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April 5, 2019
MEMBER/CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Awarded $8.9M for Clinical Research

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) successfully re-competed for its status as a Lead Academic Participating Site (LAPS) for the National
Mitch Machtay
Mitchell Machtay
Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). Through NCTN, cancer patients have access to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded trials that aim to improve upon current treatments. This new, six-year, $8.9M grant,  led by co-PIs Mitchell Machtay, MD and Aaron Gerds, MD, MS , recognizes the  Case CCC and its hospital partners, University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic and the MetroHealth System, as a scientific leader in the conduct and design of clinical trials.

In 2014, the Case CCC was selected as one of 30
Aaron Gerds
Aaron Gerds
inaugural LAPS; it has been among the nation's top accruing LAPS centers to NCTN trials in each of the past four years. Since then, more than 1,064 patients at University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic and the MetroHealth System have participated in NCTN trials under the program. more>
Reizes, Rose to Direct Cleveland Clinic's new Center for Research Excellence in Gynecologic Cancer
Last month, Cleveland Clinic announced the formation
Ofer Reizes
Ofer Reizes

of a collaborative network to develop a comprehensive research program promoting translation of basic science into the clinic. Director of Research Core Services at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute Ofer Reizes, PhD and Cleveland Clinic gynecologic oncologist Peter Rose, MD were selected to co-direct the Center for Research Excellence in Gynecologic Cancer (CREGC). Both members of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Reizes is a part of the Molecular Oncology Program and Rose is a member of the Developmental Therapeutics Program.

The center will leverage core resources and an
Peter Rose
infrastructure designed to promote collaboration and advance translational medicine, supporting research projects that explore potential causes of and treatments for a range of gynecologic cancers. " Opportunities for breakthroughs in gynecologic cancer are in the team we've built," said Reizes in a release from Cleveland Clinic.   more>
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Cancer Center Seminar Series: "Age Related Mechanisms of Colorectal Cancer Promotion"
Apr 5, 12p | WRB Auditorium

Join us today at noon in the Wolstein Research Building Auditorium to hear National Institutes of Health (NIH) Distinguished Investigator  William Grady, MD, AGAF present, " Age Related Mechanisms of Colorectal Cancer Promotion." Dr. Grady is the Rodger C. Haggit Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a member of the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is also a Site PI for Barrett's Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet) at Case Western Reserve University. 

Two prominent candidate age-related processes that may affect polyp initiation and/or progression  in the colon are the pro-tumorigenic effects of senescence via the senescence associated secretory  phenotype (SASP) and increased accumulation of aberrantly methylated genes, also known as e pigenetic drift. Dr. Grady will present the results of studies assessing whether these mechanisms  contribute to CRC formation and the mechanisms through which they mediate polyp initiation and  progression.

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>
Cancer Center Special Seminar
Apr 10, 9a | WRB 2-136

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center welcomes Wu-Min Deng, PhD for a special seminar on Wednesday, April 10 at 9 am. He will present, "Tissue Microenvironment for Tumor Initiation and Progression" in the WRB second floor conference room, 2-136. Dr. Deng is the Pfeiffer Endowed Professor for Cancer Research in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University. All are welcome to attend.
VeloSano Fundraising Events for Team Case CCC

Wednesday, April 10 | 4-6p TOLI logo
Happy Hour at TOLI
12117 Mayfield Rd
Cleveland, OH 44106

 

Friday, April 12 | 1-3p
Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Donate $5 to build your own sundae
WRB Lobby
Immediately following the weekly seminar series!

Frontiers of Biological NMR and EPR Spectroscopy
April 27, 9a-6p | WRB Auditorium

You are invited to attend the Frontiers of Biological NMR and EPR Spectroscopy Symposium on Saturday, April 27 from 9 am to 6 pm in the WRB Auditorium. Lunch will be provided. The symposium will include local NMR/EPR experts, a poster session, and poster-blitz talks along with the plenaries from the following guests:

David Cafiso, PhDUniversity of Virginia

Gary Lorigan, PhDMiami University

Art Palmer, PhD, Columbia University

Charles Sanders, PhDVanderbilt University

Registration is free but required. For inquiries, contact Matthias Buck or Sudha Chakrapani. Register now>
CTTE Short Course 2019
May 21-23, 2019 | CWRU
The  Skeletal Research Center  and the  Department of Biology  of  Case Western Reserve University  are pleased to present the eighteenth annual short course entitled, "Cell-Based Therapies and Tissue Engineering" running from May 21 through May 23, 2019, in Cleveland.

Registration is now open for the course  intended for graduate students, post-graduate students and health science professionals interested in Tissue Engineering with emphasis on the principles and detailed protocols used or being modeled for direct clinical use. The  course will involve morning lectures by eminent scholars, afternoon laboratories and lectures on the "how to" of cell cultures and cell-scaffold interactions. A syllabus from lecturers and labs will be available to all registered participants. more>
CANCER CENTER PROFILE: STAFF
Christina Buzzy, PhD, Assistant Director of Research Programs

This week, the Case CCC welcomed Christina Buzzy, PhD to the administrative team as Assistant Director of Research Programs.

Christina joins us from the University Hospitals Urology Institute where she was Director of Urologic Oncology Research under the advisement of Lee Ponsky, MD. She spent the last three years building a prostate MRI outcomes-focused research group and initiating several urologic clinical trials.

Christina earned her PhD in the department of Pathology (Immunology) at Case Western Reserve University under the mentorship of George Dubyak, PhD in 2014 where she delineated novel inflammasome IL-1b signaling pathways in immune cells triggered by cancer chemotherapeutic drugs.

Stop by her office, 2-120, on the second floor of the Wolstein Research Building and introduce yourself!
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
GI SPORE Developmental Research Project Grant (DRP)
Deadline: May 15, 2019


The Case CCC's  Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Gastrointestinal Malignancies is accepting proposals from faculty at the Assistant Professor level or higher for awards up to $50,000.  Proposals will be considered for any GI malignancy with priority consideration given to proposals focused on non-colorectal GI malignancies and must have a translational research focus on GI cancer. Developmental Research Projects (DRPs) in the area of pancreatic cancer are encouraged. Although DRPs need not reach a human endpoint during the proposed project period, all projects must have a clearly defined translational potential.

Deadline for submission is May 15, 2019 with  funding expected to begin August 2019. Proposals must be sent to  [email protected] and conform to the following guidelines:
  • Cover page listing contact information for PI and faculty collaborators
  • Proposal (5 pages) in length (excluding references) as follows: (29000 characters with spaces, Arial font, 11)
  • Specific aims (1 page)
  • Background and significance (1-2 pages)
  • Experimental Design (2-3 pages)
  • NIH biosketches for all faculty participants
  • Detailed budget in NIH Budget Format
GI SPORE Career Enhancement Program Award (CEP)
Deadline: May 15, 2019


The Case CCC's  Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Gastrointestinal Malignancies is accepting proposals from junior faculty for awards up to $50,000. Proposals must be directed toward translational research of a GI malignancy  with at least one specific aim that involves the direct study of patients or human materials.

Deadline for submission is May 15, 2019 with  funding expected to begin August 2019. Proposals must be sent to  [email protected] and conform to the following guidelines:
  • Cover Page listing contact information for applicant and research mentor.
  • Biographical Sketch of applicant with bibliography in NIH format
  • Personal statement of long-term career goals, interests in translational research and past experience including abstract of dissertation, post-doctoral and/or clinical fellowship training (2 pages)
  • Research Proposal (5 pages maximum) excluding references
  • Specific Aims (1 page)
  • Background and significance (1 1/2 pages)
  • Experimental Design and methods (2 1/2 pages)
  • Literature cited (Does not count toward the 5 page limit)
  • NIH Biographical Sketch of research mentor
  • Letter of commitment from research mentor to Translational Research Project and Research Mentoring
  • Letter from Department Head with commitment to faculty position with 75% protected time for research and training for 2 years as SPORE Career Enhancement Research Scholar.
  • Letters of recommendation from 3 individuals knowledgeable about the candidate's clinical, research performance, commitment to a research career and potential for a successful career in GI cancer translational research. One letter must be from anticipated department head at Case Western Reserve University.
PCORI Engagement Award: Dissemination Initiative
LOI Deadline: May 31, 2019


The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Engagement Awards support  projects that encourage active integration of patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders as integral members of the patient-centered outcomes research/clinical effectiveness research (PCOR/CER) enterprise.

This new 2-year, $300,000 Engagement Award will give organizations and communities the opportunity to propose meaningful dissemination projects aimed at spreading awareness and increasing knowledge of new evidence from PCORI-funded research, targeted directly to patients, clinicians, and others who can use this information to inform healthcare decisions.

IN THE NEWS
NCI Paylines Drop as Grant Applications Climb
Cancer Discovery - Mar 25, 2019
NCI funding challenges extend beyond paylines, says Ruth Keri, PhD, associate director for basic research at the Case CCC.

Offbeat approaches to cancer research
Nature - Mar 27, 2019
Anant Madabhushi MS, PhD says computer algorithms that can analyse key data from medical images could greatly improve the accuracy of cancer diagnosis. Madabhushi is director of the Center for Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics and member of the Case CCC's Cancer Imaging Program.
NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities
Notices
Notice of Correction to Award Information in RFA-CA-19-038 "Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)"

Notice of Change to Science Supported by PAR-17-340 "Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)"

Notice of Change to Science Supported by PAR-17-316 "Biomedical Technology Research Resource (P41)"

Notice of Change to Science Supported by PAR-17-045 "Focused Technology Research and Development (R01)"

Notice of Change to Science Supported by PAR-17-046 "Exploratory Research for Technology Development (R21)"

Requests for Applications
Limited Competition for Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study - Linked Research Project Sites (Collaborative U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)(RFA-DA-20-002)
Deadline: July 24, 2019
Limited Competition for Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study - Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)(RFA-DA-20-004)
Deadline: July 24, 2019

Deadlines: June 18, 2019, June 17, 2020
IN THIS ISSUE
EVENTSevents
Fri, April 5
Cancer Center Seminar Series
William Grady, MD, AGAF
Rodger C. Haggitt Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division
University of Washington School of Medicine
Member, Clinical Research Division
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Site PI, Barrett's Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet)
Case Western Reserve University
"Age Related Mechanisms of Colorectal Cancer Promotion"
12p WRB Auditorium
Mon, April 8
Genomic Medicine Institute International PTEN Symposium
Intercontinental Hotel & Conference Center
Details

Shared Resources Directors Meeting
12p WRB 1-422D

Pathology Seminar
Sahar Mazhar
Narla Lab
"The Role of PPP2R1B Mutations in Hereditary Forms of Cancer"
12p WRB Auditorium

Taussig HO Thoracic Medical Oncology
Lecture
Dr. Hassam 
" EGFR TKIs
resistance mutations: preexisting clones or acquired mutations?"
12p CA6-126
Tues, April 9
Taussig  1st Year HO Fellow Didactic  Lecture
Iris Sheng, MD
"Metastatic 
Castrate Sensitive Prostate
Cancer"
Tamara Sussman, MD
"Updates in Melanoma"
12p CA5-120

Taussig THOR Lecture Series
1p NE1-205
Weds, April 10
UH HemOnc Grand Rounds
Amr Mohamed, MD
Gastrointestinal Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center
"Current Challenges in the Management of Stage II Colon Cancer (Prognostic & Predictive Model)"
8a Wearn 137

Cancer Center Special Seminar
Wu Min Deng, PhD
Pfeiffer Endowed Professor for Cancer Research
Department of Biological Science
Florida State University
"Tissue Microenvironment for Tumor Initiation and Progression"
9a WRB 2-136

Inflammation and Immunity Seminar
Manishkumar Patel
Gupta Lab
12p NE1-205

Taussig Hematology-Oncology Grand Rounds
Yazeed Sawalha, MD
"Updates in
Follicular Lymphoma"
12p CA5-120

Happy Hour for Team Case CCC VeloSano
4p Tavern of Little Italy

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar
Angelica Cruz Lebron
Pathogen of the Month: "H pylori"
5p WRT 206
Thurs, April 11
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a N E 6-218

Pathology Seminar: Immunology Faculty Candidate
Meng Zhao, PhD
Instructor, Immunology
Developmental Immunology Division
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
"Metabolic Regulation of iNKT Cell Differentiation and Activation"
10a WRB 5-136

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar
Claire Mazahery
Jeff McCausland
Levine Lab
1p SOM W203

Special Lecture
Priya Nambisan, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Health Informatics & Administration
Director, Social Media and Health Research & Training (SMAHRT) Lab
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
"Comprehensive Digital Self-care Support System (CDSSS) for the Aging: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach"
1p First Floor Lounge, FPB School of Nursing
*Lunch served starting at 12:30p in the FPB Faculty & Staff Lounge

100 Days until "Bike to Cure" Weekend
Be one of the first 250 riders to raise $100 on April 11 & recieve a $100 fundraising match from VeloSano!
Fri, April 12
UH Seidman Cancer Center Grand Rounds
8a Wearn 137

Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
Monica Webb Hooper, PhD
Professor, Oncology, Family Medicine & Community Health and Psychological Sciences
Director, Office of Cancer Disparities Research, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
CWRU
"The Challenge of
Addressing Tobacco Use in Oncology and Its Importance for
Healthy Equity"
8a CA5-120

UH HemOnc Grant Rounds
Tong Dai, MD, PhD
Director, Oncology Clinical Development
Merck
"Progress and Future Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer"
9a Wearn 137

Cancer Center Seminar Series 
Benjamin G. Neel, MD, PhD
Rodger C. Haggitt Professor of Medicine
Gastroenterology Division, University of Washington School of Medicine 
Member, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
" Age Related  Mechanisms of Colorectal Cancer Promotion"
12p WRB Auditorium

$5 Ice Cream Sundae Bar VeloSano Fundraiser for Team Case CCC
1-3p WRB Lobby
Mon, April 15
Genomic Medicine Institute
Elizabeth Shay
Eng Lab
"Oral Mycobiomic Profiles in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)"
Vishal Nanavaty, PhD
Ting Lab
"DNA Methylation Regulates mRNA Alternative Polyadenylation via CTCF and the Cohesin Complex"
12p NE1-205

Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
Vinay Varadan, PhD
1p WRB 3-136
Tues, April 16
Cancer Drug Discovery and Resistance
Eli Bar, PhD
Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery
CWRU
3p WRB 1-422D
Weds, April 17
Biomedical Innovation & Entrepreneur Club
CWRU Alumni Career Discussion Panel
4p SOM BRB 932
Thurs, April 18
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a NE6-218

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Virology Journal Club
de Boer Lab
1p SOM W203
Fri, Apr 19
Taussig Cancer Center Grand Rounds
Lilyana Angelov, MD
Edward Benzel, MD
Samuel Chao, MD
"Multimodality Management of Spine Tumors"
8a CA5-120

*No Cancer Center Seminar Series*

Nutrition and Center for Proteomics & Bioinformatics
Cynthia Ogden, PhD
Epidemiologist and Analysis Branch Chief
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Division
National Center for Health Statistics
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
"The Epidemiology of Obesity"
12p SOM BRB 105
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS
prev-funding
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center