January 21, 2016
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dr. Stan GersonStan Gerson, MD
Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
[email protected]
 
2016 - Core Grant Year of Record
I hope you share my enthusiasm for the many exciting events of the year, most importantly, your own contributions to your priorities and expectations for the year ahead.  Of course, you ask me to keep my eyes peeled towards the opportunities for the Cancer Center, and this year, that rests squarely on preparations for the renewal application, which in the context of most grants is "ages away" - 2017. BUT, for all CCSG applications, the year prior to the submission is the "year of record". Here is what I mean:
 
We will use 2016 as the year we collect data on all aspects of cancer research including:
 
Meetings
Program meetings
Research initiative meetings, retreats, mini-retreats, journal clubs, etc
Cancer Center and institutional supported local and national cancer related meetings
Cancer Center seminars
Cancer Center leadership meetings
 
Awards
All awards, separated by peer reviewed vs others
Peer reviewed, NCI NIH, DOD, others as defined by NCI
Foundation grants and awards - LLS, ASCO, ACS, MDSF, MF, etc
Non peer reviewed awards, such as industry-supported awards
Career development grants
Philanthropic gifts and endowments
Internal grants including VeloSano, internal philanthropy
 
Clinical trials
NCTN
Investigator initiated
Industry initiated and sponsored
Bucket genomics trials
Non-therapeutic interventional
Population and observation studies
 
Catchment-area related research (Cleveland and the surrounding 15 counties)
Community outreach in education and research
The actions and meetings of the Community Advisory Board
Research related to and impacting our catchment area
Population and screening studies
Community participatory research
 
Training
Institutional awards
Individual awards
Cancer Center members who are mentors (training records, current trainees)
 
Individual accomplishments
New members
Promotions
Awards - local and national
 
What members can do:
Feel free to let us know about your event or accomplishment. Many of these activities we already collect so you can help by making your involvement as robust as you can and contributing even more than before.  In particular, increasing clinical therapeutic trial accrual is something that is a benefit to all of us.
 
Thanks and keep up your wonderful work and your contributions to the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center!
MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
New Precision Medicine Guidelines Aimed at Improving Personalized Cancer Treatment Plans
Michael Kattan
Michael Kattan
A committee of national experts, led by a Cleveland Clinic researcher, has established first-of-its-kind guidelines to promote more accurate and individualized cancer predictions, guiding more precise treatment and leading to improved patient survival rates and outcomes.

These new guidelines are changing the traditional approach of cancer staging methods for cancer treatment. The new risk calculators - which will complement the existing staging system - will enable physicians to more accurately and precisely determine the best treatment for individual patients.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), which is responsible for periodically evaluating and updating the cancer stages, has acknowledged that cancer stages are imperfect, and it is committed to enhancing the system with more prognostic, statistically based risk calculators in 2016.

In preparation for these changes, the AJCC invited a group of top healthcare statistical experts from across the country to form the Precision Medicine Core (PMC). Led by Michael Kattan, PhD, MBA, chair of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Quantitative Health Sciences at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, the group discussed characteristics necessary for developing a quality risk model in cancer patients. The emphasis centered on performance metrics, implementation clarity, and clinical relevance.

"This represents a new paradigm shift for the future of cancer treatments," Kattan said.

The new guidelines will be published in the highly esteemed journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians on Tuesday, January 19th, 2016. more>
Madabhushi Team Awarded Patent on Identifying Vulnerable Plaque from Perfusion MRI
Anant Madabhushi
Anant Madabhushi
Dr. Anant Madabhushi, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Director of the Center for Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics, and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been awarded U.S. patent 
9,235,887, titled "Classification of Biological Tissue by Multi-mode data registration, segmentation, and characterization."

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for classifying possibly vulnerable plaques from sets of DCE-MRI images. The images are processed to determine the boundaries of candidate regions of interest and the voxels within the identified boundaries in corresponding regions of the images from each time period are processed to extract kinetic texture features. The kinetic texture features are then used in a classification process which classifies the ROIs as vulnerable or stable.

Co-inventors include Andrew Buckler, James Hamilton, Shannon Agner, and Mark Rosen. The invention has been licensed to Elucid Bioimaging Inc., a Boston based medical imaging startup company.
CASE CCC IN THE NEWS
WKYC.com - Jan 20, 2016
Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is on the rise in women of child-bearing age. Those at the greatest risk, according to new Cleveland Clinic research, are women younger than 50 who are pregnant or have recently been pregnant. Researchers from Cleveland Clinic's Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Institute discovered that women diagnosed with malignant melanoma during their pregnancy or within one year of giving birth were 5.1-times as likely to die, 6.9-times as likely to experience metastasis, and 9.2-times more likely to have a recurrence. The researchers believe pregnancy hormones may fuel the cancer. The case-control study, published online today in of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, used a large clinical database of electronic medical records to collect detailed data of melanomas developing in 462 women aged 49 years or younger. "We saw significant, worse prognoses and outcomes for women with a pregnancy-associated melanoma, compared to a control group of non-pregnant women," said Brian Gastman, MD, a plastic surgeon, director of melanoma surgery at Cleveland Clinic, member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and primary investigator on the study.
Many Doctors Choose End-of-Life Care Differently Than the General Population, Two Studies Show
ABC News - Jan 19, 2016
The way many doctors face end-of-life care differs from the approach of the general public, according to two new studies published today that suggest doctors are actually less inclined to seek heroic medical care in those circumstances...Barbara Daly, a bioethicist and director of clinical ethics at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, said people are generally not well-prepared for difficult decisions they or their families may have to make during end-of-life care and that doctors may prepare for this inevitability more easily. "It's a national concern about the quality of people's lives at the end of their life, and a perception that the health system is providing more aggressive care ... than is effective," Daly said.
ideastream - Jan 19, 2016
A phase one trial in France testing a new drug in humans has shattered the lives of at least a half dozen study participants. One person died this weekend, five more are hospitalized and three may have suffered permanent brain damage. Testing has been stopped, but the questions are just starting, We'll look at how drug trials are conducted in medical research hubs like Cleveland. We'll talk about the fallout from the tragedy in France and how that could impact the important work of drug development. Guests: Davendra Sohal, MD, Oncologist, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center; Michael Reed, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacologist, University Hospitals; Nora McNamara, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospitals; Jacqui Lingler, Research Manager, University Hospitals; Kay Colby, Ideastream Health Unit
MedPage Today - Jan 2016
Patients with previously treated midgut neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) had a 79% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death when treated with a radiolabeled peptide, according to results of a randomized trial. The radiopharmaceutical agent demonstrated "impressive ability" to slow the growth rate of progressive midgut neuroendocrine tumors, said press briefing moderator Smitha Krishnamurthi, MD, of CWRU School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland.  "It's also notable that lutetium-dotatate led to an overall response rate of 18% in these tumors, which are typically unresponsive to systemic therapy," said Krishnamurthi. "The trend toward improved survival is also encouraging.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
VeloSano 2016
Message from Case CCC Team Captain
Caroline El Sanadi
velosano

It's hard to believe that nearly six months have gone by since our ride in 2015, but VeloSano 2016 registration is open!  I enjoyed every minute of last year's ride, and I know that many of you did as well.  THANK YOU for your efforts in riding, fundraising, and volunteering.  
 
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate again in the VeloSano ride.   As many of you know, your hard work in 2015 has paid off. The VeloSano ride's funding partners designated more than $200,000 of last year's dollars to be distributed as pilot awards to Case CCC members this year!  This is really a wonderful beginning to a strong future partnership between our partner institutions.  Research funds awarded to our members will be announced in February. 
 
We have high hopes for Case CCC's second year of participation in this event.  If each one of you brings one new rider this year, we will DOUBLE our team's impact for 2016!  I think that we can do better-I think we can even triple our team size and financial impact!
 
Visit our team page and register to join us for this year's ride.  The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center has graciously offered to cover registration costs for the first 50 riders to register and join our team in 2016. Please contact me at [email protected] for the registration code, and also inform your friends and colleagues who may be interested in riding that they can contact me for more information.  I am delighted to answer any questions that you may have.
 
Save the date- January 28 will be our first Case CCC Team event. From 4:30-7p, we will be hosting a happy hour at TOLI, a new tavern in Little Italy just east of Presti's on the north side of Mayfield Road.  TOLI will partner with us for Case CCC monthly happy hours this year, and they will provide special drinks (a Case CCC Team signature cocktail and beer) and happy hour food.  Case CCC Team also has plans for fundraising initiatives (auctions, raffles), and other major events to support our team's fundraising goals for 2016.  We will have calendars listing these events available at next week's happy hour.
 
I look forward to seeing you all again, and to meeting our new teammates. 
 
Cheers!
 
CME: GvHD National Symposium 2016
Registration is now now open for the 2016 Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD) National Symposium, Friday, May 13 at UPMC Shadyside in Pittsburgh, PA. 

This unique conference, which focuses on cutting edge research and new treatments, consists of two tracks: one designed for physicians and other health care professionals, and one for bone marrow transplant (BMT) survivors, their families and their caregivers. 

The Meredith A. Cowden Foundation in collaboration with the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, and Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, created the National GvHD Health Symposium in 2010 to raise awareness about GvHD, to promote research to further our understanding of its cause, and to review cutting edge approaches to prevention and treatment. Over 1,200 people have attended this event, which provides an opportunity for attendees to interact with some of the world's leading authorities on GvHD, a complication that affects over 60% of bone marrow transplant patients. 

This year we are excited to team up with the UPMC CancerCenter, partner with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, who will serve as hosts of the 2016 symposium! 

CME credits will be offered. 

Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium
Mark your calendars to attend the Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium, September 8-9 at UPMC CancerCenter. 

Jointly sponsored by the Case CCC, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), partner with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) CancerCenter, and The Ohio State University (OSU) Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, this symposium brings together basic, translational, and clinical researchers and trainees from around the region to participate in an outstanding scientific program focused on the development, detection, and treatment of breast cancers. 

Watch the Cancer Center newsletter for updates, or join the GLBC Symposium mailing list
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Collaborative Research Travel Grants
The Collaborative Research Travel Grant (CRTG) program provides up to $15,000 in support for relatively unrestricted travel funds to academic scientists and trainees (postdocs or fellows) at U.S. or Canadian degree-granting institutions.  Grants must be used for domestic or international travel to another lab to learn new research techniques or begin or continue a collaboration to address biomedical questions.  Special consideration will be given to applicants who have doctorate level training in the physical, mathematical, or engineering sciences and are working on biomedical problems.

Deadline: Feb 1
Sarcoma Foundation of America Research Grants
The Sarcoma Foundation of America has developed a program to provide grants to investigators interested in translational science sarcoma research.  Funding of up to $50,000, allowing up to 10 percent indirect costs, is available to cover equipment and supplies in support of research on the etiology, molecular biology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of human sarcomas.

In accordance with the mission of the Foundation, research involving the development of novel agents against sarcoma, or research that could potentially lead to the development of novel agents against sarcoma, is eligible for this funding.

The SFA will only accept applications that focus on the following areas of research:
  • Omic characterization of sarcomas and definition of novel targets
  • Omic patterns of sensitivity and resistance to existing agents
  • Systemic therapy combinations
  • Immunotherapy
Deadline: Feb 1
Ohio Cancer Research Associates
Ohio Cancer Research Associates is awarding seed money grants to support research activities broadly related to cancer and leukemia. The organization seeks to fund research that will lead to continued support at the national level. Past projects haveexplored innovative areas of cancer research including breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, vaccinations, skin cancer, DNA studies, and new therapeutic strategies, to name a few. 

Huiping Liu, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, received this award last year for her project, Targeting IL-11 in breast tumor initiating cell-mediated metastasis. 

Deadline: Feb 29
James S. McDonnell Foundation Scholar Award in Studying Complex Systems 2016 Grant Competition
The JSMF Scholar Awards program derives from and is consistent with JSMF's commitment to supporting high quality research and scholarship leading to the generation of new knowledge and its responsible application. For Scholar Awards the program's emphasis is furthering the science of complex systems via the continued development of the theory and tools used in the study of complex research questions and not on particular fields of research per se. JSMF is particularly interested in projects attempting to apply complex systems approaches to coherently articulated questions.

It is anticipated that successful Scholar-Award applications will have principal investigators between 5 and 15 years post PhD. 

Deadline: March 18
NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities

EVENTS
Fri, Jan 22
Hem/Onc Fellows
8a Breen Conf Rm
TCI Grand Rounds
8a R3/ 002-003 Cleveland Clinic
Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Federico E. Rey, PhD
Assistant Professor, Bacteriology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
"Dissecting Diet-gut Microbiota Interactions and their Impact to Cardiometabolic Health"
11a NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic
Cancer Center Seminar Series
Leonard I Zon, MD
Grousbeck Professor of Pediatric Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Director, Stem Cell Program
Children's Hospital Boston
Recipient, NCI Alfred G. Knudson Award in Cancer Genetics
"Pathways Regulating Stem Cell Self Renewal and Migration"
12p BRB 105
Cancer Center Research in Progress
Goutham Narla, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Medicine
Harrington Scholar
Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine
Pardee-Gerstacker Professor in Cancer Research
CWRU/UH
"Small Molecule PP2A Activators for Cancer Treatment"
4p WRB 3-136
Mon, Jan 25
Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
William Schiemann
Professor, General Medical Sciences-Oncology
CWRU
1p WRB 3-136
Tues, Jan 26
Radiation Oncology Grand Rounds
Musaddiq Awan, MD 
UHCMC
"PET/CT in the Treatment Planning of Head and Neck Cancers"
8a Lerner Tower B-151

Pharmacology Seminar
Thomas J. Kelly, PhD
Pediatrics/Pharmacology
CWRU 
"Microtubule Regulation in Cystic Fibrosis; Tying Things Together"
12p SOM W331/ Webster Conference Room

THOR Seminar
Valeria Visconte, PhD
Translational Hematology and Oncology Research
Cleveland Clinic
1p R3-027 Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Biology Seminar Series
Goutham Narla, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Medicine
Harrington Scholar
Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine
Pardee-Gerstacker Professor in Cancer Research
CWRU/UH
"Small Molecule PP2A Activators for Cancer Treatment"
2p NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic
Weds, Jan 27
Hem/Onc Div Res Conf
8a Lerner B-151

Immunology Students/Fellows Research in Progress Series 
Dan Joyce
Qian Lab, Immunology
Cleveland Clinic
and 
Tomek Herjan 
Li Lab, Immunology
Cleveland Clinic
12p NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic
Thurs, Jan 28
Molecular Biology & Microbiology/Center for AIDS Research Seminar
Nicole Steinmetz, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
CWRU
and 
Abner Murray
Molecular Biology & Microbiology
CWRU
1p Rottman Seminar Room W203
Fri, Jan 29
Hem/Onc Fellows
8a Breen Conf Rm.

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

Cellular and Molecular Medicine Guest Speaker 
Russ P. Carstens, MD
Associate Professor, Medicine and Genetics
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
"Defining Post-transcriptional Programs Directed by the Epithelial Splicing Regulatory Proteins (Esrp1 and Esrp2) that are Essential for Mammalian Development"
10a NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Kris Wood, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology
Duke University
"Targeting the Convergent Evolution of Resistance to Targeted Therapies"
12p BRB 105

Cancer Center Research in Progress Seminar
4p WRB 3-136
Mon, Feb 1
GMI Research Seminar
Lamis Yehia
Eng lab, Genomic Medicine Institute
Cleveland Clinic 
"SEC23B in Thyroid Carcinogenesis: ER stress addiction and survival of the fittest"
12:30p NE1-295 Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
Karin Hermann, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Radiology

CWRU/UH

1p WRB 3-136

Wed, Feb 3
Hem/Onc Div Res Conf
8a Lerner B-151

Immunology Students/Fellows Research In Progress
Junjie Zhao
Li Lab, Immunology
Cleveland Clinic 
and 
Feng Lin Lab
Immunology
Cleveland Clinic
12p NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic
Thurs, Feb 4
Case CCC Breast Lab Based Research Mini-Retreat
11a-3p Location TBD

Molecular Biology & Microbiology/Center for AIDS Research Seminar
Marissa Guzzo & Than Pham
Molecular Biology & Microbiology
CWRU
1p Rottman Seminar Room W203 
Fri, Feb 5
Hem/Onc Fellows
8a Breen Conf Rm.

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

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Benjamin P. Tu, PhD
Associate Professor, Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
"A Metabolic Vulnerability of Tumors"
12p BRB 105

Cancer Center Research in Progress Seminar
4p WRB 3-136

Case CCC Calendar

 

LRI Calendar

 

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS

Best of San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Feb 10
Embassy Suites, Independence

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

GvHD National Symposium 2016
May 13
Pittsburgh, PA
Details

Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat
July 7-8 

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



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