April 2015

Table of Contents

Research Highlights

Center News

Member Showcase

Researcher Recognition

Upcoming Events

Massey in the Media

Top Cancer News

Funding Opportunities

Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions (R01 & R21) (RFA-CA-15-008) & (RFA-CA-15-009)

Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP)

Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP)

View a full list of current funding opportunities.

Open

Recruitments

Highlighted positions related to cancer for which VCU is currently hiring. View the full list.

Medical Oncologist - Health Services/Outcomes Research or Cancer Epidemiology/ Genetics (F35970)

Researcher, Molecular Genetics and Epidemiology of Nicotine Dependence (F38550)

Medical Oncologist/Physician Scientist - Solid Tumors (F1677)

Internal Medicine Physician and Scientific Director, Cancer Informatics Core (F36220)

Shared Resource Spotlight

Genomics

The mission of the Genomics developing shared resource core is to make available the cutting-edge tools necessary for modern genomic analysis. Located on the fifth floor of Sanger Hall, a primary focus of this core is on providing access to NextGen DNA sequencing and analysis capabilities.

To learn more about the instrumentation available to support your research, visit the Massey Genomics developing shared resource core website.

View a full list of Massey's Shared Resource Cores

Leaders' Update

A message from Deputy Director Steven Grossman

An overarching goal of Massey is to increase the translation of our promising scientific ideas. Massey facilitates this endeavor by supporting bench-to-bedside research through various approaches, including but not limited to funding mechanisms, working groups and the Developmental Therapeutics program.

This message continues with:

Funding opportunities offered through Massey
Massey's research working groups and research programs
The 2015 Massey Cancer Research Retreat

Research Highlights

Advanced viral gene therapy eradicates prostate cancer in preclinical experiments

Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D.
Cancer Molecular Genetics
co-leader

Recently published in the journal Oncotarget, a new study is the most recent in a long line of studies led by Massey researcher Paul B. Fisher investigating the use of viral gene therapy to treat a variety of cancers. The treatment strategy uses microscopic gas bubbles to deliver directly to the cancer a viral gene therapy in combination with an experimental drug that targets a specific gene driving the cancer's growth.

Center News

Massey physicians voted as Richmond's Top Doctors

For the fifth year in a row and 12th year overall, Massey physicians were recognized as "Top Docs" in Richmond Magazine's April 2015 issue.

Making the list were 28 doctors from various specialties at VCU Medical Center who provide oncology-related care to Massey's patients. The selections were the result of a survey that asked Richmond-area physicians who they would recommend in a range of specialties.

Massey invites research members and research teams to annual Cancer Research Retreat

Lewis Cantley, Ph.D., from Weill Cornell will speak about the role of PI3-Kinase in cancer

Each year, Massey hosts a day-long cancer research retreat for all of its research members and their teams. This year's event will be held on May 22 and feature short presentations from four new faculty members as well as a special lecture by Lewis Cantley, Ph.D., director of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medical College and Margaret and Herman Sokol Professor in Oncology Research and a professor of cancer biology in medicine at Weill Cornell. In addition, Massey's shared resource cores will display their research services available to Massey research members.

Member Showcase

Francesco S. Celi joins the Cancer Cell Signaling program

Francesco S. Celi, M.D., M.H.Sc.
Cancer Cell Signaling
member

Massey welcomes Francesco S. Celi as a research member in the Cancer Cell Signaling program. Celi joined VCU last year as a professor of internal medicine and chair of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Since then, he has been a member of Massey's Metabolism and Cancer Research Working Group. Among his many published research papers are studies on hypocalacaemia and hypomagnaesemia in cancer patients and the effects of oophorectomy on skeletal metabolism. Celi's primary research interests are in endocrinology, molecular biology and genetics.

View the member directory for a full list of Massey research members

Researcher Recognition

Massey researcher aims to overcome communication barriers between African Americans, physicians about clinical trials

Richard Brown, Ph.D.
Cancer Prevention and Control
member

Massey researcher Richard Brown has been awarded a Research Scholar Grant from the ACS to test tailored messaging that would aid African Americans in their decisions about enrolling in therapeutic clinical trials. Using a survey to identify the patient's specific barriers, personalized messages will be provided to half of the patients prior to their oncology consultations. These messages will be designed to help the patients speak with their oncologist more actively about clinical trials.


Upcoming Events 2015 Massey Cancer Research Retreat The 2015 Massey Cancer Research Retreat will be held on Friday, May 22, 2015, at 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. in the Molecular Medicine Research Building, followed by a poster session on floors 11 and 12 in McGlothlin Medical Education Center. Cancer Research Seminars Mark Lemmon, Ph.D., will speak on "Diversity of Signaling Mechanisms of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases" and Greg Cooper, M.D., will speak on "Colorectal cancer screening - stool DNA testing (GI SPORE) and/or work in colonoscopy sedation options" Monthly Research Meetings Meetings for research programs and scientific groups Fundraising Event The Massey Challenge doesn't end with the 10k this year. Register for the Run for the Dream Half Marathon to make your run count and to help put cancer on the run! For more information visit www.run4massey.org. For a full listing of events, view the calendar.	Massey in the Media Richmond Times-Dispatch Massey physician-researcher Mary Helen Hackney, M.D., was interviewed about her role in counseling women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation and their option to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy or oophorectomy. MedPage Today Patrick Coyne, M.S.N., A.P.R.N., clinical director of the Palliative Care program at Massey, provided expert commentary about end-of-life medical care and barriers to implementing patients' expressed wishes. WTVR CBS 6 Massey physician-researcher Charles Geyer, M.D., was interviewed about a global trial that he co-led to study ovarian suppression as adjuvant therapy for premenopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer.	Top Cancer News *Nature* The online article featured a review of the PBS cancer documentary. Nature Dutch researchers found that breast cancer tumors signal the production of neutrophils that are able to block T cells that would inhibit cancer growth and metastasis. An article about this research was published by Science Newsline. *New England Journal of Medicine* A new study shows that melanoma drug Keytruda may be effective in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. An article about this research was published by Newsmax.

Share with us your research, awards and accomplishments!

Submit your news to Stevi Antosh at slantosh@vcu.edu or (804) 628-4578.

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