Case Comprehensive Cancer Center: Weekly Newsletter

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March 21, 2011
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR NCI Cooperative Group Reorganization There has been intense interest in discussion over efforts of the National Cancer Institute to re-organize cooperative groups. This affects all of us in the Cancer Center because it will alter the way we conduct early translational and clinical trial research with cancer patients. At the February 2011 cancer directors retreat, a number of issues came forward regarding the intentions of the National Cancer Institute in this effort. As a result, a formal committee was put together with a number of cancer center directors and created a proposal: Building an Integrated National Cancer Clinical Trials Program: A Proposal for Re-Organization from NCI Cancer Center Directors. In addition, we at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center met to discuss our approach and comments about the trial's efforts amongst the cooperative groups, and prepared a response: Case CCC Cooperative Group White Paper. There is ongoing dialogue about these restructuring efforts, and I would like our members to be well-informed. I will be participating in a discussion at the AACR Annual Meeting, and value receiving your comments before April 2. Stan Gerson, MD Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center CASE CCC IN THE NEWS New Biomarker for Fatal Brain Disease Identified Daily News & Analysis - Mar 10, 2011 The research team included Neena Singh and colleagues at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. The finding provides a basis for developing a test to diagnosis sCJD while patients are still alive. Presently, the only definitive diagnostic ... UH Oncologist Uses Avastin in Breast Cancer Study Plain Dealer - Mar 8, 2011 Joseph Baar, director of breast cancer research and the Breast Cancer Survivor Program at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. In December, the Food and Drug Administration proposed that the label for the drug Avastin be changed to reflect that it ... When Optimism Is Unrealistic New York Times - Mar 3, 2011 "You have oncology, a field of medicine that is strongly evidence-based and research-intensive, and you have a population of patients who are experiencing an immediate threat to their lives," said Dr. Neal J. Meropol, a researcher who has done ... CWRU Positions Regenerative Medicine Center for Future Growth Newswise (press release) - Mar 3, 2011 "Being part of the School of Medicine gives the NCRM academic credentials," a potential draw in recruiting additional faculty to the school, who will be able to apply for secondary faculty appointments within the Center, says Stan Gerson, MD, ... MARK YOUR CALENDARS Cancer Imaging Program (CIP) Microenvironment Focus Group "Mini Talk" There will be a Cancer Imaging Program (CIP) Microenvironment Focus Group "Mini Talk" on Monday, March 28 at 2 pm in Wearn B37, featuring Drs. Ann-Marie Broome, ZR Lu, and Horst von Recum. All interested parties are encouraged to attend. Case CCC Scientific Series The next installment of the Case CCC Scientific Series is scheduled for Thursday, April 21 from 4-6:30 pm in Wolstein Auditorium (WRB 1-413). Drs. Anton Gorbachev, Neetu Gupta and Alex Huang will discuss the topic of Immunology. Presentations will be followed by a short receptions. All are encouraged to attend. Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat The Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat will be July 8-9 at Corporate College East. Details will be posted soon. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES CTSC Quarterly Core Utilization Pilot Funding The CTSC announces the April 1 quarterly competition for core utilization pilot funding of up to $10,000 to support activities provided by any of the CTSC Core facilities. CWRU, UH, and MetroHealth are supporting this program, and investigators whose primary appointments are based at these sites are eligible for this competition. Details and instructions will be posted online. Contact the CTSC research concierge with questions. Investigators at Cleveland Clinic have access to internal pilot funds through the RPC program. Find information online. Contact Charlotte Bhasin with questions. Deadline: April 1 ANNOUNCEMENTS Message from AACR: Request for Public Comment on Human Subjects Protection The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues is requesting public comment on the federal and international standards for protecting the health and well-being of participants in scientific studies supported by the federal government. In order to receive consideration, comments must be received May 2, 2011. The Commission is charged with identifying and promoting policies and practices that assure the ethically responsible conduct of scientific research, healthcare delivery, and technological innovation. In undertaking these duties, the Commission seeks to identify and examine specific bioethical, legal, and social issues related to potential scientific and technological advances; examine diverse perspectives and possibilities for international collaboration on these issues; and recommend legal, regulatory, or policy actions as appropriate. The Commission has begun a review of the current rules and standards for protecting human subjects in scientific studies supported by the federal government. Additional information can be found at http://www.bioethics.gov. Click here to view a copy of the announcement. If you decide to submit comments, AACI would appreciate if you could send a copy of your comments that we will maintain in our files for future reference. Copies can be sent to Janie Hofacker, Director of Programs at AACI at janie@aaci-cancer.org. NCI CANCER BULLETIN March 8, 2011 News Featured Article: Ovarian Cancer Study Raises Questions about Developing Markers for Early Detection Surgical Biopsy Is Overused for Evaluating Suspicious Breast Imaging Findings Adding Radiation to Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes in Early-Stage Hodgkin Lymphoma Trastuzumab after Chemotherapy Is Effective in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Denosumab Reduces Risk of Bone Side Effects in Advanced Prostate Cancer High Rates of Human Papillomavirus Infection Found in Men Commentary Reenergizing the Agenda for Cancer Communication In Depth PSA Velocity Does Not Improve Prostate Cancer Detection The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer: A Potentially Fatal Transformation? Featured Clinical Trial: Optimizing Adjuvant Therapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer Radically Reducing Radiation Exposure during Routine Medical Imaging Updates Legislative Update Notes	EVENTS All events are open to anyone interested in attending March 21 March 22 Immunology Seminar Scott Sieg, PhD Assistant Professor, Medicine CWRU/UH Topic:** Beta Defensin-3: A Link to Adaptive Immunity 12 pm WRB 1413 Taussig Cancer Institute Core Curriculum Series Roy Silverstein, MD Professor, Cell Biology CWRU/ Cleveland Clinic Topic: Platelet Function 12 pm R3-002 Cleveland Clinic March 23 Hematology and Oncology Division Research Conference Shigemi Matsuyama, PhD Assistant Professor, Medicine- Hem/Onc CWRU/UH Topic: Regulation of Bax-mediated Cell Death by Non-Bcl-2 Family Member Proteins and Their Roles in Tumorigenesis and Age-related Diseases 8 am Lerner Tower B-151 National Center for Regenerative Medicine Lunch and Learn Jed Johnson, PhD Nanofiber Solutions Topic: Next Generation 3D Cell Culture 12 pm Lerner Research Institute NE1-205 March 24 Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Seminar Viviane Tabar, MD Department of Neurosurgery Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Topic: Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells Give Rise to Tumor Endothelium 1 pm NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic Cell Death Regulation Program Meeting Scott Welford, PhD Assistant Professor, Radiology Oncology CWRU/UH Topic: How Does Normal Tissue Hypoxia Affect Tumor Initiation? AND Shideng Bao, PhD Associate Professor, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine CWRU/Cleveland Clinic Topic: Regulation of DNA Damage Checkpoint Activation in Glioblastoma Stem Cells AND Alex Almasan, PhD Associate Professor, Cancer Biology and Radiation Oncology CWRU/Cleveland Clinic Topic: DNA Damage Signals Outside the Nucelus: From Autophagy to Senescence 4-6 pm NA5-17 Cleveland Clinic March 25 Hematology/Oncology Fellows Santosh Rao, MD Fellow, Div. of Hem/Onc CWRU/UH Topic: TBD 8 am Wearn 137 Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds Arti Hurria, MD Associate Professor, Medical Oncology City of Hope Topic: Research in Geriatric Oncology: Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population 8 am R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic BME Seminar Series Manoj Monga, MD Staff, Urology Cleveland Clinic Topic: Instrumentation in Endourology: From Bedside to Benchtop 11 am NA1-142 Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center Seminar Series Zhenghong Lee, PhD Associate Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Engineering CWRU/UH Topic: PET Imaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma 12 pm BRB 105 Cancer Center Research in Progress Seminar Kristy Miskimen, PhD Post Doctoral Scholar, Jackson Lab CWRU/UH Topic: The FAM83 Family of Oncogenes: Similar, Yet Non-Redundant Roles in Tumorigenesis 4 pm WRB 3-136 Case CCC Calendar LRI Calendar UPCOMING CANCER CENTER SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS Breast Cancer Detection and Management: Issues for 2011 May 20 Hilton Cleveland East Brochure Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat July 8-9 Details to follow ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS 4th Annual Biospecimen Research Network (BRN) Symposium: Advancing Cancer Research Through Biospecimen Science March 28-29 Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland Details Fourth Annual Translational to Clinical (T2C) Wound Care Conference April 8-9 Ohio Union, Ohio State University, Columbus Details Midwest Blood Club 9th Annual Symposium April 21-22 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Details 2011 Clinical and Translational Research and Education Meeting: ACRT/SCTS Joint Annual Meeting April 27-29 Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC Abstract Deadline: December 16 Details Cincinnati Cancer Symposium Series: 2011 Symposium on NF-κB, Cancer, Obesity, and Inflammation May 1-4 Westin Hotel Cincinnati Details 4th International Symposium on Cancer Metastasis and the Lymphovascular System May 12-14 New York City Abstract Submission Deadline: March 15 Details International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting June 15-18 Toronto, Canada Details Cancer Health Disparities Summit 2011 July 13-15 Bethesda North Marriott Hotel in Rockville, Maryland Details 8th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology November 10-12 InterContinental Hotel Cleveland Details

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation 2011 Research Fellow Award Program Deadline: March 29 National CENter for ReGenerAtive Medicine UnderGraduate StudEnt (ENGAGE) Summer Program Deadline: March 31 ACS Research Scholar Grants Deadline: April 1 Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Research Program Cycle 2 LOI Deadline: May 6 Cycle 2 Full Proposal Deadline: July 5 Lustgarten Foundation Fall 2011: Basic Research Innovator Awards Concept Proposal Deadline: September 14 Full Application Deadline: October 31 Translational Technology Concept Studies of Circulating Tumor and Endothelial Cells (CTC/CEC) Deadline: Open	AACR Scholar-in-Training Awards - Other Conferences and Meetings Deadline: Open International Union Against Cancer (UICC) International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowships Application Deadline: Open NCI Short-Term Scientist Exchange Program Application Deadline: Open James S. McDonnell Foundation Collaborative Activity Awards Application Deadline: Open
NIH BULLETIN – Notices and Funding Opportunities Notice: Modification of the Fellowship Biographical Sketch in NIH Grant Application Form SF424 (R&R) to Permit a Description of Factors that may have Resulted in a Break in Training or Reduced Productivity Modification of the Fellowship Biographical Sketch (NOT-OD-11-050) Delays in Grant Application Submission due to Recent Seismic Events on the Pacific Rim (NOT-OD-11-054) Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Biology and Medicine (R01) (PA-11-148) Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Biology and Medicine (R21) (PA-11-149) Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R01) (PA-11-158) Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R21) (PA-11-159) Enhancing Tumoricidal Activity of Natural Killer (NK) Cells by Dietary Components for Cancer Prevention (R01) (PA-11-160) Enhancing Tumoricidal Activity of Natural Killer (NK) Cells by Dietary Components for Cancer Prevention (R21) (PA-11-161) The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery (R01) (PA-11-162) The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery (R21) (PA-11-163) The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery (R03) (PA-11-164) Collaborative Research in Integrative Cancer Biology and the Tumor Microenvironment (U01) (PAR-11-146) Quantitative Imaging for Evaluation of Responses to Cancer Therapies (U01) (PAR-11-150) Strategic Partnering to Evaluate Cancer Signatures [SPECS II] (U01)(PAR-11-151) The Role of Microbial Metabolites in Cancer Prevention and Etiology (U01) (PAR-11-152) Basic Cancer Research in Cancer Health Disparities (U01) (PAR-11-156) Core Infrastructure and Methodological Research for Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts (UM1) (PAR-11-167)
Produced by: Gillian Irwin Todd 11100 Euclid Avenue, Wearn 149 Cleveland, Ohio 44106-5065 216-844-8317 phone 216-844-7832 fax gillian.irwin@case.edu	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.