March 2, 2015
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dr. Stan Gerson Stan Gerson, MD
Director, Case CCC
slg5@case.edu

Awards for Program Sponsored Project Grants from Case CCC Developmental Funds 

Last fall, the Cancer Center Executive Committee elected to promote scientific advancement of our eight scientific program by supporting a Request for Applications (RFA) for multi-investigator grant applications coming from the Programs. The Program Leaders were to select the most exciting proposal from their Program that met the criteria of being a multi-investigator effort with a high likelihood of leading to national funding. 

Projects were submitted in early December and reviewed by the Executive Committee in mid-January 2015. All principal investigators and their Program Leaders have been informed of the decisions, and we can now announce the selected projects: 
 

Cancer Imaging Program

cGMP PET Biomarker Research Program

Principal Investigator: Norbert Avril, MD

Co-Investigators: Yanming Wang, PhD; Zhenghong Lee, PhD; Raymond Muzic, PhD; Analisa DiFeo, PhD; Rodney Ellis, MD; Lisa Rogers, DO

 

Hematopoietic Diseases Program

Optimizing Allogeneic Transplant Outcomes Using Next Generation Sequencing 

Principal Investigator: Navneet Majhail, MD, MS

Co-investigators: Marcos DeLima, MD; Betty Ky Hamilton, MD; Basem William, MD; Jaroslaw Maciejewski, MD, PhD; Hideki Makishima, MD, PhD; Thomas LaFramboise, PhD

 

Molecular Oncology Program

Differential Lipid Metabolism Drives Self-Renewal in Glioblastoma

Co-Principal Investigators: J. Mark Brown, PhD and Justin D. Lathia, PhD 

 

Breast Cancer Developing Program

Radiogenomic approach for predicting pathologic complete response in HER2+ breast cancers

Co-Principal Investigators:  Anant Madabhushi, PhD, Lyndsay Harris, MD

Co-investigators: Vinay Varadan, PhD; Donna Pletcha, MD; Hannah Gilmore, MD

 

All of the projects are quite exciting. I have been in contact with the investigators, and they are pursuing their projects with the hope that the Cancer Center will be able to provide support in a variety of ways as the projects mature.


We will hear about these projects at the summer scientific retreat and will also have a fall scientific symposium. We expect to hear exciting things from each of the projects! 

 

Local Programming to Link Cancer Center Research to Ken Burns Documentary

As a precursor to the showing of the documentary, Ken Burns Presents Cancer- The Emperor of All Maladies, ideastream (90.3 WCPN, WVIZ/PBS and bewell.ideastream.org) has embarked on a project to cover a myriad of cancer stories regionally. This program series will kickoff Friday, March 6 at 8:30 pm on the WVIZ-TV program, Ideas. The special ideastream series was initially planned to run through April, but the reporting team uncovered many vital stories to tell that programming has been extended into May.

 

I am happy to report that our members will take center stage in this series, reporting news on the collaborative efforts at CWRU, Seidman and Cleveland Clinic.   

 

A schedule of the programming and times of coverage are available on the ideastream website. Ken Burns Presents Cancer- The Emperor of All Maladies, airs on WVIZ/PBS on March 30, March 31, and April 1 at 9 pm. 

 

I welcome your comments throughout the series, and encourage you to share the content through social media. If you would like to be a voice for the Cancer Center on any of the topics, please contact megan.kilbane@case.edu.   

CASE CCC IN THE NEWS
New York Times - Feb 26, 2015
Well Blog by Dr. Mikkael Sekeres, director of the leukemia program at the Cleveland Clinic and Deputy Associate Director for Clinical Research and Director, Clinical Trials at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Cleveland Scene Magazine - Feb 25, 2015
On any given day around Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and the Seidman Cancer Center, you can see Dr. Goutham Narla hurrying to his next meeting, oftentimes accompanied by a scurrying graduate student at his side trying to get another minute of his time. Dr. Narla (who holds a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree and is a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center) is a busy man these days, divvying up his time treating high-risk breast cancer patients, running a cancer biology laboratory and working to bring the next generation of targeted cancer therapies to the clinic...  

MEMBER/RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Berdis Start-up Receives Ohio Third Frontier Funding
Congratulations to Red5 Pharmaceuticals for receiving $60,000 in funding from the Ohio Third Frontier Foundation for developing a new diagnostic kit that can predict patient responses to widely used chemotherapeutic agents such as temozolomide and cisplatin.  Red5 Pharmaceuticals was previously awarded $25,000 in funding from Great Lakes Innovation and Enterprise Development (GLIDE). Both awards are based on work from a Faculty Innovation Fund award to Anthony Berdis, PhD, the Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Red5 Pharmaceuticals, LLC, professor at Cleveland State University, and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.  Red5 would like to take this opportunity to reach out to oncologists interested in applying their technology to provide better patient care.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Velosano Kickoff Meeting
Please join us for a meeting this Wednesday, March 4, at 3 pm in Wearn 149 to kickoff our effort in support of Velosano, a Cleveland bike ride where 100% of money raised benefits cancer research.

Last year Velosano successfully completed its inaugural year, where over $2 million were raised for cancer research. The awards will be publicly announced in the next couple weeks, and all went directly to research with the vast majority to Case Comprehensive Cancer Members.

This year, we would like to have a Case CCC riding team as well as a volunteer team. Your participation is important to this effort. Monies raised will once again support Case CCC members with every dollar raised from participants and volunteers going directly to research.

Please join our team as a rider or volunteer (Dr Gerson will be doing one of the longer rides!). There are many ways your help can support our team and we are planning events to help riders with their fundraising.

Refreshments will be provided. Please contact megan.kilbane@case.edu if you plan to attend or for more information. 
Case CCC Clinical Research Retreat

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Spring Clinical Research Retreat will take place on March 5 from 5-7 pm in the Wolstein Research Building Auditorium and Atrium. The agenda will focus on the Phase 0/I trials theme, and will offer 1.5 CME Category 2 hours. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Dr. Michael Gibson at michael.gibson@uhhospitals.org with any questions.

St. Baldrick's "Shave It Off!" Event
On Friday, March 13, a special St. Baldrick's "Shave It Off!" event will be held at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital from 10 am - 2 pm. Over 50 people will shave their heads in solidarity with children who have cancer and typically lose their hair during treatment, while raising critical funds for childhood cancer research!

Even if you are not planning to shave your head, all are invited to attend the event in honor of all the patients and families at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital who are fighting the fight of their lives! For more information, please visit the UH Rainbow event page.

Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat 2015

The Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat will be held July 9-10. The agenda is still being planned, but we hope you will set aside time to attend this important event! 

 

More details will be posted in future newsletters.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Cancer Center Summer Training Program for Medical Students

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is looking for medical students interested in summer research opportunities.

 

There are 8 openings available, with 4 supported by the Brian Werbel Memorial Fund sponsored through University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and 4 by the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

 

Details:

  • Completed application and reference letter due by: Friday, March 27, 2015
  • Awardees must be conducting cancer research with a Case Comprehensive Cancer Center member at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals Case Medical Center.
  • Those receiving the Brian Werbel Memorial Fund awards must attend the Annual golf outing on June 25, 2015.

For more details and an application, please contact Megan Kilbane at mxk786@case.edu.

 

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline: March 4

 

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute - Improving Healthcare Systems
LOI Deadline: March 6

 

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award Deadline: March 15 

 

Multiple Myeloma Senior Research Grants
Deadline: March 17

 

Taub Foundation Grants Program for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Research
Initial Proposal Deadline: March 17
Invited Proposal Deadline: August 14

 

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network John Quale Travel Fellowships
Deadline: March 18 

 

Limited Submission: National Science Foundation Collections in Support of Biological Research (CSBR)
Internal Deadline: March 23
External Deadline: July 13

 

ASTRO Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Research Seed Grants
Deadline: March 27

 

Deadline: April 1

 

American Cancer Society Pilot and Exploratory Projects in Palliative Care of Cancer Patients and Their Families
Deadline: April 1 and October 1

 

Multiple Myeloma Research Fellow Awards
Deadline: April 21

 

Worldwide Cancer Research
Deadline: April 24

 

American Cancer Society Pilot and Exploratory Projects in Palliative Care of Cancer Patients and Their Families
Deadline: April 1 and October 1

 

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

 

Solving Kids' Cancer Therapeutic Development Initiative
Application Deadline: Open

 

Support of Multi-investigator Initiatives in the Case CCC
Deadline: Open

 

Collaborative Activity Awards
Deadline: Open

NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities


EVENTS
Tues, Mar 3 

Radiation Oncology Grand Rounds

Louis Novak, MD
Janice Lyons, MD
Department of Radiation Oncology
CWRU/UH 
Topic: Cardiac Protection for Left-Sided Breast Cancer

8:10 am Lerner B-151

 

Molecular Genetics Seminar Series

Masatoshi Nukui, PhD
Postdoc, Murphy Lab, Molecular Genetics
Cleveland Clinic 

Topic: miRNA and Host Protein Regulation of Human Herpes Virus Replication
9:30 am NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic

 

Immunology Seminar Series 

William Paul, MD
Chief, Laboratory of Immunology
Chief, Cytokine Biology Unit, LI
NIH Distinguished Investigator

Topic: Cytokines and CD4 T Cells: Dance Partners at the Immunology Ball 

12 pm BRB 105

 

Translational Hematology & Oncology Research
Xiaorong Gu, PhD
Translational Hematology & Oncology Research
Cleveland Clinic
1 pm R3-027 Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Biology Seminar Series
Jianfei Qian, PhD
Project Scientist, Yi Lab, Cancer Biology
Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Targeting DKK1 for Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma
2 pm NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic

 

Pharmacology Seminar
Michael O'Reilly, PhD
University of Rochester Medical Center
3 pm Webster Conference Room W331 

Wed, Mar 4

Hem/Onc Division Research Conference

Evi Stavrou, MD

Assistant Professor, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH

Topic: Factor XII: An Important Regulator of Leukocyte Function

8 am Lerner B-151

 

Immunology Faculty Candidate

William Kaiser, PhD

Emory University

Topic: Cell Death Pathways in Host Defense, Inflammation, and Developmental Failure

9 am WRB 5-136


Immunology Students/Fellows Research in Progress Seminar

Kathy Ayasoufi

Valujskikh Lab, Immunology

Cleveland Clinic

Topic: Blocking CD4 T Cell Helper Functions Improves Efficacy of ATG Treatment in Sensitized Transplant Recipients by Delaying CD8 T Cell Recovery 

AND

Brad Martin

Li Lab, Immunology

Cleveland Clinic

Topic: A Novel Role of the Inflammasome in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)

12 pm NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic 

Thurs, Mar 5 

Neurosciences Seminar

Anthony Wynshaw-Boris, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair, Genetics and Genome Sciences

CWRU 

Topic: Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Human Neurogenetic Diseases: Mouse and induced pluripotent stem cell models

12:10 pm BRB 105

 

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar

Gwen Fewell
Chief Commercial Officer, transOMIC Technologies
Topic: Sensor-based shRNA design for more effective RNAi screens
1 pm Rottman W203

PHRM 511 Journal Club
Ryan William Clinton
Department of Pharmacology
CWRU
3pm Webster Conference Room W331


Case CCC Breast Cancer Program Mini-Retreat with Patricia S. Steeg, PhD
Deputy Chief, Women's Malignancies Branch
Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Deputy Editor, Clinical Cancer Research 

3:30pm WRB 1-403

Fri, Mar 6

Hem/Onc Fellows

8 am Breen Conference Room

 

Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds

Qing Yi, MD, PhD
Chair, Cancer Biology
Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Targeting the Microenvironment for Cancer Therapy: Insights from Myeloma
8 am R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic

 

Cellular & Molecular Medicine

Ofer Reizes, PhD
Assistant Professor, Cell Biology & Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute
CWRU/Cleveland Clinic
Topic: Leptin Receptor Integrates Metabolic Cues in Breast Cancer Stem Cells
10 am NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic

 

Cancer Center Seminar Series

Patricia S. Steeg, PhD
Deputy Chief, Women's Malignancies Branch
Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Deputy Editor, Clinical Cancer Research

Topic: Brain Metastasis of Breast Cancer

12 pm BRB 105

 

Cancer Center Research in Progress

Andrew Blum, MD
Gastroenterology Fellow, Guda Lab, General Medical Sciences (Oncology)
CWRU
Topic: Transcriptome Sequencing Identifies JUN and TGF-β Pathways as Critical Mediators of Barrett's Carcinogenesis
4 pm WRB 3-136

Mon, Mar 9

Biochemistry Student Seminar  

Xuan Ye  
Student, Biochemistry
CWRU
12 pm SOM W428

 

Neurosciences Journal Club
Meredith Whitney 
Dept. of Neurosciences
CWRU
12 pm SOM E646 

 

Genomic Research Institute Research Seminar  

Stephen Y. Chan MD, PhD
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Topic: Systems-Level Insights into MicroRNA Biology in Pulmonary Hypertension
12:30 pm NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic 

 

Case CCC Breast Cancer Program Seminar
Vinay Varadan, PhD
Assistant Professor, General Medical Sciences - Oncology
CWRU

AND
Paula Silverman, MD
Associate Professor, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
4 pm Wearn 137 

Tues, Mar 10

Translational Hematology & Oncology Research
K.P. Ng, PhD
Translational Hematology & Oncology Research
Cleveland Clinic
1 pm R3-027 Cleveland Clinic

Pharmacology Seminar
Xiongwei Zhu, PhD
Department of Pharmacology
CWRU
3 pm Webster Conf Rm W331 

 

DNA Damage/Repair Meeting
Kurt Lu, MD
Assistant Professor, Dermatology
CWRU/UH
4 pm WRB 3-136

Wed, Mar 11

Hem/Onc Division Research Conference

8 am Lerner B-151

Thurs, Mar 12

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar

Stephanie Milne and Biswajit Das

Karn lab, Molecular Biology and Microbiology

CWRU

1 pm Rottman W203

PHRM 511 Journal Club

Caitlin Maureen O'Connor
Department of Pharmacology
CWRU
3 pm Webster Conference Room W331


Prostate Cancer Working Group
Kenneth Pienta, MD
Director, Research
Brady Urological Institute
Donald S. Coffey Professor of Urology
Professor, Oncology and Pharmacology & Molecular Sciences
Johns Hopkins University
Topic: Using Ecological Principles to Understand cancer: Cancer as a lethal invasive species

3 pm NA1-142 Cleveland Clinic

Fri, Mar 13

Hem/Onc Fellows

8 am Breen Conference Room

 

Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds

8 am R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic


Cellular and Molecular Medicine Seminar
Robert G. Gourdie, PhD
Professor & Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund Eminent Scholar
Director of the Center for Heart and Regenerative Medicine
Virginia Carilion Research Institute
10 am NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic

 

Cancer Center Seminar Series

William L. Carroll, MD
Director, Perlmutter Cancer Center
Professor, Julie and Edward J. Minskoff Professor of Pediatrics
Associate Chair, Clinical and Translational Research
Director, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
NYU Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Topic: The Origins of Cancer Drug Resistance: The Genetic and Epigenetic Landscape of Relapsed Childhood Leukemia 

12 pm BRB 105

 

UPCOMING CANCER CENTER SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS

Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Update
March 6-7, 2015
Weston, FL
Details

 

Graft Versus Host Disease Symposium 2015
April 24, 2015
Embassy Suites Cleveland - Rockside
Details

 

Advances in Lung Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach
April 25, 2015 

Marriott Hotel at Key Center
Details

 

Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium
June 4-6, 2015
Tinkham Veale University Center
Details

 

ASCO Review
June 26, 2015
InterContinental Hotel

 

Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat 
July 9-10, 2015 

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center | cancercancer@case.edu | http://cancer.case.edu
11100 Euclid Avenue, Wearn152
Cleveland, OH 44106-5065