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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
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 Stan Gerson, MD
Director, Case CCC
slg5@case.edu |
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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.
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New York Times - Feb 26, 2015Well 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...
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| MEMBER/RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS |
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Berdis Start-up Receives Ohio Third Frontier Funding
 C ongratulations 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. |
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.
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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.
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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.
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| 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.
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| PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES |
| NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities |
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Paula Silverman, MD
Associate Professor, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
4 pm Wearn 137
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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
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Wed, Mar 11
Hem/Onc Division Research Conference
8 am Lerner B-151
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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
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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
Case CCC Calendar
LRI Calendar
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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
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