our clinical trials group, which supports trials for our Stem Cell and Hematological Malignancies, Developmental Therapeutics, and GU Malignancies Programs, has been strengthened by increased coordination between the Ireland Cancer Center and Taussig Cancer Institute sites and through their efforts to include the regional and community sites into the clinical trials network. Improved operations in regulatory review, contracting, and IRB review are in place and should strengthen the process of clinical trials at our clinical sites. Dr. John Sweetenham has been appointed as Director of Clinical Trials for the Case CCC and will coordinate efforts to increase the functionality of clinical trials operations and increase protocol approval and accrual in 2009. Fifth, we have developed a new internal award, that of Program Leader of the Year. As I announced at the holiday reception, the first recipient is Dr. Kevin Bunting for his efforts as leader of the Stem Cells and Hematologic Malignancies Program. Kevin has helped researchers in that Program develop collaborative scientific initiatives and strengthened translational research, and hopes to see the submission of at least two multi-investigator grants this year. Finally, below is a partial list of priorities for 2009. We will expand this list during discussions of the Senior and Program Leaders in the first quarter of 2009. I would also like to note that Ernie Borden, MD lead a PG in melanoma submitted in October 2008. I hope others develop as well. In each group, the Cancer Center will provide administrative support, review of the proposal through the involvement of Center members with P01 grant review experience and, when needed, grant writer support. 2. Increase accrual to clinical trials 3. Enhanced capabilities and use of the Biorepository 4. Core review and enhancement 5. High Throughput Sequencing Core Stan Gerson, MD CASE CCC IN THE NEWSA New Pitch to Draw More into Clinical Trials Stem Cell Product Commercialization Focus of Summit FUNDING OPPORTUNITY– Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation Cancer Research Grant ProgramThe Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation's is currently accepting applications for their Cancer Research Grant Program, which awards grants to doctors and medical scientists focusing on curing cancers that affect women. The Foundation is accepting applications for innovative grants for translational research in ovarian, uterine, breast, or cervical cancer. The program will offer at least eight two-year grants of up to $100,000 each (combined direct and indirect costs). Applications must be submitted by one principal investigator selected by the institution. Only one grant application will be accepted from each accredited medical school or school of public health in the United States. If you are interested in applying, please email gillian.irwin@case.edu as soon as possible. Deadline: February 13 For details, please click here. NCI CANCER BULLETINNews Commentary In Depth |
EVENTS**All events are open to anyone interested in attending January 19Hematology/Oncology Research In Progress Seminar cancelled January 20Cancer Biology Seminar Taussig Cancer Institute Core Curriculum Series Case CCC Faculty Candidate Seminar January 21Developmental Therapeutics Program meeting cancelled Grand Rounds Immunology Seminar Pathology Graduate Student Seminar Case CCC Faculty Candidate Chalk Talk PBRN Seminar on Interdisciplinary Research January 22CTSC Seminar Taussig Cancer Center Core Curriculum Series Neurosciences Seminar Aging-Cancer Research Seminar January 23Cancer Prevention and Control Seminar cancelled in lieu of Special Seminar scheduled for 1/26 at 12:00 pm in Wearn 137, at which Dr. John Scott will present "An Empirical Model and an Emerging Measure of the Healing Process for Evaluation of Cancer Patients". Hematology/ Oncology Fellows Seminar Special Pathology Lecture Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds Cancer Center Seminar Series/ Blood Club Case CCC/ Biostatistics Faculty Candidate Seminar more MARK YOUR CALENDARS:UPCOMING CANCER CENTER SYMPOSIUMSCase CCC Scientific Series Emerging Trends in Cancer Immunotherapy Family-Centered Care Ohio Collaborative Conference on Bioinformatics (OCCBIO) Annual Breast Cancer Update: Highlights of the National Meetings Case CCC Scientific Retreat 2009 **For more information on these symposiums, please contact Christine Rhoads. |
MARK YOUR CALENDARS- Farewell Party for Dr. Joanna BrellSave the date for an event to wish Dr. Joanna Brell all the best in her new role at the National Institutes of Health. A party in her honor is planned for January 23 at 5:00 pm in Wearn 137. We give special thanks to Dr. Brell for her dedicated and capable service as Chair of the Case CCC Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee for the past year. In addition to that role, Dr. Brell has been an active faculty member in the Division of Hematology/Oncology for 7 years. She will be missed! CALL FOR PAPERS– Ohio Collaborative Conference on Bioinformatics (OCCBIO)The 4th Annual Ohio Collaborative Conference on Bioinformatics (OCCBIO 2009) will be held at CWRU June 15-17, 2009. The conference provides an interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of methods, research findings, and experiences in the area of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. An important goal of the conference is to foster long-term collaborative relationships and networking opportunities within the domain of computational approaches to biology that benefit Ohio. OCCBIO invites researchers in the broad area of bioinformatics to submit their unpublished work to the conference. The conference proceedings will be indexed. Papers will be accepted through January 27. For details, please click here. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY– James S. McDonnell FoundationThe Foundation offers Collaborative Activity Awards to initiate interdisciplinary discussions on problems or issues, to help launch interdisciplinary research networks, or to fund communities of researchers/practitioners dedicated to developing new methods, tools, and applications of basic research to applied problems. In each case the focus of the collaborative activity must meet the program guidelines for one of the following program areas: Applications are continuously accepted for these awards. For more information, please click here. MARK YOUR CALENDARS–2nd Annual Biospecimen Research Network (BRN) Symposium: Advancing Cancer Research Through Biospecimen ScienceMarch 16–18, 2009 Human biospecimens are the foundation of the translational research that will transform patient care. The 2009 BRN Symposium: Advancing Cancer Research Through Biospecimen Science will focus on the significant impact of pre-analytical biospecimen variables on cancer research and molecular medicine. This promises to be a stimulating and informative three-day event that will feature interactive discussions and presentations about biospecimen quality and recent advances in biospecimen science. Abstract Submission Deadline: February 9 For more information, please click here. |
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FUNDING OPPORTUNITIESAACR Stand Up To Cancer |
NIH Bulletin – Notices and Funding Opportunities |
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| Produced by: Gillian Irwin 11100 Euclid Avenue, Wearn 152 Cleveland, Ohio 44106-5065 216-844-8317 phone 216-844-7832 fax gillian.irwin@case.edu Janice Hassinger 11100 Euclid Avenue, Wearn 149 Cleveland, Ohio 44106-5065 216-844-1862 phone 216-844-7832 fax janice.hassinger@uhhospitals.org |
HELP US HELP YOU!If you have a new grant, recently won an award, or have other newsworthy items, please let us know so we can publicize them in the newsletter and other media outlets. You deserve the accolades! Send items to gillian.irwin@case.edu. |
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