The newsletter sent yesterday was the draft version sent in error.  We apologize for any confusion.

April 27, 2015
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dr. Stan Gerson
Stan Gerson, MD
Directory, Case CCC
Distinguished University Professor Designation to Sandy Markowitz MD, PhD
President Barbara Snyder and Provost and Executive Vice President William "Bud" Baelslack III announced at the annual SOM faculty meeting in Wolstein that Sandy Markowitz, MD, PhD, the Markowitz-Ingalls professor of Cancer Genetics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Program Leader for Cancer Genetics in the Cancer Center, as this years inductee into the group of senior professors termed Distinguished University Professors.

A startled Markowitz came the front to comment on the remarkable and supportive working environment of the school, the university and the Cancer Center, and added his appreciation of the team of investigators he has build over his almost 30years at CWRU. 

 

Sandy is an exceptionally worthy inductee. The small group of Distinguished University Professors (DUPs) now sports other Cancer Center members including Nate Berger, MD, Kurt Stange, MD, PhD, Robert Elston,PhD, and me. The DUP recognizes senior faculty with significant scientific accomplishments and impact, institutional commitment and engagement and broad reaching research efforts.

Sandy epitomizes these attributes in the extreme.
His work is highly cited (take a look at google scholar), he continually innovates (we will hear soon about projects in esophageal screening for Barrett's Esophagus, and another about a way to  alter wound healing and transplantation), he is actively pursuing the next steps in his groups identification of novel gene mutations responsible for colon cancer in African Americans, and his leap to the investigation of genetic alterations detected in the stool of patients with early colon cancer led to the first approved and marketed test for colon cancer screening using DNA.

Most important for the DUP recognition, however, is Sandy's incessant efforts to build an effective team of investigators with common interests and goals and to direct collaborative efforts in a way that all contribute, and all gain attention for their contributions. Arguably, he has developed the most productive team of investigators at the school, and in the Cancer Center.  His model for building a scientific program is also a good prototype for our other scientific programs.  

Please congratulate Sandy.  I promise he will respond to every email!
MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Childhood Cancer Survivor Brings "Hope" to St Baldrick's Foundation Summer Fellowship
Alex Huang, MD, PhD, secured a summer fellowship grant from St. Baldrick's, as he has for several years.  However, this year one of the students that will be working in his lab is one of his former pediatric cancer patients, Daniel.  While the magnitude of the grant is not large, the story is heart touching.   Daniel is planning to follow in Alex's footsteps.   Read the story here.
Novel Phase I Clinical Trial of Adoptive T Cell Therapy in Patients with Advanced Melanoma Open at Seidman
UH Seidman Cancer Center is now accruing patients to a novel  Phase I clinical trial of a novel form of adoptive T cell therapy in patients with advanced melanoma.  This first-in-human study will use a proprietary method of activating human lymph node T cells in culture which was developed at UH and Case.  The patient's own T cells derived from a lymph node are activated in the laboratory over 14 days and subsequently administered i.v. as a method of boosting the immune system to fight cancer.  UH will be one of only a few centers nationwide that possess the expertise and resources to administer T cell therapy for cancer patients.  T cell cultures will be performed within the National Center for Regenerative Medicine.  The study will be lead by member of the Case CCCDr. Julian Kim, Surgical Oncology, and Drs. Henry Koon and Hillard Lazarus, Medical Oncology.  The study is funded by UH, the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center-NIH and the Immunogene Therapy Fund.
Madabhushi awarded NCI grant to study ductal carcinoma in situ

Anant Madabhushi,PhD, professor of biomedical engineering, and his team have been awarded a $387,000 grant from the National Cancer Institute to develop image-based methods to predict aggression in ductal carcinoma in situ, a precursor of breast cancer. 
 
Madabhushi is the director of the Center for Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics at Case Western Reserve University. The center's research seeks new ways to use informatics to quantitatively describe disease morphology and build new predictors for distinguishing aggression in diseases, including tumors of the prostate, breast, colorectal and brain; lung cancer; carotid plaque; and epilepsy.

 
This latest project will focus on developing computerized image analysis tools to identify patterns of aggressive behavior in ductal carcinoma in situ, specifically focusing on predicting which patterns of DCIS on digital pathology images are predictive of subsequent transformation to invasive breast cancer . The work will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Sunil Badve at Indiana University. 

CASE CCC IN THE NEWS
Case CCC, Candece Gladson, MD, and William Schiemann, PhD Highlighted on METAvivor Blog
Dr Bill Schiemann and Dr Candece Gladson both received grants from METAvivor, a non-profit dedicated to improving outcomes for metastatic breast cancer patients.  As part of the grant, METAvivor visited Dr Schiemann and Dr Gladson for an interview and understanding of how the grant dollars were used. 

Along with the understanding of Dr Schiemann and Dr Gladson's research, Kelly Lange from METAvivor left with a new hope based on the collaboration that Case CCC brings to Cleveland's top medical institutions. Read two blogs here.

CULTURAL COMPETENCY SERIES
The monthly Cultural Competency Series provides Case CCC investigators and research staff opportunities to develop different skill sets, to engage in a meaningful dialogue about the importance of cultural competency in the context of health care and research, and to facilitate concepts of self-reflection and self-critique.

 

Case CCC Clinical Research Brochure for African Americans

 

The Case CCC Minority Accrual Committee (MAC) would like to remind research teams about the availability of a Clinical Research Brochure for African Americans. This brochure was developed by MAC members to open and facilitate a dialogue with African American patients and their families about clinical research. The brochure is available electronically on the Clinical Research Office website. Hard copies of the brochure can be requested from Katarzyna Karelus, Case CCC Clinical Research Office, [email protected] or 216.844.4176.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Cancer Pharmacology Training Program Symposium

The Cancer Pharmacology Training Program is having their annual research symposium on Tuesday, April 28 and we have invited five Case CCC speakers from across campus to talk about their work.  The symposium will be held between 10am-3:15pm in Nord Hall Room 400. 
 

Gregory TochtropThe Isolation, synthesis, and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive triterpenoid natural products

Scott Wellford, PhD, Targeting components of the radiation response in glioblastoma multiforme 

Peter de Blank, MD, MR Imaging in the detection and surveillance of pediatric brain tumors 

Ruth Keri, PhD, Combinatorial therapeutic approaches for treating breast cancer 

Noa Noy, PhD, Suppressing cancer cell growth by targeting fatty acid binding protein 5

Race for the Place
The Annual Race for the Place supporting The Gathering Place is on Sunday June 7th at Beachwood Place.  The event is in recognition of National Cancer Survivors Day and supports the Gathering Place.  It is presented by University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center.
Case CCC will have a team.  This is a wonderful event and all are encouraged to participate.
GI SPORE Retreat

The Case Gastrointestinal Cancers SPORE Retreat will be held on Tuesday, April 28 in Dively Hall on Case campus. Topics will include colon cancer, Barrett's Esophagus, cancer metastasis and prevention and cancer in minorities. Faculty, fellows and students in the Cancer Center community are encouraged to attend and learn more about exciting findings from researchers in the specialized program of research excellence.

 

The retreat will also feature a lunchtime poster session that starts at 12 pm. Postdoc, graduate and clinical fellows are encouraged to submit poster abstracts. Send poster abstracts to Dr. John Wang at [email protected] by April 19. A cash prize will be awarded for best poster.

 

Advance registration is required. Visit http://cancer.case.edu/research/gispore/index.html for more information and to register. Contact John Pounardjian at 216-368-1976 or [email protected] with any questions.

2015 ITP Retreat

Save the date for the 2015 ITP Retreat at the new Tinkham Veale University Center facility. It will be held on Friday, October 23, 2015.  The keynote speaker will be Dr. Joan Goverman.

 

The call for abstracts will go out in July, and the retreat will follow the typical format.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is soliciting grant applications for the support of Centers of Excellence in Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (CEERs). The CEER Program is designed to support the establishment of sustainable trans-disciplinary research teams with the expertise and flexibility to anticipate, conduct research on, and quickly address a range of cutting edge ethical, legal, and social issues related to genetics and genomics. The Program is intended to create new research opportunities that cross disciplinary boundaries among investigators in diverse fields, such as the genomic sciences, clinical research, clinical and health policy, ethics, law, the humanities, economics, political science, anthropology and other basic social sciences. In addition to conducting trans-disciplinary research, Centers will disseminate their research findings and engage in other activities that facilitate the utilization of their findings and deliberations in the development of research, health and public policies and practices regarding the use of genomic information and technologies. Finally, Centers will contribute to developing the next generation of ELSI researchers.
LOI deadline: June 1, 2015
Deadline: July 15, 2015
Department of the Army - USAMRAA. FY15 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP)
The topic areas for FY15 are limited for cancer funding, but integrative medicine is included.  The following links provide more detail.
DoD Peer Reviewed Medical Clinical Trial Award
DoD Peer Reviewed Medical Discovery Award
DoD Peer Reviewed Medical Focused Program Award
DoD Peer Reviewed Medical Investigator-Initiated Research Award
DoD Peer Reviewed Medical Technology/Therapeutic Development Award

NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities
Request for Information: NIH Precision Medicine Cohort
 (NOT-OD-15-096)

Technologies for Improving Population Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42) (RFA-MD-15-008)

Tobacco Regulatory Science Small Grant Program for New Investigators (R03) (RFA-OD-15-004)
EVENTS
Mon, Apr 27

Neurosciences Journal Club

James Howell

12p SOME646

 

Department of Biochemistry Study Seminar

Molly Hannigan

Investigating the Roles and Regulation of Alternative Splicing During Gametogenesis

12p W428

 

Pathology Seminar

Gaurav Choudhary

Almasan Lab, CWRU

Targeting Mcl-1 by BH3 Mimetics and Cyclin E

12p WRB Auditorium 


GMI Research Seminar
Lynn Bekris PhD
APOE Locus Methylation
12:30p W331

UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Case CCC Seminar
Marie Bleakley, MD, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Engineering Allogeneic Stem Cell Grafts for Optimal GVL and Minimal GvHD
5p Wearn 137
Tues, Apr 28
Pharmacology Seminar
Monica Montano, PhD
12p W331

 

THOR Lecture Series

Alison Militerno, MD 
Johns Hopkins
Polycythemia Vera: Genomic and Stem Cell Context
1pm R3-027

Cancer Imaging Informatics Faculty Candidate Seminar
Pallavi Tiwari, PhD
CWRU
Image Analytics for Predicting Treatment Response and Disease Prognosis: Clinical Applications in Oncology
2p Sears 480
Wed, Apr 29

CCF Department of Immunology Seminar

Wenchao Song,  PhD 
University of Pennsylvania
Complement in Immune Regulation and Tissue Injury: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities
12p NC1-202
Fri, May 1

Cancer Center Seminar Series

David W Wetter, PhD
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Tobacco and Health Inequities
12pm BRB105
Tues, May 5

Pharmacology Seminar

Bryce Kerlin, PhD
12pm W331

Register
 

Thurs, May 7

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar

1p Rottman W203

Fri, May 8
Cancer Center Seminar Series
Giuseppe Giaccone, MD, PhD
Georgetown University
12p BRB105
Mon, May 11

GMI Research Seminar

Akiko Hata, PhD
University of California
Role of MicroRNAs in Vascular Development and Human Diseases
12:30p NE1-205
Tues, May 12

Pharmacology Seminar

Gustavo Leone, PhD
OSUMC
12p W331

THOR Lecture Series
Olga Guryanova, MD, PhD
1p R3-027
Weds, May 13

Neurosciences Frontier in Biological Sciences Lecture

Dr Clifford Woolf

Harvard Medical School

Profiling to Regeneration

2p SOM E501

Fri, May 15

Cancer Center Seminar Series

Charlotte Kuperwasser PhD

Tufts University School of Medicine

12p BRB105

Case CCC Calendar

 

LRI Calendar

 

UPCOMING CANCER CENTER SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS

 

GI Spore Retreat

April 28

Dively Hall

Details

 

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

 

ASCO Review
June 26, 2015
InterContinental Hotel

Details

 

Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat 
July 9-10, 2015

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

 

DoD Ovarian Cancer Clinical Translational Award

Deadline: May 6

 

DoD Ovarian Cancer Pilot Award

Deadline: May 6

 

DoD Ovarian Cancer Clinical Translational Award

Deadline: May 11

 

The Brain Research Foundation - Scientific Innovations Award in Neuroscience (SIA)

CWRU LOI: May 11

Sponsor LOI: Jul 1

Deadline: Oct 1

 

DoD Ovarian Cancer Investigator-Initiated Research Award

Deadline: May 13 

 

DoD Ovarian Cancer Academy - Early-Career Investigator Award

Deadline: May 13 


CWRU LOI: May 18
Deadline: Jul 8

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

'A' Award Grant

Deadline: May 22

Reach Grants

Deadline: May 29

Biotherapeutics Impact Grant

Deadline: Jun 30

 

Pew Scholars Program in Biomedical Sciences

CWRU LOI: Jun 1

CWRU Nomination: Jul 15

Deadline: Nov 16

 

CWRU LOI: Jun 1
CWRU Int app: Jun 30
Deadline: Sep 15

Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology
Deadline: Jun 15

Deadline: Jun 15

Limited Submission: National Science Foundation Collections in Support of Biological Research (CSBR)
External Deadline: Jul 13 

 

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Simmons Foundation

Deadline: Jul 28

 

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Accepting Applications for Early Career Fellowship Awards

Deadline: Aug 17
 

Taub Foundation Grants Program for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Research
Invited Proposal Deadline: Deadline: Aug 14
 

DoD Lung Cancer Career Development Award

Deadline: Sep 16 

 

DoD Lung Cancer Clinical Exploration Award

Deadline: Sep 16

 

DoD Lung Cancer Idea Development Award

Deadline: Sep 16

 

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

 

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

 

International Union Against Cancer (UICC) International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowships

Deadline: Open

 

International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) Research Grant Program
Deadline: Open

 

Deadline: Open

 

Deadline: Open

 

Deadline: Open

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center 
11100 Euclid Avenue, Wearn152
Cleveland, OH 44106-5065