December 14, 2009

KUDOS

Julia H. Rose, PhD and Nathan A. Berger, MD, Co-Leaders of the Aging-Cancer Research Program, co-edited a Special Issue on cancer and primary care for the "Journal of American Geriatrics Society". The supplement is a compilation of peer-reviewed original work that was presented at an interdisciplinary conference on Geriatric Oncology and Primary Care: Promoting Partnerships in Practice and Research held in Cleveland on April 3-4, 2008. An audience of 77 clinicians and researchers attended, primarily from Ohio and adjacent states. This interdisciplinary conference was organized and presented by the Aging-Cancer Research Program, and co-presented by the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), American Cancer Society-Ohio Division, Western Reserve Geriatric Education Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center Program at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh VAMC GRECC, Durham VAMC GRECC, University Center on Aging and Health at CWRU, and the Case Center for Science, Health and Society.

The following Cancer Center members contributed to articles for this special edition:
Nathan A. Berger, MD
Julia H. Rose, PhD
Karen F. Bowman, PhD
Barbara J. Daly, PhD, RN
Gary T. Deimling, PhD
Siran Koroukian, PhD
Elizabeth E. O'Toole, MD
Cynthia Owusu, MD
Tanyanika Phillips Towe, MD
Kathleen A. Smyth, PhD
Mary M. Step, PhD
Aloen Townsend, PhD

In addition to these members, a number of other researchers at CWRU and beyond worked together with the Aging-Cancer Research Program as part of an overall approach to develop collaborative care services for the increasing number of elderly cancer survivors.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY– Prostate Cancer Foundation

The Prostate Cancer Foundation is accepting applications for Creativity Awards, which are a a funding mechanism for supporting transformational prostate cancer research through development of creative research ideas with high potential and no current funding. The Foundation is seeking applications from individuals proposing high-risk/high-reward concepts that if successful could provide the basis for dramatically reducing death and suffering from prostate cancer. Creativity awards are intended to bridge the gap between an idea and the results necessary to justify longer term and more significant funding.

Deadline: January 31, 2010

For details, please click here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS– Case CCC Core Facilities Fair

The Case CCC Core Facilities Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, January 13 from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm in Wolstein Atrium and Auditorium. Core directors and managers will be present to discuss how their facilities are available to support your research. The afternoon will be filled with core facility related presentations, posters, food and more! We are hoping all members will attend; please encourage your graduate students and lab staff to drop by also.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS– Case CCC Scientific Series: TREC

Please mark your calendars for the next installment of the Case CCC Scientific Series and reception on January 28, 2010 from 4:00 pm-7:00 pm in Wolstein Auditorium (WRB 1413). Presentations will be related to the Case Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Center, led by Dr. Nathan Berger:

•Stephanie Doerner: Diet, Obesity and Susceptibility to Colon Cancer

•Cheryl Thompson, PhD: Activation of the PI3K pathway in colon and breast cancer

•Ofer Reizes, PhD: Role of Leptin in Mammary Tumorigenesis

•Sanjay Patel, MD: The Effect of Sleep Disturbances on Adipose Tissue Gene Expression

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS– Weekly Seminar Series on Applied Biostatistics in Clinical Research

Dr. Mark Schluchter will be teaching a free nine-week course on applied biostatistics in clinical research. The course, which is sponsored by the William T. Dahms Clinical Research Unit and the CTSC, will be held Thursdays from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm in SOM E501 starting January 14, 2010.

The course is targeted toward faculty, fellows, and others involved in clinical research at CWRU and its affiliated hospitals, and is meant to provide an introductory overview. Emphasis is non-mathematical, focusing on understanding what methods to use in what situations, and on how to interpret the results. This is a non-credit course with no formal examination. Individuals are welcome to attend some or all lectures depending on their particular interest.

To register online, please click here.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY– Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award

CWRU SOM has been invited to nominate up to three individuals for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award. This award supports young physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented cancer research, with a goal of increasing the number of physicians capable of moving seamlessly between the laboratory and the patient's bedside in search of breakthrough treatments.

If you are interested in being nominated for this award, please send your biosketch to gillian.irwin@case.edu. External application deadline is March 1, 2010.

For details, please click here.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS– FDA-ODAC Call for Nominations 2010

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting nominations for members to serve on the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). The ODAC is a standing committee that reviews and evaluates data concerning the safety and effectiveness of marketed and investigational human drug products for use in the treatment of cancer and formulates recommendations to the FDA. Committee members generally serve terms of four years and are selected from authorities knowledgeable in general oncology, pediatric oncology, hematologic oncology, tumor immunology, biostatistics, and other related specialties. Candidates should have familiarity and experience in the conduct and interpretation of clinical trials. Candidates should also have minimal conflicts of interest.

The FDA will be accepting recommendations for ODAC members through December 23. Please forward CVs of candidates to Nicole Vesely, PharmD, Designated Federal Official for the ODAC. CVs must contain candidate contact information, including phone number and email address. Click here to view Dr. Vesely's contact information.

ADOPT A FAMILY

In the spirit of the holidays, the Case CCC is sponsoring two families in need.

The first family consists of a mother, father and two boys, ages 9 and 11. The father was diagnosed with melanoma several years ago, and was recently diagnosed with lymphoma. Co-pays have piled up from tests and doctors' appointments. The patient has developed foot neuropathy that makes it difficult for him to work at his job that requires long periods of standing. Also, he will not be able to work much while he is undergoing chemotherapy. The family has provided a small wish list of items; gift cards and cash are also greatly appreciated.

We are also adopting the family of a former Cancer Center employee who died of cancer in November. To view the family wish list, please click here. Gift cards and cash are greatly appreciated.

Please turn in all donations to Gillian Todd (Wearn 149) by TODAY, December 14.

Please email Gillian.irwin@case.edu if you have any questions.

EVENTS

**All events are open to anyone interested in attending

December 14

Hem/Onc Research in Progress Seminar
Nicholas Greco, PhD
Senior Research Associate, Laughlin Lab, Div. Hem/Onc
CWRU/ UH
Topic: Identification of a Novel Population of CXCR4+ SSEA-4+ Oct-4+ Very Small Embryonic-like Cells Purified from Human Cord Blood: Role in Regenerative Medicine?
12:00 pm WRB 2-136

Pathology Research Seminar
Brian McDermott, PhD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
CWRU/ UH
Topic: Understanding Auditory Hair Cell Development Using Zebrafish
12:00 pm WRB 1413

Physiology & Biophysics Seminar
Steven Segal, PhD
Professor, Medical Research
University of Missouri
Topic: Intercellular Coordination of Blood Flow Control
4:00 pm SOM E501

December 15

Immunology Seminar
Christopher Hunter, PhD
Professor, Department of Pathobiology
University of Pennsylvania
Topic: Imaging Immunity to Infection
12:00 pm WRB 1413

Neurosciences Thesis Defense
Alicia Hawthorne
Graduate Student, Neurosciences
CWRU
Topic: The Development and Regeneration of the Serotonergic System
1:00 pm SOM E646

CTSC Seminar
Michael Kattan, PhD
Professor and Chair, Quantitative Health Sciences
CWRU/ Cleveland Clinic
AND
J. Sunil Rao, PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology & Biostatistics
CWRU
Topic: Translational Methodologies Working Group
4:30 pm BRB 105

December 16

Grand Rounds cancelled

Taussig Cancer Institute Seminar
Nathan Pennell, MD, PhD
Associate Staff, Solid Tumor Oncology
Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Lung Cancer
12:00 pm R3-002 Cleveland Clinic

Showcase Seminar
Bela Anand-Apte, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Ophthalmology/Cell Biology
CWRU/Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Regulation of Neovascularization by Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3)
4:30 pm NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic

December 17

Neurosciences Seminar cancelled

Taussig Cancer Institute Core Curriculum Series
Timothy Gilligan, MD
Assistant Professor, Solid Tumor Oncology
CWRU/ Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Overview of Bladder Cancer
12:00 pm R3-002 Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Trainee Seminar Series
Dan Xu
PhD Candidate, Pathology
CWRU
Topic: Myeloproliferative Disease Induced by Leukemogenic Ptpn11 (Shp-2) Phosphatase Arises from Hematopoietic Stem Cells
12:00 pm WRB 3-136

December 18

Hematology/ Oncology Fellows Conference
Greg Manson, MD
Fellow, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/ UH
Topic: TBA
8:00 am Wearn 137

Cancer Center Seminar Series/ Blood Club
William Hahn, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Medicine
Harvard University
Topic: Functional Genomics and Cancer
12:00 pm BRB 105

more

For a complete listing of LRI seminars click here.

UPCOMING CANCER CENTER SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS

Case CCC Core Facility Fair
January 13, 2010
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Wolstein Atrium and Auditorium

Case CCC Scientific Series- TREC
January 28, 2010
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm WRB 1-413
Speakers:
Stephanie Doerner, PhD
Cheryl Thompson, PhD
Ofer Reizes, PhD
Sanjay Patel, MD

Case CCC Scientific Retreat
July 9-10, 2010
Location TBA

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS

32nd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
December 10-13
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX
Details

AACR Seminar: Genetics and Biology of Brain Cancers
December 13-15
Omni San Diego Hotel, San Diego, CA
Details

Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Clinical Trials Methodology Workshop
January 9 -15, 2010
Scottsdale, AZ
Details

AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer: Prospects for Personalized Prevention and Therapy
January 11-14, 2010
Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, CA
Details

AACR-JCA 8th Joint Conference on Cancer Genomics, Epigenomics, and the Development of Novel Therapeutics
February 5-9, 2010
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa, HI
Details

AACR 101st Annual Meeting
April 17-21, 2010
Washington, DC
Details

FACULTY CANDIDATE SEARCH– Associate Director for Basic Research

The Case CCC is currently accepting applications for the position of Associate Director for Basic Research. As we continue our search, we ask that people in the Cancer Center community encourage any qualified candidate to apply for the position. If you would like to nominate someone for the position, please contact Tracy Rehl (tracy.rehl@case.edu).

Click here to view the job description.

CASE CCC ON FACEBOOK AND LINKEDIN– Join Us!

We are always trying to foster communication and collaboration across the cancer center community any way that we can. The Case CCC has set up a page on Facebook and LinkedIn, so please become a fan of us on Facebook or join our group on LinkedIn, and encourage others to do so as well. Please help us spread the word.

We encourage you to post events, relevant news articles, items of discussion, etc… Your feedback is appreciated!

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

DOD PRCRP New Investigator Awards
Proposal Deadline: December 9

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
Deadline: January 14

AICR Investigator Initiated Grants
Deadline: February 19

AICR Matching Grants
Deadline: February 19

AICR Postdoctoral Awards
Deadline: February 19

AACR Scholar-in-Training Awards - Special Conferences
Deadline varies

NCI Short-Term Scientist Exchange Program
Deadline: Open

James S. McDonnell Foundation
Deadline: Open

NIH Bulletin – Notices and Funding Opportunities

School Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies, Obesogenic Behaviors and Weight Outcomes (R01) (PA-10-052)

School Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies, Obesogenic Behaviors and Weight Outcomes (R21) (PA-10-053)

School Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies, Obesogenic Behaviors and Weight Outcomes (R03) (PA-10-054)

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.