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April 26, 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
John Pounardjian John Pounardjian, MBA
Acting Associate Director of Administration, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
[email protected]
Cancer Center Administrators Forum
On March 17, the Cancer Center Administrators Forum (CCAF) gathered for its annual meeting, held this year in Minneapolis, MN. The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) was represented well, both in attendance and on the agenda. Representing Case CCC were John Pounardjian, Acting Associate Director of Administration, Megan Kilbane, previous Associate Director of Administration, Damian Junk, Assistant Director of Cancer Training and Education, and Julie Glavic, Manager of Research Administrative Operations. The CCAF annual meeting draws over 300 senior administrators from all NCI designated cancer centers and also administrators from new centers applying for designation. This conference allows priceless networking opportunities for Case CCC administration to develop relationships with our national colleagues. 

The conference agenda consists mostly of panel discussions, allowing free sharing of best practices among different centers. Representing the Case CCC, Megan Kilbane participated in a panel on consortium and Henry Ciolino, PhD, Director of the NCI Office of Cancer Centers, recognized the Case CCC for its success as a consortium in the CCSG portfolio. In addition, Damian Junk presented a well-received poster on Case CCC training activities, another area where our center succeeds. 

Keynote addresses were delivered by Susan Perkins, PhD, Acting Chief of the Cancer Training Branch at NCI, and Dr. Ciolino, discussing key updates from the NCI Cancer Center program.  It is important to note that a new CCSG PAR will be released later this year that will include potential updates in Catchment and how it is defined, Community Outreach and Engagement (COE), Shared Resources and Clinical Trial Reporting. Key potential changes include:
  • NCI-defined catchment area with separate patient and scientific catchment requirements;
  • Expansion of allowable COE costs (including pilot funds for scientific catchment area needs);
  • Greater focus on community engagement and cancer burden in catchment area.
The NCI also announced continued efforts to make significant investments in cancer training through the Cancer Centers program.

The Case CCC is currently working to develop processes and methods to successfully address the NCI's greater interest in catchment and community outreach and engagement. Throughout the next 12-months we plan to:
  • Increase focus and funding for lab-based catchment related cancers and risks;
  • Further define our scientific catchment area.
These efforts will be led through our Program Leaders and will be the main focus of our program breakouts at this year's annual scientific retreat, July 25-26, 2019.

Finally, we are excited to announce that Cleveland and the Case CCC have been selected to host the CCAF annual meeting in 2021! This is a tremendous opportunity to highlight our center and the wonderful work of our administrative team. Stay tuned for more information.
MEMBER/CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
Athymic Shared Resource Fee Change
The Athymic Animal and Preclinical Therapeutics Shared Resource is increasing the price of the following service, effective May 1, 2019:
  • Tech services at CWRU: $40/hour (was $30/hour)
Join the Case CCC Administration Team
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University is currently seeking a
Grant Admin Specialist who, working
Case CCC logo
under general direction will oversee, manage and provide overall financial expertise and administrative support for the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). The CCSG grant provides the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center unique designation within the National Cancer Institute and allows competition for a variety of other multi-institutional/investigator grants and contractual agreements.

This position will be required to be proactive and responsible for financial analysis of several large multi-investigator and multi-institutional pre- and post-award research grants. This position will also advise faculty to assure projects are in compliance with funding agencies. The manager will be responsible for the financial information of ~1185 active trials (378 pending trials) across 16 different institutions (the largest collaborations are with University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation).

Contact John Pounardjian ([email protected]) for more information about the position. 
Markowitz Lab Seeking Research Associate
The lab of Sanford Markowitz, MD, PhD is accepting applications for the role of Research Associate. The responsibilities of this position include planning and executing research projects within a laboratory focusing on cancer genetics. The individual will work closely with multi-investigator team consisting of clinicians and basic scientists within the Case GI Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) and the National Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM). The individual will lead a specific research team consisting of a graduate student and research assistant within the group.  This individual will focus on research involving gastrointestinal cancers and inflammatory bowel disease; specifically within the development of new therapeutics. The Research Associate will be responsible for managing and designing individual experiments, reporting these in a consistent fashion and in a timely manner, managing issues of the scientific method including positive and negative controls, reproducibility, sample size estimate valuation, trends and troubleshooting, and refining techniques into standard operating procedures in the laboratory. Careful documentation and accountability is essential.  The individual will be responsible for writing and submitting manuscripts reporting research results. more>
Cancer Center Scientific Series
May 1, 8:30a | WRB Auditorium

Please join us on Wednesday, May 1 as Case CCC researchers present findings from their pilot projects supported by the Research Innovation Fund. Researchers will offer an overview of their scientific discoveries and outlines of what comes next for their projects.

Breakfast will begin at 8:30am in the Cancer Center Conference Room, WRB 1-422D with presentations beginning at 9am in the auditorium, WRB 1-413.
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Scientific Series is a quarterly, extended conference featuring presentations by members who received pilot funding after competitive peer-review by the Cancer Center. Wednesday's presentations will be available via live stream at 9am for those unable to attend in person.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Cancer Center Seminar Series: "Using Structure-Based Design to Target Protein-Protein Interactions within the Mixed-Lineage Leukemia (MLL)-COMPASS Complex for Cancer Therapy"
Apr 26, 12p | WRB Auditorium

Our weekly seminar is back today in the Wolstein Research Building Auditorium. Join us at noon to hear Shaun R. Stauffer, PhD present, " Using Structure-Based Design to Target Protein-Protein Interactions within the Mixed-Lineage Leukemia (MLL)-COMPASS Complex for Cancer Therapy." Dr. Stauffer is  Director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Therapeutics Discovery and a member of the Case CCC's Developmental Therapeutics Program.

Just three seminars remain in our 2018-2019 series! Please note there is no seminar next Friday, May 3.  View a list of upcoming seminars>

The Seminar Series  will  be
available to view via live stream. While we highly encourage you to attend in person to interact with our speakers and receive CME credit, we understand that may not always be possible. Presentations will not be recorded for later viewing, but you may watch the seminar in real time and ask questions via chat.  Watch live at noon>
Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium
May 2-4, 2019 | Columbus, OH

Register today for the Great Lakes Breast Cancer Research Symposium (GLBCRS) taking place May 2-4 at the Grand Event Center in Columbus, OH. GLBCRS will highlight ongoing basic, translational, clinical and population studies addressing the biological mechanisms, management and prevention of breast cancer. Researchers from participating institutions will share their exciting work with a goal to develop cross-institutional collaborations.
19th Annual Jerome I. Kleinerman, MD Lecture in Pulmonary Pathobiology
May 3, 4p | WRB Auditorium

The Department of Pathology will be hosting The 19th Annual Jerome I. Kleinerman, MD Lecture in Pulmonary Pathobiology on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 4 pm in the Wolstein Research Building Auditorium.

Philip T. Cagle, MD, professor of pathology at 
the Weill  Medical School of Cornell University and S. Donald Greenberg Chair and Director of Pulmonary Pathology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX, will be presenting, "Approach to the Lung Cancer Biopsy for Molecular Testing in the Context of the New Guidelines".

A wine reception will be held in the WRB lobby immediately following the lecture. All are welcome to attend.
Race for the Place 2019
June 2 | Beachwood Place

Celebrating 20 years of serving our community, The Gathering Place is hosting its annual "Race for the Place"  5K and 1-mile run/walk at Beachwood Place on National Cancer Survivors Day, Sunday, June 2.  Proceeds from Race for the Place help support their free programs and services.

The Gathering Place is a caring community that supports, educates and empowers individuals and families currently coping with the impact of cancer in their lives through programs and services provided free of chargeJoin Team Case CCC>
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities for Pilot Projects from VeloSano Bike to Cure
Deadline: April 30, 2019

With the generous support from VeloSano Bike to Cure 2018, the Case CCC is providing seed funding for 
highly innovative and potentially impactful proposals that will generate key data for larger, nationally competitive grants. Projects must be aligned with at least one of the eight Case CCC Research Initiatives (Cancer Genomics, Cancer Immunotherapy, Brain Tumors, AYA cancers, Drug Discovery and Development, Women's Cancers, Community and Cancer Disparities, Computational Diagnostic Informatics) and the Center's Strategic Plan. Collaborative, multi-investigator projects are particularly encouraged and preferred.  Learn more>
CancerLinQ Discovery® Research Support Grant
Deadline: April 30, 2019


The CancerLinQ Discovery® Research Support Grant is a new 1 year, $32,500 grant program that aims to inform ASCO about the impact of its guidelines, quality measures, and educational programs, and help generate the evidence necessary to support its policy and advocacy priorities. The grant support will provide access, as well as training from ASCO mentors, to conduct research on CancerLinQ Discovery® for early- and mid-career clinical oncology and health service researchers to facilitate the adoption, use, and dissemination of real-world evidence in support of ASCO's mission.

Those selected will exhibit high scientific merit and align with the overall ASCO mission of conquering cancer through research, education, and promotion of the highest-quality patient care. The objective is to foster an individual's professional oncology research focus on the appropriate and effective use of real-world data and generate practical knowledge that will improve cancer care.

Research topics may include-but are not limited to-adoption of treatment guidelines across the U.S.; development of quality measures with the highest impact for clinical care; measuring the impact of educational programs on clinical practice; supportive evidence for informing ASCO policy priorities; or novel research on other topics. more>
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation 'A' Award
Deadline: May 20, 2019


The mission of the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is to raise money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, primarily for research into new treatments and cures, and to encourage and empower others, especially children, to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer. 

The 'A' Award is a four-year, $800,000 grant designed for the Alex Lemonade Stand Fdnearly independent career scientist who wants to establish a career in pediatric oncology research. The ideal applicant has an original project that is not currently being funded. Demonstration of a future commitment to pediatric cancer investigation as well as institutional support for the career development of the investigator are critical components of a successful application.
Read application guidelines>
Children's Cancer Research Fund Emerging Scientist Award
Deadline: May 30, 2019


The Children's Cancer Research Fund Emerging Scientist
Award is designed to develop the independent research of highly qualified individuals still early in their careers. An Emerging Scientist Award is $100,000 for a one-year period. 

Applicants should hold a post-graduate doctoral degree in a field of medicine or scientific research specialty and be a faculty member at an accredited university. Applicants must be within the first 7 years of their initial independent full faculty appointment at the time the award begins. Research projects must have direct applicability and relevance to pediatric cancer. They may be in any discipline of basic, clinical, translational, or epidemiological research.  more>
WES Leukemia Research Foundation Grants
Deadline: June 1, 2019

The When Everyone Survives Foundation (WES Leukemia Research Foundation) has released a request for proposals in leukemia research to solicit innovative research in leukemia. 

Grants of $50,000 for one year are offered to new and established investigators who are requesting support for laboratory, translational, or clinical research related to acute leukemia. Renewal of initial research support may be considered for one or more additional years based upon productivity. more>
VeloSano Catalyst Fellowship
Deadline: June 7, 2019

With the generous support from VeloSano Bike to Cure 2018, the Case CCC is providing seed funding for Case CCC Trainee Associate Members to perform their "dream experiment." Up to 5 research projects may be funded at $10,000 per award which must be completed within 1 year.

The experiment should catalyze highly innovative and impactful projects and help strengthen fellowship and career development grant applications. The intent of the award is to support a single or limited set of innovative experiments, not for general laboratory supplies/projects or maintenance of the trainee's project.

To help trainees prepare competitive applications, William Schiemann, PhD, Chair of NCI fellowship review panel, will present "Fellowship Writing 101" and an introductory fellowship preparatory luncheon on Thursday, May 9 in WRB conference room 3-136 at 12 pm (free lunch will be provided for those that RSVP to Damian Junk at [email protected]). An NCI-style review panel will include Case CCC Trainee Associate Members as reviewers to provide insight into the review process. more>
IN THE NEWS
Cleveland Clinic ready to push AI concepts to clinical practice
AMA - Apr 3, 2019
"If we can intervene, we can change the prognosis and make things better" said Aziz Nazha, MD, director of the Cleveland Clinic's new Center for Clinical Artificial Intelligence and Case CCC member.

Can Time to Treatment Initiation Be Effectively Reduced?
Cancer Therapy Advisor - Apr 8, 2019
"We created and supported teams with data infrastructure, regular meetings, huddles, program managers, and patient navigators" said Alok Khorana, MD about the case study focused on prioritizing time to treatment for all cancer patients entering the Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute.
NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities
Notices
Request for Information (RFI) Regarding Tissue Source Options for Generating Human Immune System (HIS) Mice

Notice of the Publication of Revised NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules

Notice of Intent to Publish: Funding Opportunity Announcement for Human Immune-Representing Oncology Models for Immuno-Oncology Research (R33 Clinical Trial Optional)

Request for Information: Research Plan on Rehabilitation
IN THIS ISSUE
EVENTSevents
Fri, April 26
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
8a CA5-120

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Shaun Stauffer, PhD
Director, Center for Therapeutics Discovery
Cleveland Clinic 
Member, Developmental Therapeutics Program
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
" Using Structure-Based Design to Target Protein-Protein Interactions within the Mixed-Lineage Leukemia (MLL)-COMPASS Complex for Cancer Therapy"
12p WRB Auditorium

GvHD National Symposium
Cleveland Airport Marriott
Mon, April 29
Genomic Medicine Institute
Ignacio "Nacho" Mata, PhD
Assistant Staff
Genomic Medicine Institute
"Beyond Euro-centric Medical Research in Parkinson's Disease: the LARGE-PD Consortium"
12p NE1-205

Pathology Seminar
Elizabeth Akinbiyi
Mears Lab
"O-GlcNAcylation of Drp1 in Glioblastoma"
12p WRB Auditorium

Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
Satish Viswanath, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering and  Radiology
Member, Cancer Imaging Program,  Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
CWRU
1p WRB 3-136
Weds, May 1
Cancer Center Scientific Series
Research Innovation Fund
John Wang, PhD
Eckhard Jankowsky, PhD Reshmi Parameswaran, PhD 
Hung-Ying Kao, PhD
Sichun Yang, PhD
8:30a Breakfast, WRB 1-422D 
9a Presentations, WRB Auditorium
Thurs, May 2
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a NE6-218

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Virology Journal Club
1p SOM W203

2019 Great Lakes Breast Cancer Research Symposium
Columbus, OH
Details
Fri, May 3
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
Laura Dawson, MD
Princess Margaret Cancer Center
"Increasing Role of Radiotherapy for Primary and Metastatic Liver Cancer"
8a CA5-120

*No Cancer Center Seminar Series*

2019 Great Lakes Breast Cancer Research Symposium
Columbus, OH
Details

$5 Ice Cream Sundae Bar VeloSano Fundraiser for Team Case CCC
1-3p BRB Lobby

19th Annual Jerome I. Kleinerman, MD Lecture in Pulmonary Pathobiology
Philip T. Cagle, MD
Professor of Pathology
Weill Medical School of Cornell University
S. Donald Greenberg Chair and Director, Pulmonary Pathology 
Houston Methodist Hospital
" Approach to the Lung Cancer Biopsy for Molecular Testing in the Context of the New Guidelines"
4p WRB Auditorium
Mon, May 6
Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
1p WRB 3-136

Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy
Adoro
12p CA4-124

Genomic Medicine Institute
Sara Akhavanfard, MD
Eng Lab
"The Genomic Landscape of Early-onset Solid Tumors in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults"
Rumana Akhter, PhD
Bekris Lab
"The Role of TREM2 in the Microglial Response to β-amyloid"
12p NE1-205
Thurs, May 9
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a N E 6-218

Fellowship Writing 101
Lunch provided for trainees that RSVP to [email protected]
12p WRB 3-136

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar
1p SOM W203
Fri, May 10
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
8a CA5-120

UH Seidman Cancer Center Grand Rounds
8a Wearn 137

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Smita Bhatia, MD, MPH
Professor & Vice Chair of Outcomes for Pediatrics
Director, School of Medicine Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship
Associate Director for Outcomes Research of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
Associate Director, Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
"Prediction and Prevention of Treatment-Related Adverse Effects in Cancer Survivors"
12p WRB Auditorium
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS

prev-funding
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center