December 17, 2015
MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Reducing Cost for Screening does not Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates
Greg Cooper
Greg Cooper
Making colonoscopy available at no cost to eligible Medicare beneficiaries under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) did not increase the number of people in this target population who regularly undergo the procedure, says a new large scale national study from University Hospitals Case Medical Center Seidman Cancer Center. Interestingly, the same analysis found that rates of routine mammography significantly increased following the ACA's mandate for low or no cost screenings for Medicare recipients.

"It was long assumed that cost was a major prohibitive factor for why people didn't get screened. So the Affordable Care Act made an effort to reduce or remove costs for several highly successful screening and recommended procedures, including mammography and colonoscopy," said study lead author Gregory Cooper, MD, Co-Leader of the Cancer Prevention, Control & Population Research Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Co-Program Leader for Cancer Prevention and Control, UH Seidman Cancer Center and Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "This data shows that doing so still doesn't necessarily guarantee the patients who should be screened will be. Other factors clearly play a role and need to be addressed as well."

The study, which will appear in the May 2016 edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute [e-published December 6;  J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015 Dec 6;108(5)], found a greater uptake in colonoscopy for patients who participated in a yearly wellness visit with their primary care physician. The authors hypothesize this could be because these preventive visits include a required written screening schedule for 5 to 10 years, and may be effectively facilitating referrals for these tests. [more]
CASE CCC IN THE NEWS
DigitalJournal.com - Dec 16, 2015
Dr. Jame Abraham MD, Director of the Breast Oncology Program at Taussig Cancer Institute and co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program of Cleveland Clinic, and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, accepted the check on behalf of Cleveland Clinic. "Panera Bread is thrilled to be able to support breast cancer research at Cleveland Clinic and the Northeast Ohio Community," said Sam Covelli, Owner/Operator of Covelli Enterprises, the largest franchisee of Panera Bread. "At Panera Bread we strive to make a positive difference in the community. The partnership with Cleveland Clinic enables us to do that."
Vice News - Dec 15, 2015
This is the first report of its kind on cancer trends around the world, said Dr. Neal Meropol, chief of hematology and oncology at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Director for Clinical Research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Meropol was not involved in the study. "Those of us who are privileged enough to live and work in high income countries have a very skewed perception on global health issues," he said. "My life in the United States, my experience with cancer research and patient care in the United States represents only a small slice of a global problem. And it behooves all of us to have a broader view and a sense of responsibility to address issues that exist for people in less fortunate circumstances." For instance, Meropol said people in developed countries take for granted cancer screening and prevention strategies even though they lead to reduced cancer incidence and better patient survival rates.
US News & World Report - Dec 11, 2015
Dr. Jame Abraham shares a look at why patients avoid seeking care, even when they know something is wrong. Abraham is director of the Breast Oncology Program at the Taussig Cancer Institute, and co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program at Cleveland Clinic, and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. 
Columbus Dispatch - Dec 8, 2015
Among the victories in their field: a study released on Monday which found that a new pill for the most common type of leukemia is keeping patients strong and alive, and inflicting less collateral harm than its precursor. The research, led by doctors and scientists at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center, included 61 patients treated with ACP-196, or acalabrutinib, which is made by Acerta Pharma. ...Dr. Brian Hill, a hematologist and oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center who did not work on the new research, said, along with other new drugs on the market and in development, this work is likely to be part of a major shift for the better in the care of leukemia. Only about 35 percent to 40 percent of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia respond to standard chemotherapy. "This is something that people can be on for long periods of time it appears," Hill said.
CANCER CENTER FUNDRAISER
Buy Holiday Gifts and Raise Money for the
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is partnering with  Paradise Flower Market to raise money for the Cancer Center over the holiday season. Ten percent of every eligible order placed now through the end of the year, December 31, will be donated back to the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This offer includes not only flowers, but plants, centerpieces, gift baskets, and more! All you need to do is mention the Cancer Center (or Case CCC) when placing your order. Offer applies to pick up orders and Cleveland area deliveries only.

Paradise Flower Market is located at 27329 Chagrin Blvd, Beachwood, OH 44122 (near Eton Shopping Center); phone: 216.749.7474; web:www.paradiseflowermarket.net/
CULTURAL COMPETENCY SERIES
Year End Wrap-Up
As 2015 is coming to a close, we would like to thank the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center research community for reviewing our Cultural Competency Series features, both in newsletters and on the website.  We are planning to continue the series next year on a quarterly basis, so please keep checking the newsletter and website for new information.  Several of the features provided Continuing Research Education Credits (CRECs) and these can be accessed here.  
 
We hope that we have met at least some of the main objectives for Cultural Competency Series and provided 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.  We will continue striving to raise awareness and acceptance of the dynamic variety of people and communities the Case CCC serves, and to provide the Case CCC clinical research staff with unique learning experiences and skills to conduct culturally competent research.
 
Questions, suggestions and feedback about the Cultural Competency Series should be directed to Katarzyna Karelus at [email protected] or 216.844.4176.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities for Pilot Projects from the Hematologic Neoplasias and Cell Therapy Program
Applications for pilot projects are requested for new research collaborations between members of theHematologic Neoplasias and Cellular Therapy Programor between members of this program and a collaborator from another scientific program of the Cancer Center. A new collaboration is defined as one between two members who have not co-authored a publication or served as collaborators on a funded peer-reviewed grant. The expectation is that these collaborative awards will generate novel concepts and research data with a high likelihood of leading to successful, collaborative, extramural grant funding.

Applications focused on the contribution of aging process to pathogenesis of elderly leukemia/lymphoma and/or aimed at the development of therapies or prevention for elderly leukemia/lymphoma are especially welcome, to complement ongoing programmatic initiatives in this area. Total funds committed to this RFA are $60,000. Depending on the number of meritorious applications, one award of $60,000 or two awards of up to $30,000 will be made. Each research project may request a budget of up to $60,000. Projects proposed in response to this announcement are expected to be completed within 12 months.

Deadline Extended: Dec 18
PILOT PROJECT GRANTS: American Cancer Society IRG Awards
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, with funds from its American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant, will provide seed money to foster cancer research by junior faculty who have no current national grant support of their own. Investigators in the CWRU School of Medicine and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine as well as in other schools and colleges in the University are eligible. Grants, not to exceed $30,000, will be awarded to investigators who intend to gather preliminary data to be used in seeking future and independently funded programs.

IRG pilot project grants are intended to support independent, self-directed investigators early in their careers (assistant professor or equivalent). Applicants for the pilot project grants should be within 6 years of their first independent research or faculty appointment and eligible to apply for an independent national competitive research grant, but cannot currently hold such a grant.

Recipients of IRG pilot project grants must be, at the time of the application, citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United States or its possessions and territories, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence at the time of application.

Letter of Intent Deadline: Dec 18
Application Deadline: Jan 8, 2016
NCCN Oncology Research Program: Preclinical or clinical studies of AXATINIB in lung and head/neck cancers
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is pleased to announce that it has received a research grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to support NCCN investigator initiated studies for the performance of preclinical, clinical, and correlative studies of afatinib containing combinations in the treatment of lung and head and neck cancers. This is noteworthy because it is the first project approved for NCCN which incorporates collaborations with multiple pharmaceutical companies. 

In brief, investigators are asked to submit a proposal detailing proposed research projects. The overall aim of this RFP is to develop innovative studies of afatinib in lung and head and neck cancers. If the combination proposal includes combinations of necitumumab, ramucirumab or nivolumab, the drugs will be supplied as part of the grant. For other combinations, the proposal needs to take into account the provision of the drug. It is hoped that the concepts submitted in response to this RFP will prove useful in guiding the further development of afatinib. Collaborative studies between NCCN Member Institutions are encouraged.  

The Request for Proposals (RFP) clearly outlines the scope and process that will be followed for the submission of proposals. This RFP can be accessed online by signing in as a member on the NCCN website.

Deadline: Jan 4, 2016
CTSC Annual Pilot Funds
The CTSC Annual Pilot Program is for researchers to conduct innovative translational research projects focused on the invention, preclinical development and/or first in man studies of novel therapeutic agents, biomedical devices, and diagnostics designed to address unmet clinical needs.

Eligibility: Principal Investigator must have a primary appointment at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center or The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and must be eligible as to submit an application to a larger source of federal or non-federal support.

LOI Deadline: Jan 15, 2016
Invited Application Deadline: Mar 15, 2016
Request or Proposals for Case CCC Funding for Pilot/Phase I Clinical Trials
The Case CCC is encouraging investigators to submit Letters of Intent (LOI) for Early Phase Clinical Research Support (EPCRS) funding. These in-house funds are available for the conduct of early phase clinical trials of relatively short duration. Priority will be given to trials which are developed jointly between UH and CCF with planned accrual at both institutions.

In addition, this particular RFP is seeking to identify and fund investigator-initiated trials which qualify for EPCRS and which are either already open to accrual or will be submitted to the Case CCC Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee within two weeks of the application deadline.

Questions and requests for the memo about the process and budget template should be directed to Katarzyna Karelus, Case CCC Clinical Research Office, [email protected]216.844.4176.

Deadline: Jan 19, 2016
NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities
EVENTS
Thur, Dec 17
Dept. of Molecular Biology and Microbiology and the Center for AIDS Research Seminar
PDs/PI of the Sekaly Lab
CWRU
1p Rottman Seminar Room W203

Prostate Cancer Working Group & Journal Club invited Speaker
Eric Klein, MD
Chair, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute
Cleveland Clinic
"Using Tumor Biology as Measured by Gene Expression to Choose and Manage Patients on Active Surveillance"
3p NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic
Fri, Dec 18
Hem/Onc Fellows
Deepjot Singh, MD
Assistant Professor, Div. of Hem/Onc
CWRU/UH
"Hepatobiliary Cancer"
8a Breen Conference Room

TCI Grand Rounds
8a R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Center Postdoctoral Fellow Candidate
Ho-Joon Lee, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow, 
Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology
Harvard Medical School
"Proteomic and Metabolomic Analysis of an IL-3 Activation as a Cancer Model"
10a WRB 3-136

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Melissa L. Bondy
Associate Professor, Pediatrics - Hem/Onc 
Baylor College of Medicine 
Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
"Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology of Glioma - Results from the Gliogene Study"
12p BRB 105

Cancer Center Research In Progress Seminar
Agne Petrosiute, MD
Assistant Professor, 
Huang Lab Pediatrics
CWRU/UH
"Cdk5 Modulates Tumor Immune Checkpoint in Response to Interferon-gamma"
4p WRB 3-136
Tues, Dec 22
THOR Seminar
Ulrich Steidl, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
"Focus on Pre-leukemic Stem Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia"
1p R3-027 Cleveland Clinic

Case CCC Calendar

 

LRI Calendar

 

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS

ASH Review 
Jan 21, 2016
InterContinental Hotel and Conference Center

2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Update
March 11-12, 2016
Pelican Grand Beach Resort
Fort Lauderdale, FL

GvHD National Symposium 2016
May 13, 2016
Pittsburgh, PA
Details

Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat
July 7-8, 2016 

Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium 2016
Sep 8-9, 2016
Pittsburgh, PA
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

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