Case Comprehensive Cancer Center: Weekly Newsletter

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May 7, 2012
CASE CCC IN THE NEWS Bainbridge: Tanning Can be a Hard Habit to Break WKYC-TV - May 3, 2012 Dr. Kord Honda, a dermatologist at University Hospitals, says there is no known number of sessions it takes for tanning to cause serious skin damage, ... Turning Plant Virus into Cancer Weapon WKYC-TV - May 2, 2012 Inside the Biomedical Engineering building at Case Western Reserve University, Nicole Steinmetz, Ph.D. and her team are taking the virus that attacks your ... Cleveland Clinic Researcher's Breast Cancer Vaccine gets Attention, Financial Boosts Plain Dealer - April 30, 2012 In May 2010, when results of his years-long research were published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine, Vincent Tuohy was hopeful that the ensuing attention... MARK YOUR CALENDARS Cancer Center Seminar Series: Targeting the Bcl-2 family in cancer therapy: Discovery of selective Mcl-1 inhibitors Friday, May 11 12 pm BRB 105 Please join us May 11 for the next Cancer Center Seminar Series where Dr. Hong-Gang Wang, Professor of Pharmacology at Penn State University, will present Targeting the Bcl-2 family in cancer therapy: Discovery of selective Mcl-1 inhibitors. The Bcl-2 family of proteins plays a pivotal role in apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial function. High levels of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Mcl-1) are associated with the pathogenesis of cancer and resistance to therapy. To date, several small-molecule Bcl-2 inhibitors have been synthesized as BH3 mimetics, and three of the molecules (ABT-737/ABT-263, Obatoclax, and Gossypol/AT-101) have entered clinical trials. However, none of these Bcl-2 inhibitors are specific for Mcl-1. At this seminar, Dr. Wang will discuss the need and development of Mcl-1-specific inhibitors for the treatment of cancer as a single agent or in combination therapy. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program Applications for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) are being solicited by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Defense Health Program. The goal of the PRCRP is to improve quality of life by decreasing the impact of cancer on service members, their families, and the American public. The FY12 PRCRP fosters the next generation of cancer research by providing new and early career investigators opportunities to excel in groundbreaking cutting-edge research for the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. The Visionary Postdoctoral Fellowship Award is intended to support exceptionally talented, recent medical or other doctoral graduates in their pursuit of cancer research during a postdoctoral fellowship with a focus on cutting-edge, innovative, high-risk/high-impact basic science or translational research that will have either short-term or long-term clinical impact. Pre-Application Deadline: June 19 Application Deadline: September 12 The Career Development Award mechanism is being offered for the first time in FY12. This award is intended to support novel and innovative research projects with an emphasis on discovery. Preliminary data is not required. The proposed research project should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale and study design. Pre-Application Deadline: June 19 Application Deadline: September 12 ANNOUNCEMENTS NIH Launches Collaborative Program with Industry and Researchers to Spur Therapeutic Development The NIH unveiled a collaborative program that will match researchers with a selection of pharmaceutical industry compounds to help scientists explore new treatments for patients. NIH's new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) has partnered initially with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Eli Lilly and Company which have agreed to make dozens of their compounds available for this initiative's pilot phase. The initiative, Discovering New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules, will direct researchers' attention to a part of the therapeutic pipeline that traditionally has been difficult for them to access: compounds that already have cleared several key steps in the development process, including safety testing in humans. The President's FY2013 budget proposed $575 million for NCATS, of which approximately $20 million total will be provided to support research grants of up to three years duration for pre-clinical and clinical feasibility studies. These studies will test more than 20 compounds from industry partners for their effectiveness against a variety of diseases and conditions. The companies will provide the researchers with access to the compounds and related data. The pilot program incorporates innovative template agreements designed to streamline the legal and administrative process for participation by multiple organizations. These template agreements reduce time, cost, and effort, as well as allow greater participation than traditional partnerships. American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting In April, Dr. Lisa Rogers co-directed the Highlights in Neuro-oncology session at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Dr. Rogers is the immediate Past President of the Neuro-oncology Section of the American Academy of Neurology. Cancer Center presentations at the Annual Meeting included: Frequency of the Metabolic Syndrome and Association with Survival in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Patients: A Retrospective Review Lisa Rogers, Jaime Vengoechea, Quinn Ostrom, Yanwen Chen, Perica Davitkov, Kyle Strodtbeck, Warren Selman, Stanton Gerson, Charles Nock, Mitchell Machtay, Simon Lo, Andrew Sloan, Jill Barnholtz-Sloan Results of Bevacizumab Therapy on Hearing Loss Associated with Vestibular Schwannomas in NF2 Pichet Termsarasab, Cliff Megerian, Maroun Seeman, Kristine Blackham, Patrice Walker, Nicholas Bambakidis, Lisa R Rogers 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. NCI Cancer Bulletin News Featured Article: Chemoradiation May Help Some Patients with Bladder Cancer Avoid Radical Surgery Type of Surgery Affects Long-Term Survival in Early-Stage Kidney Cancer Survival Differences Persist Between Black and White Children with Cancer Hispanics Have Lower Death Rates for Common Lung Cancer Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer May Benefit from Starting Mammography at Age 40 Combination Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer Shows Promise in Mice Also in the Journals: New Diet and Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors Also in the Journals: Prostate Cancer Screening Rates in Elderly Men Unchanged Despite 2008 Recommendations In Depth A Transfer of Power: Harnessing Patients' Immune Cells to Treat Their Cancer Crunching Numbers: What Cancer Screening Statistics Really Tell Us Featured Clinical Trial: Surgical and Radiation Therapies for High-Risk Early Lung Cancer The Leading Edge: Small Businesses Bring Novel Cancer Technologies to Market Updates FDA Update: FDA Approves New Drug for Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma Cancer.gov Update: NCI Report Features Cancer Statistics through 2009 Notes	EVENTS All events are open to anyone interested in attending May 7 Pathology Research Seminar Series Herbert Lin, MD, PhD Associate Professor, Medicine Harvard University Topic:** Novel Treatment Strategies for Anemia of Chronic Disease 12 pm WRB 1-413 Cancer Imaging Program Meeting Samuel Chao, MD Assistant Professor and Staff, Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center, Radiation Oncology CWRU/Cleveland Clinic Topic: The New Strategies for Radiation Treatment 4:30 pm Wearn B37 May 8 Cancer Biology Seminar Steven Rosenfeld, MD, PhD Professor, Cancer Biology CWRU/Cleveland Clinic Topic: Myosins in Glioma Invasion and Angiogenesis 11 am NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic Pharmacology Seminar Rakesh Kumar, PhD Professor and Chairman, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology George Washington University Topic: MTA1 Master Coregulator in Cancer 12 pm SOM W331 Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar Michael Shthtman, PhD Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences University of South Carolina/Hollings Cancer Center Topic: Drug Targets Discovery Through Functional Genomics; Technical Findings 1 pm SOM W203 May 9 Hematology and Oncology Division Research Conference Jennifer Eads, MD Fellow, Div. of Hem/Onc CWRU/UH Topic: TBD 8 am Lerner Tower B-151 Cancer Pharmacology Training Program Symposium 11 am - 4:30 pm SOM W331 Immunology Faculty Research in Progress Series Jim Finke, PhD Professor, Immunology CWRU/Cleveland Clinic Topic: Function and Regulation of Granulocytic MDSC in Tumor Bearing Host 12 pm NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic May 10 Department of Neurosciences Guest Speaker Series Brian Davis, PhD Professor, Medicine Associate Division Chief of Research, Div. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh Topic: Growth Factors and TRP Channels Collaborate in Inflammatory Disease and Cancer 10 am NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic Sequence-Palooza: What Can Next Gen Sequencing Do For You? 11 am - 3 pm BRB 105 NCRM Lunch and Learn Stephen Fischer, PhD Scientist, Research and Development Arteriocyte Topic: Nanofiber Based Ex Vivo Expansion of Stem Cells for Pre-clinical and Clinical Application 11:30 am - 1:30 pm WRB 2-136 May 11 Hematology/Oncology Fellows Santosh Rao, MD Fellow, Div. of Hem/Onc CWRU/UH Topic: An Integrative Oncology Observership 8 am Wearn 137 Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds Anthony Back, MD Professor, Oncology Division Adjunct Associate Professor, Medical History and Ethics University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Topic: Improving Communication between Oncologists and Patients 8 am R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic Biomedical Engineering Seminar Maciej Zborowski, PhD Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering CWRU/Cleveland Clinic Topic: Magnetic Weight Watching, One Cell at a Time 11 am NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center Seminar Series Hong-Gang Wang, PhD Professor, Pharmacology Penn State University Topic: Targeting the Bcl-2 family in cancer therapy: Discovery of selective Mcl-1 inhibitors 12 pm BRB 105 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 Comparative Effectiveness Research: From All Angles May 21-22 CWRU SOM E401 Registration 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 Biennial Science of Global Prostate Cancer Disparities conference November 1-4 Nassau, The Bahamas Details



PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
AACR Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Deadline: May 16 AACR Distinguished Lectureship in Breast Cancer Research Deadline: May 16 Barrett's Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet) pilot projects Deadline: May 18 DOD Lung Cancer Research Program Idea Development Award Pre-Application Deadline: May 30 Application Deadline: September 20 DOD Lung Cancer Research Program Translational Research Partnership Award Pre-Application Deadline: May 30 Application Deadline: September 20 Doctors Cancer Foundation, Inc. Deadline: May 31 Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award Deadline: June 1 DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program Exploration - Hypothesis Development Award Pre-Application Deadline: June 6 Application Deadline: June 20 DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program Physician Research Training Award Pre-Application Deadline: June 6 Application Deadline: June 20 DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Training Award Pre-Application Deadline: June 6 Application Deadline: June 20 AACR-Prevent Cancer Foundation Award for Excellence in Cancer Prevention Research Deadline: June 20	AACR Award for Distinguished Lecture on the Science of Health Disparities, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Deadline: June 20 Society of Surgical Oncology Clinical Investigator Award in Breast Cancer Research Deadline: July 9 DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program Health Disparity Research Award Pre-Application Deadline: July 26 Application Deadline: August 9 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 Case CCC Protocol Specific Research Support (PSRS) Deadline: Open International Union Against Cancer (UICC) International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowships Application Deadline: Open International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) Research Grant Program Application Deadline: Open SAIC-Frederick Support of the Cancer Genome Atlas Program Application Deadline: Open Solving Kids' Cancer Therapeutic Development Initiative Application Deadline: Open NCI Short-Term Scientist Exchange Program Application Deadline: Open

NIH BULLETIN – Notices and Funding Opportunities
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.