 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Stan Gerson, MD
Director, Case CCC
Cancer Center Seminar Series: Issues in the Use of Omics-Based Predictors in Clinical Trials –Notes from an NCI Workshop
Dr. Mark Schluchter, our Associate Director for Biostatistics, has been developing approaches and models for biomarker based clinical investigation. He attended the NCI workshop on this topic this summer, and will report on the consensus issues and recommendations that came from the conference. As a Cancer Center, we identified Biomarker informed clinical trials as our approach to personalized medicine in cancer investigation, with a goal of identifying appropriate treatments for specific patients. Mark will review the complexity of these issues, lessons learned and advise us how to do this better.
Please participate in this week's Cancer Center Seminar, Friday, September 16 at 12 pm in BRB 105.
NCI Provocative Questions: New RFAs
NCI recently released two RFAs that follow on the effort of Harold Varmus to engage us all in novel thinking about persistent questions in cancer. Many of you have an exciting and provocative response to the 24 major questions that made the cut. Topics include obesity, aging, detection, pathways, etc. Please see the full list in the RFAs: RFA-CA-11-011.html (R01) and RFA-CA-11-012.html (R21).
I would think that 40 applications from the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center would be competitive for the 20 4-year awards.
Good luck!
International Conference of the Society of Integrative Oncology (SIO)
Please participate in the Society of Integrative Oncology meeting November 10-12 in Cleveland.
We have worked hard to bring the Society of Integrative Oncology to Cleveland and their message is quite focused: providing complementary and fully integrated supportive oncology to practitioners and patients. Where successful, the approach really adds value to patients physicians and hospitals. The conference will provide new information on practical experience with supportive oncology measures, traditional medicine, balancing supplements with cancer treatment and cancer care, and methods to boost the immune response to cancer. I think there is a considerable amount to be learned by physicians, support staff, nurses and support specialists.
Please make an effort to register and attend.
CASE CCC IN THE NEWS
'Unrealistic Optimism' Poses Ethical Challenges, May Affect Informed Consent Process
ASCO Post - Sep 1, 2011
I think that these findings highlight the need to develop better ways to affect the quality of informed consent," said Neal J. Meropol, MD, the Lester E. Coleman, Jr. Professor of Cancer Research and Therapeutics and Chief, Division of Hematology and Oncology...
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ohio Third Frontier Commission Awards Imaging Research
Projects led by Drs. Raymond Muzic and David Wilson and were awarded funding by the Ohio Third Frontier Commission:
Positron Mammographic Imaging: Raymond Muzic, PhD (project leader), Donna Plecha, MD, James O'Donnell, MD, Peter Faulhaber; Piotr Maniawski
Cardiac Perfusion with Computed Tomography (CT): David Wilson, PhD (project leader); Hiram Grando Bezerra, MD; Robert (Chip) Gilkeson; Scott Pohlman.
These grants fund two significant imaging research projects that are part of the Philips Healthcare Global Advanced Imaging Innovation Center, a collaboration among CWRU, UH, and Philips Healthcare.
Case CCC Strategic Plan
All members should have recently received a draft of the Case CCC Strategic Plan for 2012-2018. This plan represents the efforts and discussion of the entire membership, Program Leaders, Executive Committee, and institutional leaders. It will be the basis for our renewal application and for institutional commitments for the coming six years.
Thoughts on gaps, and critical perspectives and needs are greatly appreciated. You may send any comments directly to Dr. Stan Gerson at slg5@case.edu. All feedback will be discussed by the Executive Committee.
If you would like a copy of the Strategic Plan, please email Gillian Todd at gillian.irwin@case.edu.
Mandatory Research Staff Continuing Education Sessions
Research Staff Continuing Education Sessions
The Case CCC will be hosting continuing education sessions for research staff on Thursday, September 22 from 8 am - 12 pm or Friday, September 23 from 1 pm - 5 pm in Taussig Cancer Institute R3-002/003. Parking validation will be provided. Staff need to attend only one continuing education session.
These continuing education sessions are mandatory for all SCC and TCI research staff and is open to staff from other departments and institutes conducting clinical trials in oncology. Topics will cover an overview of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, updates and Standard Operating Procedures. Break-out sessions will cover the joint site initiation visit during from several perspectives such as regulatory, nursing, data management and quality assurance.
Please direct any questions to Melissa Kadar, Director of UH/SCC Clinical Trials at melissa.kadar@UHhospitals.org or 216-286-6639.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
CTSC Nutrition Obesity Research Pilot Funding
New Investigators at CWRU are invited to submit applications for pilot projects for potential inclusion in the Nutrition Obesity Research Center Application. Successful proposals will be included in the NIDDK NORC Application and will be considered for funding beginning November 2011. For the purpose of this RFP, new investigators are those without current or prior NIH research project support (R01, P01, R24) as a PD/PI. Preference will be given to translational research proposals directed at important questions of Nutrition and Obesity.
Deadline: September 30
Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program Discovery Award
Applications for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) are being solicited by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Defense Health Program for the Discovery Award. The purpose of this award is to support innovative, untested, high-risk/potentially high-reward concepts, theories, paradigms, and/or methods. Studies supported by this award are expected to develop robust preliminary data that will lay the groundwork for future avenues of scientific investigation. The proposed research project should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale and study design.
Pre-Application Deadline: October 13
Application Deadline: October 27
Oncology Nursing Society Excellence in Oncology Nursing Health Policy and Advocacy Award
The Oncology Nursing Society is currently accepting applications for the Oncology Nursing Health Policy and Advocacy Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize and support achievements and involvement in oncology nursing health policy and advocacy.
Nomination Deadline: October 31
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows program provides the nation's most comprehensive fellowship experience at the nexus of health science, policy and politics in Washington, D.C. It is an outstanding opportunity for exceptional midcareer health professionals and behavioral and social scientists with an interest in health and health care policy. Fellows participate in the policy process at the federal level and use that leadership experience to improve health, health care, and health policy.
Deadline: November 9
NCI Provocative Questions Project
NCI's Provocative Questions Project is seeking applications from researchers eager to influence the state of cancer research by tackling potentially game-changing scientific questions that could drive progress against cancer. The grants will support research projects that use sound and innovative research strategies to solve specific problems and paradoxes in cancer research.
A total of 24 provocative questions posed during the nationwide Provocative Questions workshops and from website submissions have been selected for inclusion in the RFAs, "Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions": RFA-CA-11-011.html (R01) and RFA-CA-11-012.html (R21).
Deadline: November 14
NCI CANCER BULLETIN
September 6, 2011
News
Featured Article: FDA Approves New Drugs to Treat Skin, Blood, and Lung Cancers
Negative Colonoscopy Associated with Low Colorectal Cancer Risk
Smokers at Greater Risk of Bladder Cancer than Previously Estimated
Hereditary Mutations in BAP1 Gene Raise Risk of Mesothelioma
Use of Radioactive Iodine to Treat Thyroid Cancer on the Rise
Colorectal Cancer Genomes Sequenced
Commentary
Inside NCI: A Conversation with Dr. Norm Coleman about Radiation Research
In Depth
Clinical Trial Shows Potential Benefit of HPV Vaccine for Anal Cancer
Targeting the Accomplices: Homing in on Immune Cells that Aid Tumors
The Art of Medicine: Using Narrative and the Humanities in Medical Training
Featured Clinical Trial: Sequencing Treatment with a PARP Inhibitor and Chemotherapy
Updates
NIH Update: NIH Seeks Ideas for Common Fund
Notes
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EVENTS
**All events are open to anyone interested in attending
September 12
Pathology Research Seminar Series
Thomas Egelhoff, PhD
Professor, Cell Biology
CWRU/ Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Myosin II Motor Proteins: Cytoskeletal Roles in Cancer Cell Migration and Skin Development
12 pm WRB 1-413
September 13
Cancer Biology Seminar
Janet Houghton, PhD
Professor and Chair, Cancer Biology
CWRU/Cleveland Clinic
Topic: The Department of Cancer Biology: 2006-2011 and Beyond
11 am NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic
Leaders in AIDS Research Seminar
Christopher Aiken, PhD
Professor, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Vanderbilt University
Topic: The HIV-1 Capsid: Target of Host Restriction Factors and Small Molecule Inhibitors
1 pm SOM W203
September 14
Hematology and Oncology Division Research Conference
Cheng Chee, MD
Assistant Professor, Medicine- Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
Topic: Overview of Hepatobiliary Cancers
8 am Lerner B-151
NCRM Lunch and Learn
Kirsten Crapnell, PhD
Leader, Discovery Platform Technologies, Cell and Tissue Technologies
BD Biosciences Pharmingen
Topic: Rapid Expansion of human Mesenchymal Stem Cells using BD Mosaic SF MSC Medium
AND
Michael Hulsey
Technical Application Specialist
BD Biosciences Pharmingen
Topic: Isolation and Analysis of Hematopoietic, Pluripotent, and Neuronal Stem Cells
11 am WRB 2-136
NCRM Monthly Seminar
Saba Valadkhan, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, RNA Molecular Biology
CWRU
Topic: Reprogramming of Mesodermal Cells into Neurons by a Long Non-coding RNA
4:30 pm WRB 1-413
September 15
TGFβ Focus Group Meeting
1 pm WRB 2-136
September 16
Hematology/Oncology Fellows Conference
Paula Silverman, MD
Associate Professor, Medicine-Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
Topic: Introduction to Advanced Stage/Metastatic Breast Cancer
8 am Wearn 137
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
Richard Cote, MD
Professor and Chair, Pathology
University of Miami
Topic: Novel Methods for Capture and Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells
8 am R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic
Cancer Center Seminar Series
Mark Schluchter, PhD
Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Associate Director for Biostatistics, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Case Western Reserve University
Topic: Issues in the Use of Omics-Based Predictors in Clinical Trials –Notes from an NCI Workshop
12 pm BRB 105
Cancer Center Research in Progress
Amar Desai
Graduate Student, Gerson Lab, Medicine- Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
Topic: Exonuclease 1 and the DNA Damage Checkpoint
4 pm WRB 3-136
Case CCC Calendar
LRI Calendar
UPCOMING CANCER CENTER SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS
Graft Versus Host Disease Conference
November 4
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, 24 Public Square, Cleveland
Brochure
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS
First Ascoli Piceno Conference on Gene Vaccination in Cancer
September 15-17
Ascoli Piceno, Italy
Details
8th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology: Innovating Integrative Oncology: New Science, New Solutions
November 10-12
InterContinental Hotel Cleveland
Details
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