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July 17, 2018
VELOSANO BIKE TO CURE
Join Team Case CCC!
VeloSano logo
There are only a few more days left before VeloSano Bike to Cure , July 20-22, 2018!  

Please get involved and show your support for the cancer research being conducted right here in Cleveland! 

There are three ways to get involved: Ride with us! Cheer with us! Donate to Team Case CCC


Remember - to be eligible for Case CCC VeloSano pilot funding you must participate in VeloSano as a rider or volunteer and be a Case CCC member. 

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ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC RETREAT
Annual Scientific Retreat 2018
Jul 26-27, 2018

If you haven't done so already, please register for the Case CCC scientific retreat, Jul 26-27, 2018!

The keynote address will be Hsing-Jien Kung delivered Thurs, Jul 26 at the Tinkham Veale University Center by Dr. Hsing-Jien Kung, Deputy Director and and Director of Basic Research and Distinguished Professor, Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis at University of California, Davis. 

Thursday's program will also feature an update from Cancer Center Director Dr. Stan Gersona judged student/trainee poster session, and a reception. This is a great chance to catch up with your colleagues and see the exciting research being conducted by the next generation of researchers! 

Friday's program will be held at Corporate College East. The agenda will focus on the scientific initiatives and really get into the research being conducted by our Center. Leaders of the scientific initiatives will provide a brief overview, then we will hear scientific presentations being conducted within those initiatives, plus presentations to highlight exciting services and technology provided by Cancer Center shared resources. In addition, all scientific programs will meet during the lunch breakout sessions where we your leaders look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on how to make the program even better.  

Please plan to attend this important event! It's one of only a few opportunities where all members gather in one place - we need you there and we promise you'll be glad you came. 
ASH ANNUAL MEETING
60th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition
Dec 1-4, 2018 | San Diego, CA
ASH logo The American Society of Hematology is accepting abstracts for the 60th Annual Meeting & Exposition. The deadline to submit abstracts is August 1, 2018. 

As you prepare your submissions for this and other meetings, we have a few reminders: 
  • Remember to list your Case Comprehensive Cancer Center affiliation. 
  • All publications should reference Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (P30CA43703) support and use of any shared resources. 
  • Case CCC administration can provide logos and templates for posters and slides. Contact Gillian Irwin (gmi@case.edu) for assistance. 
MEMBER/CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
Men and Women have Different Genetic Risk Factors for Developing Brain Cancer
Glioma is the most common type of primary malignant brain tumor in the United States; glioblastoma being the most common type of glioma in adults. While sex differences in the incidence and survival rates of glioma were known, researchers had not investigated whether genetic differences based on sex could cast light on potential differences in the risk profile of glioma between men and women.

Now, a team from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, together with an international consortium of researchers, have discovered that men and women have different genetic risk factors for developing glioma.

The research was recently published in  Scientific Reports [Ostrom, Sci Reports, 2018]. The study involved the work of more than 35 investigators representing more than 30 universities, institutes and government agencies worldwide.

Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, PhD "Sex-stratified analyses in studies such as this can reveal novel insights into the known sex differences in glioma and provide previously unknown genetic risk associations," said Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, Sally S. Morley Designated Professor in Brain Tumor Research at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Associate Director for Bioinformatics at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Associate Director for Translational Informatics at the Institute for Computational Biology. "This finding could provide an avenue to gaining a better understanding of sex differences in brain tumor incidence, and may also suggest varying mechanisms and pathways of the disease." more>
Prostate Cancer Drug Metabolite May Fuel Cancer Cells
A genetic anomaly in certain men with prostate cancer may impact their response to common drugs used to treat the disease, according to new research at  Cleveland Clinic. The findings may provide important information for identifying which patients potentially fare better when treated with an alternate therapy.
In a newly published study in  Journal of Clinical Investigation (Alyamani, J Clin Invest, 2018), researchers found that abiraterone, a common prostate cancer drug, yields high-levels of a testosterone-like byproduct in men with advanced disease who have a specific genetic variant.

Nima Sharifi The study's lead researcher,  Nima Sharifi, MD, Cleveland Clinic  Lerner Research Institute Department of Cancer Biology and Leader of the GU Malignancies Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, previously discovered that men with aggressive prostate cancer who have a specific variant in the HSD3B1 gene have poorer outcomes than patients without the variant.  HSD3B1 encodes an enzyme that allows cancer cells to use adrenal androgens for fuel. This enzyme is overactive in patients with the variant HSD3B1(1245C).

In the new study, Dr. Sharifi and his team, including first author Mohammad Alyamani, PhD, found that men with the genetic anomaly metabolize abiraterone differently than men without the variant.  more>
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
A Be Well Facebook Live: Tour A Colon Cancer Research Lab!
Jul 20, 2018 | Facebook
Be Well graphic Join Be Well Managing Producer Kay Colby on a tour of a colon cancer research lab in a special FACEBOOK LIVE broadcast from the lab of Dr. Zhenghe John Wang, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center We'll talk with a team of doctors from University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic to learn about colorectal cancer, as well as the importance of cancer research. 

You can join the conversation with questions and comments LIVE on Facebook Live! We are hoping for some great engagement from the community. 

Join the conversation by submitting comments and questions. If you like or follow 90.3 WCPN ideastream Facebook page, the event will automatically pop up in their feed that day.
HIP-Cuyahoga Care Pack Drive
In partnership with HIP-Cuyahoga, the Office of Cancer Disparities Research (OCDR) is hosting a Care Pack drive. Drop-off boxes will be available starting tomorrow through August 15 in the following locations:
  • Cancer Administration Office (WRB 1422)
  • OCDR Office (WRB 3528)
  • OCDR BioEnterprise (BioEnterprise 4th Floor)
  • Annual Case CCC Scientific Retreat
HIP Cuyahoga care pack drive 2018


Cancer Stem Cell Conference
Aug 6-8, 2018 | Tinkham Veale 

There is still time to register for  Cancer Stem Cell Conference (CSC 2018)CSC 2018, hosted by the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Center for Regenerative Medicine, is designed to bring together individuals working in the field of cancer stem cell research. CSC 2018 will feature renowned keynote speakers and leaders in the field. This conference is guaranteed to have cutting-edge research from a variety of niches within the field.


Conference Highlights
  • Agenda will integrate invited talks from thought leaders in the CSC field with short talks from early-stage investigators and trainees selected from submitted abstracts.
  • Sessions will cover exciting topics: New Technologies, Development & Genetics, Metastasis, Epigenetics, Tumor Microenvironment, CSC-immune Cell Interactions, and Metabolism & CSC Fate Decisions
  • Pre-conference career development workshop for junior faculty and trainees
    • Meet the Editors: Natalie Cain, PhD (Cell Reports), Mark W. Landis, PhD (Cancer Discovery) and Teodoro Pulvirenti, PhD (JEM)
    • Discussion of NIH grants: Michael Graham Espey, PhD (NCI/NIH) and Michele McGuirl, PhD (NCI/NIH), Nywana Sizemore, PhD (Center for Scientific Review/NIH)
  • Opportunity to share ideas with world-class investigators in stem cell research. 2016 CSC was attended by over 300 people from 20 countries and 25 U.S. states.
Keynote Speakers
Ned Sharpless
Norman 'Ned' E. Sharpless, MD
National Cancer Institute

John Condeelis
John S. Condeelis, PhD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Irving Weissman
Irving Weissman, PhD
Stanford University
Zena Werb
Zena Werb, PhD
University of California, San Francisco
 
IN THE NEWS
Telemedicine could soften geneticist shortage
Crain's Cleveland Business - Jul 15, 2018
To help meet the growing demand for genetics services amid a national shortage of genetic providers, some health systems in Northeast Ohio have turned to telemedicine.  Science has offered many more ways that patients can benefit from learning about their genes, and the cost of the technology has come down, helping to drive demand.  "Today we have more tools, and we understand the genetics better," said Dr. Anthony Wynshaw-Boris, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, chair of the department of genetics and genome sciences at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and head of the clinical genetic activities throughout the University Hospitals health system.
The Cancer Letter - Jun 29, 2018
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center has earned NCI's highest rating and $31.9 million in grants.  The "exceptional" rating comes as the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center-a collaboration among Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals-celebrates its 30th anniversary. The NCI review recognized Stanton Gerson, the Asa and Patricia Shiverick-Jane Shiverick (Tripp) Professor of Hematological Oncology at Case Western Reserve and the cancer center's director since 2004, for his leadership and for developing such initiatives implementing a strategic-planning effort and enhanced transdisciplinary collaborations, establishing the Office of Cancer Disparities Research and recruiting talented new senior leaders and researchers.
Nurses Can Help Improve Patient-Physician Communication About End-of-Life Care
Oncology Nursing News - Jun 29, 2018
Patient and physician goals in end-of-life care are sometimes at odds with one another. But nurses may be able to help facilitate discussions between patients and physicians to give both parties a better understanding of each other's goals and ultimately lead to better care. In a study presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting, Sara Douglas, PhD, RN, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and her colleagues from Case Western Reserve University and Flatiron Health expanded on their initial work examining physician and patient goals of care at end of life in the ICU.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $46 million grant to a citywide collaboration among Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals and the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center.  It's the third consecutive time that the collaboration has received such funding. In total, the NIH has invested nearly $175 million in the effort since 2007, according to a news release...Dr. Clifford Harding, chair of pathology at CWRU's School of Medicine, will lead the portion of the grant that provides students considering clinical and translational research meaningful experiences in this area. Mark Chance, the medical school's vice dean for research, also is an associate principal investigator on the award.
Updated Hypofractionated WBI Guideline from ASTRO for Early Invasive Breast Cancer
Medpage Today - Jun 26, 2018
An updated guideline regarding the use of fractionation for whole-breast irradiation (WBI) in women with breast cancer was recently released by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).  Following lumpectomy, radiation therapy is recommended for most women to reduce the risk of recurrence as well as death secondary to breast cancer. Asked his perspective about the updated guideline, Chirag Shah, MD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, who was not part of the guideline panel, explained that radiation therapy for these patients has traditionally consisted of treatment to the whole breast for 5 weeks or 25 treatments (i.e., standard WBI), and an additional four to eight treatments are routinely given to the area surrounding the lumpectomy cavity (i.e., tumor bed boost) based on data from studies that have demonstrated a further reduction in local recurrence with the addition of a boost.
Nathan Pennell, MD, PhD, director, Lung Cancer Medical Oncology Program, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the economic impact of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  The study, which was presented at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting, took a hypothetical cohort of 1 million patients from a payer perspective, identifying how many were likely to get metastatic NSCLC and how many would be covered by Medicare or Medicaid versus private insurance. Researches calculated the costs of single-gene tests versus NGS and then compared what it would cost all of them using 3 other strategies.
The Rapidly Evolving Landscape of Immunotherapy in RCC
Oncology Times - Jun 20, 2018
Drs. Brian Rini, Professor of Medicine, Lerner College of Medicine, and Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, and Moshe Ornstein, Associate Staff, Genitourinary Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
American Cancer Society IRG Awards
LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: Aug 3, 2018
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Aug 17, 2018
  • ACS logo Pilot funding for CANCER-RELATED research with a basic, clinical, prevention & control, behavioral, health services, or epidemiological focus.
  • Up to $30,000 award.
  • Applications accepted for general cancer-related projects and for special interest projects in adolescent-and-young-adult cancer research.
ELIGIBILITY
IRG pilot project grants are intended to support independent, self-directed investigators early in their careers (usually assistant professor or equivalent). Applicants for the pilot project grants should be within 6 years of their first independent research or faculty appointment and eligible to apply for an independent national competitive research grant, but do not currently hold such a cancer-related grant.
Opportunities for Pilot Projects from Cancer Innovation Award
Deadline:  Aug 3, 2018
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is providing seed funding for highly innovative and impactful proposals that will generate key data for larger, nationally competitive grants. Projects must be transformative in nature and may focus on technology development, innovative biological or therapeutic questions, novel concepts in catchment-based research, or topics that have the potential to overturn dogma. Investigators should submit novel ideas which may be high risk but are exceptionally innovative.  This RFA is open to all Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Members. These projects must not be currently funded by other sources or by the Cancer Center.

AWARD DESCRIPTION
  • Up to 5 research projects will be funded. Total funds committed to this RFA are $250,000.
  • Each research project can request a budget of up to $50,000 for one year.
  • Research projects should be completed within one year.
Opportunities for Pilot Projects to Support New Collaborative Initiatives
Deadline:  Aug 17, 2018
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is providing seed funding for new collaborative multi-investigator and impactful proposals that will complement the Case CCC Scientific Initiatives and generate key data for larger, nationally competitive grants. Projects must be transformative in nature and focus on Genomics, Drug Discovery, Community and Disparities Research, AYA, Immunotherapy, Women's Cancers, or Brain Tumors. Investigators should submit ideas that will build new collaborations.  This RFA is open to all Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Members. These projects must not be currently funded by other sources or by the Cancer Center.

AWARD DESCRIPTION
  • Up to 5 research projects will be funded. Total funds committed to this RFA are $300,000.
  • Each research project can request a budget of up to $75,000 for one year.
  • Research projects should be completed within one year.
  • Research must include at least 1 project and 2 PIs.
NIH BULLETIN- Notices and Funding Opportunities
rfas 
Notices
Notice of Intent to Publish: Tobacco Cessation Interventions Among People Living with HIV/AIDS (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)(NOT-CA-18-078)

Notice of Intent to Publish: Tobacco Cessation Interventions Among People Living with HIV/AIDS (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)(NOT-CA-18-079) 

Notice of Change to Application Types Allowed in PA-17-239 "Secondary Analysis and Integration of Existing Data to Elucidate the Genetic Architecture of Cancer Risk and Related Outcomes (R01)"(NOT-CA-18-080)

Notice of Change in Expiration Date and Application and Submission Information for PAR-16-138 "Cancer Research Education Grants Program to Promote Diversity - Research Experiences (R25)"(NOT-CA-19-081)

Notice of Change in Expiration Date and Application and Submission Information for PAR-16-139 "Cancer Research Education Grants Program to Promote Diversity - Courses for Skills Development (R25)"(NOT-CA-18-082)

Pre-Application Webinar for RFA-CA-18-015 " NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Bases (UG1 Clinical Trial Required)"(NOT-CA-18-083)

Pre-Application Webinar for RFA-CA-18-016 " NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Community Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Required)"(NOT-CA-18-084)

Pre-Application Webinar for RFA-CA-18-017 " NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Minority/Underserved Community Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Required)"(NOT-CA-19-085)

Notice of Correction to NOT-CA-18-071 "Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for the Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (FusOnC2) Consortium (U54)"(NOT-CA-18-086)

Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for Integrative Data Analysis to Extend Research in Cancer Control and Population Sciences (Admin Supp Clinical Trial - Optional)(NOT-CA-18-087)

Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for NCI Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards to Support Pediatric Cancer Control Research Across the Lifespan (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)(NOT-CA-18-088)

Program Announcements
Oncology Co-Clinical Imaging Research Resources to Encourage Consensus on Quantitative Imaging Methods and Precision Medicine (U24 - Clinical Trial Optional)(PAR-18-841)
Deadline: Nov 19, 2018; Jun 14, 2019; Nov 19, 2019; Jun 15, 2020; Nov 17, 2020; Jun 14, 2021

Administrative Supplements to Support Cancer Disparity Collaborative Research (Clinical Trial Optional)(PA-18-842)
Deadline: Sep 10, 2018

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): Basic Mechanisms of Health Effects (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)(PAR-18-845)
Deadline: Oct 24, 2018; Jun 27, 2019; Oct 24, 2019; Jun 27, 2020

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): Basic Mechanisms of Health Effects (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)(PAR-18-846)
Deadline: Oct 24, 2018; Jun 27, 2019; Oct 24, 2019; Jun 27, 2020

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): Population, Clinical and Applied Prevention Research (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)(PAR-18-847)
Deadline: Oct 24, 2018; Jun 27, 2019; Oct 24, 2019; Jun 27, 2020

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): Population, Clinical and Applied Prevention Research (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional)(PAR-18-848)
Deadline: Oct 24, 2018; Jun 27, 2019; Oct 24, 2019; Jun 27, 2020

IN THIS ISSUE
EVENTSevents
Thurs, Jul 19
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a R4-013
Fri, Jul 20
A Be Well Facebook Live: Tour A Colon Cancer Research Lab!
1:30p 
Fri, Jul 20 - Sun, Jul 22
VeloSano Weekend
Tues, Jul 24
Cancer Imaging Monthly Meeting
Ethan Walker
1:30p Wearn B37
Thurs, Jul 26
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a R4-013 Cleveland Clinic

Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat
4:30p Tinkham Veale University Center
Fri, Jul 27
Case CCC Annual Scientific Retreat
8:15a Corporate College East

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS
prev-funding
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center 
2103 Cornell Road, Ste 1422
Cleveland, OH 44106-7285