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February 1, 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dr. Stan Gerson Stan Gerson, MD
Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
[email protected]
Additions to Cancer Prevention, Control & Population Research Program Leadership
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is  pleased to announce the appointment of  Fred Schumacher, PhD, MPH and Erika Trapl, PhD as new co-leaders of the Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Research Program (CPC). Together with current program leader Greg Cooper, MD, Trapl and Schumacher will continue to grow the work of the Prevention Program in the areas of disease-specific genomics; high-risk populations including Barrett's esophagus, inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer in young adults; tobacco research, interventions and policy and lung cancer screening; and disparities research in our catchment area as well expanding to rural areas.

Genetic epidemiologist Fred Schumacher is an
Fred Schumacher
associate professor in the department of quantitative health sciences. Schumacher is an international leader studying the role of germline genetics in cancer susceptibility and progression, and has a researcher interest in cancer, especially prostate cancer. His research findings have enabled the discovery of cancer genetic risk factors, generalizability of genetic effects among non-White populations, and evaluated the utility of genetics in cancer risk prediction. Recent projects include the identification of new prostate cancer loci associated with prostate cancer as well as early onset of cancer. This study increased knowledge of prostate cancer genetic risk factors, allowing the team to create genetic risk scores of developing prostate cancer. The work has also led to a clinical trial to assess the utility of the polygenic risk score in a cohort of men at high-risk for prostate cancer ( Schumacher, Nat Genet, 2018). "One of my major priorities for CPC is fostering the development and submission of program project grants to further complement the outstanding research programs of our members," said Schumacher. He is also prioritizing the development of inter-programmatic collaborations across the cancer center.

Erika Trapl is an associate professor in the department
Erika Trapl
of quantitative health sciences, having trained in epidemiology with a focus on health behavior and statistical methodology. Her research is focused on adolescent health risk behavior, multiple determinants of health and tobacco prevalence and prevention. She is currently the PI of the Ohio Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network funded by the CDC/NCI, Co-I and Associate Director of the CDC-funded Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods (PRCHN), and Co-Director of the PRCHN's Neighborhood Environmental Assessment Project. Trapl has extensive experience in community-based tobacco control research and evaluation, with specific interest in cigar, cigarillo and little cigar use among urban adolescents and young adults ( Antognoli, Tob Control, 2019; Trapl, Ethn Dis, 2018). One of Trapl's goals as co-leader is to strengthen the portfolio of primary and secondary prevention research within CPC. "We have great opportunities to partner across clinical and community-based organizations to study expansion of evidence-based interventions to reduce cancer risk," she said.

Please join us in congratulating Fred and Erika on their new leadership roles!
MEMBER/CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
Join the Case CCC Administration Team
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Case CCC logo
is currently seeking a Director of Research Programs (Senior Research Associate). The role will work closely with the Center Director and Scientific Program leaders, serving as subject matter expert on scientific and technical grant writing for researchers and non-research staff to develop, direct, and manage a variety of programs and funding opportunities in the Center designed to build collaborative research in cancer.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Cancer Center Seminar Series: "Exploiting exosomes and tumor stroma for treatment of pancreatic cancer"
Feb 1, 12p | WRB Auditorium

Raghu Kalluri, MD, PhD is today's  guest seminar
speaker. He will be presenting, "Exploiting exosomes and tumor stroma for treatment of pancreatic cancer"  at noon in the WRB Auditorium. Dr. Kalluri moved to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2012 as Chairman and Professor of the Department of Cancer Biology and Director of the Metastasis Research Center. Dr. Kalluri currently holds the RE Bob Smith Distinguished Chair for Cancer Biology. In 2015, he received the Jacob Henle Medal from the Georg-August University to honor his contribution to medical research. He serves on science and health advisory panels in the USA and EU and is on the editorial boards of several academic journals. His laboratory is interested in the study of cell/tissue microenvironment and its impact on cancer progression and metastasis. 


NEW! Beginning this week, 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.  Click here at noon to watch!
Seidman Cancer Center Grand Rounds
Feb 9, 8a | Lerner Tower 2060

Seidman Cancer Center has re-launched Grand Rounds,
a monthly seminar series occurring the second Friday of each month between 8 and 9am. Internal and external speakers will be invited to discuss advances in translational and clinical cancer research. Please contact Drs. Marcos de Lima or Afshin Dowlati if you have suggestions for external speakers.
Reserve Your Spot for the 3rd Annual Cancer Disparities Symposium
Mar 1, 2019 | Tinkham Veale University Center

The Office of Cancer Disparities Research at the  Case Comprehensive Cancer Center   invites you to join the national movement of cancer disparities research, collaboration and programming at the 3rd Annual Cancer Disparities Symposium on March 1, 2019. 

Registration
Registration includes access to all symposium sessions, materials, breakfast, lunch, refreshments during breaks and free covered parking.  Reserve your spot today!

Disparities Banner 2019-final

Why you should attend:
  • Network with national experts
  • Explore federal funding opportunities 
  • Learn about
    • Precision medicine and disparities
    • Cancer disparities research and our community
    • Educational tools to reach diverse populations
    • Clinical research partnerships
Plenary Address
Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD , Director, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), will discuss cancer disparities research trends and funding opportunities. 
 
Distinguished Scientist Keynote
Rick Kittles, PhD, Associate Director of Health Equities at City of Hope, will give a research-focused presentation on cancer disparities research. 

Continuing Research Education Credits (CREC)
Attendees are eligible to receive six (6) continuing research education credits.
GvHD Symposium
April 26, 2019 | Cleveland Airport Marriott

Registration is now open for the 8th Annual Graft vs. Host Disease Symposium to take place Friday, April 26 at the Cleveland Airport Marriott. 

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 Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD), to promote research to further our understanding of its cause, and to review cutting edge approaches to prevention and treatment.

Over 1,400 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. more>
Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium
May 2, 2019 | Columbus, OH

Registration is now open for the Great Lakes Breast Cancer Research Symposium (GLBCRS) to take place Thursday, May 2, 2019 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.

Submit an Abstract
The deadline to submit an abstract for this symposium is Friday, March 1, 2019.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Travel Awards Available for Trainees
The Office of Cancer Training and Education at the Case CCC would like to announce the availability of funds to help offset the cost of travel for trainees of the Case CCC to present their research at national meetings.

Eligibility
  • Trainees (graduate/medical students, postdocs and residents/fellows in an oncology discipline) conducting cancer-focused research with a member of the Case CCC.
  • Attend a national conference to present your research (poster or oral presentation).
  • Have funds available for any travel expenses not covered by the award

Application

Send your name, mentor's name and accepted or proposed abstract with title to Damian Junk at [email protected]. Applications will be accepted and awards will be offered on a rolling basis.

 

Rules

Funds will only be distributed upon receipt of actual travel expenses or to cover the cost of conference registration and flights in advance. All travel covered by the award must comply with CWRU and Federal travel policies. Award amounts may vary. Please contact Damian Junk with any questions.

SITC Fellowship Awards
Deadline: Feb 25, 2019

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer's (SITC) Fellowship Awards program was established tosupport the development of young investigators in the field to cultivate the next generation of cancer immunotherapy experts. Since 2014, SITC has committed more than $2 million in fellowship awards to deserving young investigators. Submissions are open for three (3) 2019 fellowship awards as follows:
Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards
Deadline: March 15, 2019

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
encourages all theoretical and experimental research relevant to the study of cancer and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies and prevention.

Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are granted for a four-year term with second-, third- and fourth-  year funding contingent upon satisfactory progress reports. Fellows in their first and third years of funding will attend Damon Runyon Fellows' Retreats designed to foster collaboration and interaction between scientists working in different fields relevant to cancer. Eligibility and application information>
W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program
Internal Deadline: March 19, 2019

The W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by funding fundamental, high-risk research in two specific areas: 1) medical research and 2) science and engineering. Both Senior and Early Career investigators are encouraged to apply. 

Case Western Reserve University may submit two proposals per funding cycle: one (1) in Medical Research and one (1) in Science and Engineering Research. The program has the potential to provide $1 million in funding over three years.

IN THE NEWS
Ask the Experts: Brachytherapy's Place in the Prostate Cancer Armamentarium
Renal & Urology News
Cleveland Clinic radiation oncologist and member of the Case CCC's GU Malignancies Program Jay P. Ciezki, MD provides his insight on the convenience, efficacy and challenges of brachytherapy.

A 'Sentimental Journey' in the Cancer Clinic
NY Times - Jan 17, 2019
"I am a firm believer in the ability of music to help people express their emotions, hopes and fears, making their medical conditions more tolerable," writes Mikkael Sekeres, MD, MS, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic.
NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities
Notices
Notice of Request for Information to Better Facilitate Cancer Systems Epidemiology Research

Notice of Additional Receipt Date for PAR-19-093 "Leveraging Health Information Technology (Health IT) to Address Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)"

Program Announcements
Administrative Supplements to NCI Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards to Support Collaborations with the PDX Development and Trial Centers Research Network (PDXNet) (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed)(PA-19-174)

Request for Applications
Provocative Questions (PQs) in Cancer with an Underlying HIV Infection (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Deadline: Aug 1, 2019; Aug 3, 2020
IN THIS ISSUE
EVENTSevents
Fri, Feb 1
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
8a CA5-120

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Raghu Kalluri, MD, PhD
RE Bob Smith Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research
Professor and Chair, Department of Cancer Biology
Director, Metastasis Research Center
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
"Exploiting exosomes and tumor stroma for treatment of pancreatic cancer"
12p WRB Auditorium
Mon, Feb 4
Genomic Medicine Institute
Feixiong Cheng, PhD
Assistant Staff, Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic
"Network medicine: From cellular networks to precision medicine"
12p NE1-205

Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
1p WRB 3-136

Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Meeting
4p WRB 1-422D
Tues, Feb 5
Power of Diversity Lecture
Estela Mara Bensimon, PhD
Dean's Professor in Educational Equity
Director of the Center for Urban Education
University of Southern California
"Reclaiming racial justice in equity"
4:30p Tinkham Veale University Center Ballroom A
Weds, Feb 6
Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar - Virology Journal Club
Angelica Cruz Lebron
Levine Lab, CWRU
12p WRT 206
Thurs, Feb 7
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a N E 6-218

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar
Curtis Dobrowolski 
Karn Lab, CWRU
1p SOM W203
Fri, Feb 8
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
8a CA5-120

UH Seidman Cancer Center Grand Rounds
8a Lerner Tower 2060

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Chuanyue Wu, PhD
Professor of Pathology
Lombardi and Shinozuka Experimental Pathology Research Chair
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
"Cell-matrix adhesion: Molecular basis, signaling and diseases"
12p WRB Auditorium
Mon, Feb 11
Shared Resources Directors Meeting
12p WRB 1422D

Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
1p WRB 3-136

Genomic Medicine Institute
Kenan Onel, MD, PhD
Professor, Genetics and Genomics Sciences
Associate Director, Tisch Cancer Institute for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Precision Oncology
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
"From genomic questions to clinical answers in cancer"
3p NE1-205
Weds, Feb 13
PRCHN Seminar Series
Jim Spilsbury, Phd
Associate Professor, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, CWRU
12p BioEnterprise Corporation

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar - Virology Journal Club
Braulio Llorens
12p WRT 206
Thurs, Feb 14
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a N E 6-218

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar
Angelica Cruz-Lebron
Stephanie Swedik
Levine Lab, CWRU
1p SOM W203

Races for Research Beer Dinner
Proceeds to benefit the Research Institute for Children's Health at Case Western Reserve University
6:30p TownHall Ohio City
Fri, Feb 15
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
8a CA5-120

Cancer Center Seminar Series: Olof Pearson Guest Speaker
John C. Byrd, MD
Distinguished University Professor
D. Warren Brown Chair of Leukemia Research
Senior Adviser for Cancer Experimental Therapeutics
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
"Targeted therapies for leukemia"
12p WRB Auditorium
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS
prev-funding
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center