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Case Western Reserve University Professor Lands $600,000 Grant from Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Crain's Business Cleveland - Nov 19, 2015
David Wald, an assistant professor of pathology at Case Western Reserve University, has received a $600,000 grant from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to develop immunotherapies for blood cancers using Natural Killer cells.
The Translational Research Program grant brings the total amount of awards LLS has given Wald, a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, to $1.2 million, which supports his research of new strategies against blood malignancies.
Cell therapy for blood cancers has shown promise as an alternative strategy to drug therapy, Wald said in a statement.
Natural Killer, or NK, cells were first identified in mice in 1975 as being able to kill tumor cells. Since then, they've become known as innate defense mechanisms against stressed, infected or malignant cells, according to a news release.
"Immunotherapy is emerging as an exciting approach to treat cancer, with researchers finding effective ways to mobilize the body's own immune system to kill cancer cells," said LLS chief scientific officer Lee Greenberger in a statement. "Dr. Wald's work with Natural Killer cells show true potential, and we look forward to seeing his strategy tested in clinical trials."
Wald is discussing beginning clinical testing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Anemia Prevalent and Independently Associated With Functional Disability in Older Patients With Cancer
ASCO Post - Nov 19, 2015
"Anemia was highly prevalent and independently associated with functional disability" among older adults with cancer, according to an analysis of data conducted by a team led by Dr. Cynthia Owusu, a geriatric oncologist at UH Seidman Cancer Center, Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the CWRU School of Medicine, and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Older patients with anemia were more than twice as likely to have functional disability than those without anemia," the investigators reported in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network ( Owusu et al. J Natl Compr Canc Netw2015;13:1233-1239).
An assessment of the association between anemia and activities of daily living among older adults with cancer "is clinically relevant," the authors noted, because Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and Karnofsky performance scale "may underestimate the extent of functional impairment among older adults, and self-reported activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living present a more comprehensive approach for assessing the functional status of older adults with cancer." It is in this context that the researchers sought to examine the association between anemia and functional disability (the need for assistance with at least one instrumental activity of daily living) among a cohort of older adults with cancer. [ more]
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Finding the genetic underpinnings of diseases is a big part of modern medicine, but the head of the Cleveland Clinic's genomic institute says the key to identifying your personal risk factors is less genetics and more genealogy. In this week's Exploradio, WKSU's Jeff St.Clair looks at how knowing your family history is the best way to know which genes to watch out for...Dr. Charis Eng is head of the Cleveland Clinic's Genomic Medicine Institute and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. She says the best way to make informed decisions based on genetics is to start with a thorough family-health history.
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MedPage Today and Vice News - Nov 20, 2015
Researchers have successfully trained pigeons to spot breast cancer calcifications in X-rays and microscope slides - but radiologists won't be employing feathery colleagues anytime soon. Richard Levenson, a pathologist at the University of California Davis Medical Center, and his co-authors trained pigeons to recognize cancerous calcifications over the course of 15 days, using food to reinforce good behavior. According to their study, which was published this week in the medical journal PLOS One, they presented calcification images to the birds and taught them to peck yellow or blue buttons on a touchscreen to identify those that were benign or malignant..."I'm not sure what to make of this," said Dr. Donna Plecha, who directs the breast imaging and mammography programs at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and is a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and was not involved in the study. "I'm not sure how this is going to help us do anything." She stressed that the pigeons weren't presented with the same kinds of images radiologists typically analyze. When a radiologist gets an image, a calcification can be hidden anywhere, Plecha said, but the birds were given images of small areas with calcifications that had been blown up to make them easy to see.
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FDA Panel Rejects Immunotherapy MCNA in Bladder Cancer
OncLive - Nov 18, 2015
An FDA panel voted (18-6) against approval of the immunotherapy MCNA as a treatment for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) following first-line bacillus Calmette-Gu�rin (BCG) therapy. A final decision from the FDA on MCNA is scheduled by February 27, 2016. The panel, which included members of the FDA's ODAC and CTGTAC committees, considered a biologics license application for MCNA that is primarily based on findings from the open-label phase III trial EN3348-301 (Study 301), which failed to meet its primary endpoint. With its vote, the panel concluded that the risks of MCNA outweigh the potential benefit. "I think the compound clearly has potential antitumor activity in areas in which we are desperate for more therapy...[However] there were too many questions on the data," Brian Rini, MD, associate professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and co-leader of the GU Malignancies Program of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, said when explaining his vote against MCNA.
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Toast and Cancer: The Potentially Scary Link
Yahoo Health - Nov 16, 2015
A new scientific report issued by the British government's food safety watchdog has a shocking conclusion: Eating too much toast may increase your risk of developing cancer. The Food Standards Agency, which issued the report, blames the link on acrylamide, a toxin that is formed when carbohydrates are subject to high temperatures...But Dale Shepard, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, is a little skeptical about the link between seemingly innocuous foods like toast and cancer. "We don't really know that this causes cancer," he tells Yahoo Health. "There are things out there that we're far more aware of, like smoking and obesity." Shepard points out that there's a potential risk that eating foods that contain acrylamide can cause cancer, but studies haven't yet proven it. "What we know is this: If you take cells and you put this compound with the cells, it has the ability to change DNA," he says. "What we don't know is whether that happens in people, since our bodies have the ability to get rid of toxins." |
SAVE THE DATE: Annual Cancer Center Scientific Retreat
Jul 7-8, 2016
The Annual Cancer Center Scientific Retreat has been scheduled for July 7-8, 2016. Please place a hold on your calendars now, as we hope to have as many members in attendance as possible. If anyone has a major conflict with this date, please email gmi@case.edu as soon as possible.
We will also be pulling the planning committee together soon. If you are interested in participating please let us know. Our past retreats have had exceptional agendas, and we are sure the 2016 event will be just as exciting. We are already looking forward to planning another great retreat!
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CULTURAL COMPETENCY SERIES
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Cultural Competency and the Informed Consent Process
Research participants have commonly been found to lack basic understanding of fundamental aspects of the studies in which they are participating. The informed consent process is one of many aspects of research that should be periodically examined in an attempt to restore trust in the research process and also to increase inclusion of minority groups. The Case Center for Reducing Health Disparities has developed a guide titled "Reshaping Research" to fill gaps in cultural competency education training for researchers. One particular section focuses on integrating cultural considerations into the informed consent process. To read more, please click on the link: Reshaping Research Module 3: Cultural Considerations in the Informed Consent Process.
The module is designed to help you:
- Identify strategies to incorporate cultural considerations into the informed consent process.
- Understand the role of family in the decision making process.
**This module is worth 2 Continuing Research Education Credits
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Limited Submission: NCCN Foundation Young Investigator Awards
As a member organization of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center has been invited to nominate TWO applicants for NCCN Foundation� Young Investigator Awards (YIA), which provide two-year grants of $75,000, per annum, for research expenses to promising young investigators across a board range of oncology specialties and areas of interest.
This opportunity is open to anyone at the rank of Instructor or Assistant Professor. Information regarding prior awardees may be found on the NCCN Foundation website.
The selection of internal nominees at the Case CCC will be coordinated by Drs. Neal Meropol and Matt Kalaycio, who represent the Case CCC on the NCCN Board of Directors.
Anyone interested in being nominated should send a short LOI (no more than half a page), including study title, brief background, and Aims by Nov 27 to mary.wright@uhhospitals.org and cc Neal Meropol (neal.meropol@case.edu) and Matt Kalaycio (kalaycm@ccf.org).
Internal Deadline: Nov 27
External Nomination Deadline: Dec 4
Full Application Deadline: Jan 29, 2016
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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - Opportunities for Pilot Projects from VeloSano Bike to Cure
**Revised Deadline: December 1, 2015**
With the generous support from VeloSano Bike to Cure 2015, the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is providing seed funding for the initiation of novel projects aligned with at least one of the eight Research Programs (Cancer Genetics, Molecular Oncology, Breast Cancer, GU Malignancies, Hematopoietic Disorders, Developmental Therapeutics, Cancer Imaging, or Cancer Prevention, Control, & Population Research) or the Brain Tumor research initiative within the Center. Highly innovative and impactful proposals are sought that will generate key data for larger, nationally competitive grants that interface with the Strategic Plan of the aligned program(s). Collaborative, multi-investigator projects are particularly encouraged.
Eligibility for funds will be restricted to lead PIs that participated in VeloSano Bike to Cure 2015 (rider, virtual rider, or volunteer). In addition, the lead PI of the application must not be eligible for CCF VeloSano funding. Co-PIs and Co-investigators are not required to have been VeloSano participants. All awardees (PIs and co-investigators) will be expected to participate in VeloSano 2016 as well as to present their research progress when requested by the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Details are available on the Cancer Center website.
Deadline: Dec 1 (please note deadline change)
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NIH - NCI Research Specialist Award (R50)
The NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) has released the FOA for a Research Specialist Award (R50), a 5-year, renewable award for advanced-degree researchers. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites grant applications in any area of cancer research.
The Research Specialist Award is designed to encourage the development of stable research career opportunities for exceptional scientists who want to pursue research within the context of an existing cancer research program, but not serve as independent investigators. These scientists, such as researchers within a research program, core facility managers, and data scientists, are vital to sustaining the biomedical research enterprise. The Research Specialist Award is intended to provide desirable salaries and sufficient autonomy so that individuals are not solely dependent on grants held by Principal Investigators for career continuity.
LOI Deadline: Jan 9, 2016
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Tues, Nov 24
Radiation Oncology Grand Rounds
Steve Walston, MD
Ohio State University
Adjuvant Therapy for Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
8:10a Lerner B-151
Pharmacology Seminar
Gerry Wright, PhD
Professor, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences
McMaster University
Antibiotics Adjuvants to Reclaim Legacy Drugs
12p Webster Conference Room W331
THOR Seminar
Alexei Polishchuk, MD PhD
THOR/Rad Onc Staff Candidate
Cleveland Clinic
Unraveling the Mechanism of Radiation Response in Lung Cancer with CRISPR-Cas9 Based Functional Genomics
1p R3-027 Cleveland Clinic
Cancer Biology
Wen Xie, MD, PhD
Joseph Koslow Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor and Director, Center for Pharmacogenetics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
Transcriptional Regulation of Hormonal Homeostasis in Cancer and Beyond
3p NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic
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Mon, Nov 30
Radiation Oncology Grand Rounds
T. Jonathan Yang, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Targeting Locoregional Recurrence-Harnessing Biology towards Patient and Drug Selection in Radiation Oncology
8:30a Lerner B-151
GMI Seminar
Madhav Sankunny
Genomic Medicine Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Role of KLLN in DNA Damage Response (DDR) and Apoptosis
12:30p NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic
Pharmacology Seminar Final Dissertation Defense for the PhD
Darwin O. Babino
von Lintig Lab, Pharmacology
CWRU
Biology and Chemistry of Carotenoid Cleavage Enzymes in Vision
1p SOM W331/Webster Conference Room
Skeletal Research Center
Rodrigo Somoza, PhD
Senior Research Associate, Skeletal Research Center Department of Biology
Case Western Reserve University
Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapies in Parkinson's Disease
4p Millis 123
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Wed, Dec 2
Hem/Onc Div Res Conf
Lerner B- 151
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Thurs, Dec 3
Cleveland Center For Membrane and Structural Biology
Michael Feig, PhD
Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Chemistry
Adjunct Professor, Computer Science and Engineering
Michigan State University
Inside Cells at Full Atomic Resolution: Insights from computer simulations
12p BRB 932
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Fri, Dec 4
Hem/Onc Fellows
8a Breen Conference Room
TCI Grand Rounds
8a R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic
Cancer Center Seminar Series
Ann Zauber, PhD
Member, Attending Biostatistician
Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Decision Analysis to Inform the US Preventive Services Task Force on Benefits and Harms of Colorectal Cancer Screening Strategies
12p BRB 105
Cancer Center Research In Progress Seminar
4p WRB 3-136
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Sat, Dec 5
Shared Resource Festival 3.0: Partnering to Develop Networks for Practice-Based, Population Health, & Outcomes Research
We invite clinicians, academic investigators, practice staff, and volunteers from healthcare, public health, and community settings to join us for this one-day Research Festival focusing on how we can partner to create networks in support of practice-based, population health, and outcomes research.
10a The City Club of Cleveland, 850 Euclid Ave #200, Cleveland, OH 44114, United States
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ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS
17th Annual ASTRO Review
Dec 12
Crown Plaza Independence
GvHD National Symposium
May 13, 2015
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PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES
Internal Deadline: Nov 27
External Nomination Deadline: Dec 4
Full Application Deadline: Jan 29, 2016
Int Deadline: Nov 30
Ext LOI Deadline: Dec 29
Ext App Deadline: Jan 29, 2016
Deadline: Dec 1
Deadline: Dec 1 (*note new deadline)
Deadline: Dec 2
Deadline: Dec 15 Deadline: Dec 18
Deadline: Jan 12, 2016 Deadline: Jan 15, 2016 Deadline: Jan 15, 2016
Deadline: Apr 1, 2016 Deadline: Open Deadline: Open Deadline: Open
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