December 12, 2016
CANCER MOONSHOT
Elsevier Releases First Installment of Moonshot Report, Online Resource Center
Elsevier is working with the Cancer Moonshot initiative to develop a benchmark report which maps out the global landscape of cancer research. The first installment,  "Cancer Research: Current Trends & Future Directions,"  along with an an online Cancer Moonshot Resource Center have been published online with free access to data, metrics, studies and other resources. Elsevier anticipates the creation of four to six topic-specific installments plus an analytical summary, with the release of a full report by the end of 2017. 

According to a message provided by Elsevier, using analyses from Scopus and Elsevier's Research Intelligence solutions, key findings of the first installment of the report indicate that the US and China lead cancer research output globally, with China more than doubling its output over the past decade. 
MEMBER/CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
Reizes to Hold Cleveland Clinic's First Endowed Chair to Focus on Uterine Cancer
Ofer Reizes, PhD, Director of Core Services for the Lerner Research Institute and staff in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, will hold the Cleveland Clinic's new Laura J. Fogarty Endowed Chair for Uterine Cancer Research . This is the Cleveland Clinic's first endowed chair supporting research into the causes and treatment of uterine cancer.

The chair was established by a  $1 million gift from Pepper Pike couple Laura Fogarty and her husband Bob Fogarty, a partner in the law firm of Hahn Loeser & Parks.  The couple wants to advance treatments for women with recurrent and metastatic uterine cancer and to shed light on the disease, according a release from the Clinic. more>
New Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core Facility Director
Ming Li, PhD
Ming Li
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is pleased to welcome Ming Li, PhD, as the new Core Director for the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core Facility.  Drs. Paul Elson and Jill Barnholtz-Sloan will remain in their current co-Director roles.

Dr. Li is an Associate Professor in the department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and a faculty biostatistician at Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics. Dr. Li joined CWRU and Case CCC in 2014.  Prior to that, Dr. Li has worked at the Cancer Biostatistics Division at Vanderbilt University, has more than 12 years of experience in cancer related biostatistical consulting, and has been a key biostatistician for Vanderbilt Lung and GI SPORE.  With a decade working in biostatistics, Dr. Li has devoted her efforts to two major areas: (1) high dimensional data analysis, especially methods and software development for proteomics data, and (2) cancer-related collaborative research with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center principal investigators.  Dr. Li continued and expanded her work on biostatistical research related to proteomics and cancer field upon starting her new position at CWRU two years ago. During the collaboration, she played a key role in multiple aspects, including designing experiments, analyzing data, supervising staff statisticians, interpreting results, drafting manuscripts, and writing statistical sections for grants.  Dr. Li is considered an expert in the field of proteomic analysis and has contributed to a significant paper and package on processing of such data in bioinformatics and analysis of shotgun data in the Journal of Proteome Research.  She will assume overall administrative responsibility for overseeing the operation of the BBCF and will be assisting with the renewal for the P30.

Please see the BBCF website  for further information on the available services,  policies and an online request form ( Project Request Form ).
Seeds of Hope on Sale Now at Local Garden Stores 
Prayers from Maria logo This week, Prayers From Maria Foundation announced that the sunflower seeds from its 50-acre Maria's Field of Hope are on sale at area stores. All of the proceeds from the sales go directly to Prayers From Maria to support its mission of funding childhood brain cancer research.

The bags are available for $24.99 at:
  • The Rock Pile, Avon
  • Petitti's Garden Center, Avon
  • Petitti's Garden Center, Strongsville
  • Buyers Outlet, Cleveland (West Park)
  • Dean's Greenhouse, Westlake
"Prayers From Maria's mission is to reverse the tragic lack of funding and honor childhood cancer patients with the attention they sorely deserve," said Megan McNamara, Maria's Mom and co-founder. "Maria's Field of Hope helps us strive toward this goal each year. The flowers may have withered, but the Seeds of Hope remain, just as our foundation will continue to work tirelessly toward improving treatments and outcomes for these kids. During this giving season, the Seeds of Hope are a wonderful way to support children's cancer research and spread the message of hope."
CASE CCC IN THE NEWS
EurekAlert - Dec 5, 2016
Researchers from University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine presented significant new research findings in multiple myeloma, lymphoma and other hematologic disorders at the 58th Annual Meeting of American Society of Hematology (ASH) in San Diego.  "The breadth and depth of this innovative cancer research presented at ASH is truly outstanding," says Stan Gerson, MD, Director of UH Seidman Cancer Center and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve. "Our faculty members are making tremendous advances in multiple myeloma, lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies which is reflected in their being selected for oral and poster presentations."...Major advances have been made in treating multiple myeloma (MM) over the last 12 years and early phase clinical trials have played a key role in this progress according to an oral presentation (Abstract #1146) by Ehsan Malek, MD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, UH Seidman Cancer Center. Phase I trials, in addition to moving progress forward for new treatments, also have demonstrated therapeutic success for patients and are well tolerated...."Identification of patients at high risk for cardiovascular events is key to helping prevent complications after treatment and increasing long-term survival," says Paolo Caimi, MD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, UH Seidman Cancer Center and senior author of the study. "While further studies are needed, these findings provide important guidance on stratifying who is at risk and how to best tailor treatment. For patients who have advanced age or higher BMI, we can provide increased monitoring and identify ways to reduce their risk such as medications and other preventative measures."...
Urology Times - Dec 5, 2016
The Kattan biochemical recurrence-free progression nomogram helps predict biochemical failure risk at 5 and 10 years in men who have had  radical prostatectomy,  according to a recent study.  Use of the nomogram, along with other factors, such as PSA level and family history, is a reliable, useful tool for helping urologists and their patients make better treatment decisions, the study's lead author tells Urology Times.  Rochelle Payne Ondracek, PhD, of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, New York, led a study, published in the  Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2016; 14:1395-401),  to validate the Kattan nomogram for prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Among the study's authors are the nomogram's developer, Michael W. Kattan, MBA, PhD, of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic. 
MedPage Today - Dec 4, 2016
Patients with stable chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) might be able to stop taking their medications or at least reduce the dose safely in many cases, researchers reported here.  But eliminating or reducing the dose of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) -- the backbone of CML therapy -- increases the risk of relapse after years of stable disease, the investigators told reporters at the annual meeting of the  American Society of Hematology  (ASH) annual meeting..."Keep in mind that (the development of TKIs for CML) is the single greatest success story we have in cancer therapy in 4 decades," said Mikkael Sekeres, MD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute, who was not part of the studies, but who moderated an ASH media briefing.
PR Newswire - Dec 3, 2016
Studies being presented today during the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in  San Diego aim to bring a more personalized and targeted approach to medicine and empower patients to participate more fully in treatment decisions.  Three studies look at different options for the management and treatment of leukemia, one explores a novel technology for monitoring blood's ability to clot, while the final study sheds light on reducing the risk of blood clots when inserting intravenous lines in sick children.  "These studies are really about bringing decision-making regarding treatment to the patients," said Mikkael Sekeres, MD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, director of the Leukemia Program at Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute and editor-in-chief of ASH Clinical News. "In addition to representing potential ways to improve health and survival, these tools and findings can help empower patients to work with their doctors to make informed, personalized decisions about their care."
cleveland.com - Nov 28, 2016
The sunflowers that blanket Maria's 50-acre Field of Hope  in Avon may have gone to seed again for this year, but the mission of the Prayers from Maria Foundation grew a milestone. The foundation announced it has, since its inception, awarded $1 million in grants to fund global research into a type of brain tumor so often fatal to children...In 2010, the foundation granted $100,000 to fund the research of Dr. Bingcheng Wang, co-Leader of the Molecular Oncology Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and a researcher at CWRU and MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. He used it as "seed money" for a study that garnered him $3.3 million more from the National Cancer Institute to continue his brain tumor research...A 2014 grant of $250,000 helped Case Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher Dr. Efstathios Karathanasisa biomedical engineer at Case School of Engineering, develop tiny particles that carry drugs across the blood-brain barrier that otherwise keeps standard medicines from reaching the target cancer. His collaboration with Dr. Jeremy Rich, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, produced a five-year, $2.82 million National Institutes of Health grant.  
Crain's Cleveland Business - Nov 23, 2016
In its third year, the VeloSano cycling event raised $3.37 million to support cancer research at Cleveland Clinic.  Nearly 1,600 cyclists from 24 states and two countries pedaled more than 81,000 miles in the annual fundraising event in July.  "The participation of VeloSano riders and volunteers in this annual event furthers our ability to provide the best patient care and work toward our ultimate goal of beating cancer," Dr. Brian J. Bolwell, chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute, said in a statement. "Funds raised through VeloSano bring sophisticated cancer research to our patients. In 2015 alone, 3,261 patients participated in more than 440 cancer-related clinical trials conducted at Cleveland Clinic, thanks in part to VeloSano."
Cancer Therapy Advisor - Nov 22, 2016
The introduction of targeted therapy has dramatically changed the treatment of  renal cell carcinoma (RCC) during the last 10 years, and recent developments and ongoing trials offer promise for the future.  In December 2005 and January 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sorafenib and sunitinib, respectively, for the treatment of RCC, marking the beginning of the targeted therapy era. These agents provided much needed options for patients with advanced disease. Other than cytokine therapy with interleukin (IL)-2 or interferon, "there wasn't much of a standard of care, it was pretty dismal," Brian I. Rini, MD, FACP, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute in Ohio, told Cancer Therapy Advisor.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Ohio Cancer Research
Deadline: Feb 27, 2017
Ohio Cancer Research (OCR) is accepting applications for its 2017 grant competition.  The grants awarded will 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.  The number of grants awarded will depend upon available funds.  
 
OCR targets its grants to junior faculty. Full professors are not eligible to apply and applicants must be independent and  within six years  of their first independent research position.

NIH BULLETIN- Notices and Funding Opportunities
Notice of Extension of the Response Date for NOT-OD-17-015 "Strategies for NIH Data Management, Sharing, and Citation" (NOT-OD-17-025)

NIH Request for Information (RFI): Strategies for NIH Data Management, Sharing, and Citation

PDX Development and Trial Centers (PDTCs)(U54)(RFA-CA-17-003)

PDX Data Commons and Coordinating Center (PDCCC) for the PDX Development and Trial Centers Research Network (PDXNet) (U24)(RFA-CA-17-004)

Mechanisms of Cancer Drug Resistance and Sensitivity (U54)(RFA-CA-17-009)

The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00)(RFA-CA-17-014)

Revision Applications for the U.S.-South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (R01)(RFA-AI-16-082)

Revision Applications for U.S.-South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (U01)(RFA-AI-16-083)

Potential Effects of Metformin on Aging and Age-Related Conditions:  Small-Scale Clinical Studies and Secondary Analysis of Controlled Clinical Studies (R01)(PA-17-073)

NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22)(PAR-17-069)
EVENTS
Mon, Dec 12
GMI Seminar
Neena Singh, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Pathology
Case Western Reserve University
"The retina as a window to brain iron imbalance in Parkinson's disease"
12:30p NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic
Tues, Dec 13
GMI and Respiratory Institute Seminar
Victor E. Ortega, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine,, Section on Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunologic Diseases, Wake Forest University Health Sciences / Wake Forest School of Medicine
"The Effects of Rare Genetic Variants on Drug Response and Severity in Airways Diseases"
12p NE5-218 Cleveland Clinic

THOR Seminar
Andriy Marusyk, PhD
Cancer Imaging & Metabolism, Moffitt Cancer Center
"Deciphering Evolution of Resistance to Targeted Therapies"
1p R3-027 Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Biology Seminar 
Qipan Deng, PhD
Research Fellow, Li Lab, Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic
"Mouse Models of a Human TP53 Noncoding Variant"
2p NC1-202 Cleveland Clinic
Wed, Dec 14
Hem/Onc Div Res Conf
Paula Silverman, MD
Associate Professor, Div. of Hematology and Oncology,  CWRU/UH
"Clinical Impact and Findings from Breast Multidisciplinary Genomic Tumor Board"
8a Lerner B-151

PRCHN Seminar
Siran Koroukian, PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, CWRU
"Understanding Dementia and Its Co-occurences with Other Leading Causes of Death"
12p PRCHN Ground Fl Conf Rm, BioEnterprise Bldg
Thurs, Dec 15
Neurosciences Seminar
Minghong Ma, PhD
University of Pennsylvania
12:10p BRB 105

2016 CFAR Mini Symposium
1-4p W203 (Rottman Seminar Room)

DPB Seminar
Matthew S. Gentry, PhD
Professor, Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington
"Lafora disease - defining the molecular basis for a metabolic epilepsy"
4p SOM / Robbins Building, E-501
Fri, Dec 16
Hem/Onc Fellows
8a Breen Conf Rm

TCI Grand Rounds
Shruti Tiwari, MD
Cleveland Clinic
"Clinical Outcomes in Her2 Positive Breast Cancer"
8a R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Center Seminar Series 
Barbara Bedogni, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry Department, CWRU
Member, Molecular Oncology Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
12p BRB 105

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Yorleny Vicioso
MD/PhD Student, Medical Scientist Training Program, Parameswaran Lab, CWRU
"Role of NF-Kβ transcription factor c-REL  in NK Cell Development and Function"
4p WRB 3-136

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS

NCCN 22nd Annual Conference: Improving the Quality, Effectiveness, and Efficiency of Cancer Care™
Mar 23-25, 2017

GvHD National Symposium
Oct 13, 2017
Grand Event Center, Columbus, OH
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline: Jan 13, 2017

LOI Deadline: Feb 1, 2017
Invited Full Proposal Deadline: Mar 15, 2017

Deadline: Feb 1, 2017

Deadline:  Feb 1, 2017



Deadline: Open

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