 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Stan Gerson, MD
Director, Case CCC
I. Renewal update: We have almost all of the programs under final review, and the core facilities are close behind. We anticipate a hard month of effort and submission in 24 days, but who is counting?
II. Site Visit date announced: The site visit will be October 23, 2012. More information will follow regarding individual member involvement in the preparation and actual site visit.
III. External Advisory Board: The EAB meets September 7, 2012 in preparation of the site visit.
IV. Update on NCI plans for Cooperative Groups: While there have been many meetings, discussions and efforts to anticipate the formal announcement, NCI is now cautiously planning a program announcement about the re-competition for the cooperative groups.
Based on my meeting with Harold Varmus on April 18, 2012, three phases are anticipated:
- Competition for four awards in adult tumors for cooperative groups that coordinate clinical trials across the country. The RTOG consortium, Alliance, ECOG, and SWOG appear to be preparing for this submission.
- U10 grants from cancer centers that provide cohesive efforts at clinical trial development activation and accrual.
- Translational Science Centers that provide laboratory efforts supporting correlative research including biorepositories, PK, genomics, and other diagnostics supporting the clinical trials.
Mitch Machtay leads the Case CCC Cooperative Group Committee and reports to the Executive Committee of the Cancer Center. We have had discussions about beginning the process now to assemble a Cancer Center coordinated response to the U10 RFA when it is released. If you have interest in participating please contact Mitch at Mitchell.Machtay@UHhospitals.org. We do not anticipate the need to curtail any involvement investigators have with any cooperative group, and we feel that the institution is well situated to be very responsive to this transition.
I would note that as a cancer center, we are the only center with four representatives on the NCI disease steering committees that oversee setting of priorities for approved clinical trials within the groups. Members considering a large phase 3 clinical trial should review the protocol with either:
• GI- Neal Meropol
• GU- Eric Klein and Rob Dreicer
• H&N- David Adelstein
The executive summary for the cancer genomics initiative will be posted next week for comments.
CASE CCC IN THE NEWS
Cleveland Clinic Follows University Hospitals in Offering Low-cost, Low-dose CT Scan for Lung-cancer Screening
Plain Dealer - Apr 27, 2012
About 40 percent of the people screened have had an abnormal finding that needed follow-up, said Seidman Cancer Center Director Dr. Stanton Gerson.
Study Finds Mammography Beneficial for Younger Women
EurekAlert (press release) - Apr 25, 2012
... clearly underscore the impact of neglecting to screen women with mammography for women in their 40s," says the study's senior author Donna Plecha, MD, ...
Texture of Surroundings Influences Human Embryonic Stem Cell Behavior
The Biological SCENE - Apr 24, 2012
The research "offers valuable insight" about how surface roughness influences behavior and about how a cell might sense that roughness, says Eben Alsberg of Case Western Reserve University.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Cancer Center Seminar Series: Ontogeny of Erythropoiesis: Surprises from the Mammalian Embryo
Friday, May 4
12 pm
BRB 105
Please join us May 4 for the next Cancer Center Seminar Series where Dr. James Palis will present Ontogeny of Erythropoiesis: Surprises from the Mammalian Embryo.
Dr. Palis is Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology (SMD) at the University of Rochester. His laboratory has a particular interest and expertise in the embryonic development of the hematopoietic system using the mouse as a model system. In the adult, all blood cells are derived from hematopoietic stem cells. However, studies in the mouse embryo indicate that primitive and definitive erythroid potential emerge before the appearance of blood stem cells and constitute part of a transient hematopoietic system that arises in the yolk sac and seeds the early fetal liver. Analysis of these erythroid cells reveals several "surprises", including the ability of embryonic erythroblasts to extensively self-renew ex vivo.
Sequence-Palooza: What Can Next Gen Sequencing Do For You?
The CWRU Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing Core (GTSC) is pleased to announce an event, Sequence-Palooza: What Can Next Gen Sequencing Do For You?, devoted to next-gen sequencing. On May 10 from 11-3 pm, experts from the GTSC will be on hand in BRB 105 and the atrium to provide guidance on incorporating this technology into your research program. Learn about ways for identifying genetic or epigenetic markers for disease states, expression profiling in healthy versus diseased individuals, retrospective analyses of tissue samples and many more.
- Talks on NGS Data Analysis and applications
- Speak to a GTSC team member for customized solutions
- Check out the new CWRU NGS Analysis Tools!
- NGS Vendors with show specials
Comparative Effectiveness Research: From All Angles
Register today for Comparative Effectiveness Research: From All Angles. Co-Sponsored by the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative, this second annual two-day conference will be held May 21-22 in SOM E401. Many expert speakers will be covering a variety of topics including: methods, policy, physician practice, public acceptance, economics of payment, health care organizations, and ethical/legal/social issues. Discounted registration available for interns, residents, fellows, full-time students and employees of public health departments. (CME application pending; also for course credit EPBI 467).
Biennial Science of Global Prostate Cancer Disparities conference
The Technical Planning Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs for the "Biennial Science of Global Prostate Cancer Disparities conference" are pleased to announce that the opening plenary session keynote address to kick off the conference will be presented by Dr. Edward Trimble, Director of the NCI Center for Global Health. The NCI-supported Biennial Conference is scheduled for November 1-4 in Nassau, The Bahamas. With delegates from North America, South America, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, this conference is a landmark effort to continue to address the global burden of prostate cancer in Black men. The conference will attract national and international scientists, clinicians, community leaders, prostate cancer survivors, prostate cancer advocates and other urological professionals.
Conference registration and late-breaking abstract submission begins on May 1. The conference will start with International Educational Workshops on November 1. Professor Isaac Adewole, the President of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), will give the International Keynote address. In addition to the scientific plenary sessions, and the special symposia for providers, patients, and advocates, ancillary meetings will be held by the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC), the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3), Men of African Descent and Prostate Cancer (MADCaP), and AORTIC.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Society of Surgical Oncology Clinical Investigator Award in Breast Cancer Research
The Society of Surgical Oncology is accepting applications for the Clinical Investigator Award in Breast Cancer Research. The purpose of this award is to promote patient-oriented breast cancer research conducted by mid-level surgical oncologists in clinical and translational science. Applicants must be surgical oncologists within ten years of completion of training and be full SSO members.
Deadline: July 9
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Race for the Place- Join Our Team!
The Race for the Place, an event that benefits the Gathering Place, will be held Sunday, June 3 at Beachwood Place Mall. The Case CCC has created a CaseCCC Trainees team. Click here to join the team or to show your support by making a donation. Contact Lyn Haselton, Case CCC Training Program Manager, at 216.844.5375 or lyn.haselton@case.edu for more information.
| EVENTS
**All events are open to anyone interested in attending
April 30
Pathology Research Seminar Series
Sendurai Mani, PhD
Assistant Professor, Molecular Pathology
University of Texas
Topic: EMT and Stem Cells in Cancer Progression
12 pm WRB 1-413
May 1
Chair of Cancer Biology Candidate Seminar
Yi Sun, MD, PhD
Director, Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology
University of Michigan
Topic: SAGE3 Ubiquitin Ligase in Angiogenesis and Tumorigenesis: Therapeutic Application
11 am NC1-202
Molecular Biology and Microbiology Thesis Defense
Alice Valentin-Torres
Bernstein Lab, Reproductive Biology
CWRU
Topic: Bidirectional NK and Dendritic Cell Interactions in HIV Pathogenesis
1 pm SOM W203
May 2
Hematology and Oncology Division Research Conference
Tycel Phillips, MD
Fellow, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
Topic: TBD
8 am Lerner Tower B-151
Immunology Students/Fellows Research in Progress Series
Jie Qin, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lu Lab
Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Myeloid Suppressor Cells Protect Islet Allographs Through iNOS-mediated T Cell Inhibition
12 pm NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic
May 3
Molecular Genetics Seminar
Youwei Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology
CWRU
Topic: Cell Cycle Checkpoint Regulation and Implications in Cancer Therapy
9:30 am NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic
Department of Biomedical Engineering Special Seminar
Steve Zullo, PhD
Program Director, Division of Discovery Science and Technology
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH
Topic: NIH Grant Machine Revealed, Not a Black Box Anymore
12 pm Wickenden 509
Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar
Karen Adelman, PhD
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Topic: Potentiating Signal-Responsive Transcription: A Dynamic Dance Between Paused Polymerase and Chromatin
1 pm SOM W203
May 4
Hematology/Oncology Fellows
Waqas Rehman, MD
Fellow, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
Topic: Journal Club: Radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer
8 am Wearn 137
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
Yogen Saunthararajah, MD
Associate Professor, Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders
CWRU/Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Genetic-epigenetic Interactions in Oncogenesis and Clinical Translation into Non-cytoxic Epigenetic Oncotherapy
8 am R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic
Case GI Cancers SPORE Retreat
8:15 am - 3:45 pm Dively Building
Advance registration required
Cancer Center Seminar Series
James Palis, MD
Professor, Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology (SMD)
University of Rochester
Topic: Ontogeny of Erythropoiesis: Surprises from the Mammalian Embryo
12 pm BRB 105
Cancer Center Research in Progress Seminar
Konstantin Leskov, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Stearns Lab, Pediatrics-Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
Topic: Myc/GABRA5 Project
4 pm WRB 3-136
Case CCC Calendar
LRI Calendar
UPCOMING CANCER CENTER SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS
Breast Cancer 2012: Risk Assessment through Survivorship
May 18
Brochure
Registration
Case CCC Scientific Series: Imaging Research
May 31
Jim Basilion, PhD
Topic: Introduction
Chris Flask, PhD
Topic: Development of PARACEST-MRI Imaging Agents for In Vivo Assessment of Autophagy OR Magnetic Resonance Imaging as an Early-Stage Biomarker
Cheryl Thompson, PhD
Topic: Variation in Breast Tissue Gene Expression by Mammographic Density
Reception and presentations, 4-6 pm WRB 1-413
Ca-PRI Annual Meeting: Learning from Our Differences
June 5-7 InterContinental Hotel
Details
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS
Cleveland Clinic 2012 Personalized Healthcare Summit
May 31
InterContinental Hotel and Conference Center
Registration
Ninth International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology
October 8-10
Albuquerque, NM
Details
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