Case CCC News - Jun 26, 2018

June 26, 2018

MEMBER/CENTER HIGHLIGHTS

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Earns 'Exceptional' Rating, $31.9 Million in Grants for Research and Education from National Cancer Institute

Collaboration across Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals celebrates 30th anniversary as one of nation's elite cancer centers

Northeast Ohio's coordinated effort to combat cancer has earned an extraordinary endorsement from the National Cancer Institute (NCI): its highest-possible rating and $31.9 million to continue its lifesaving work.

The rating of "exceptional" comes as the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center-a collaboration among Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals-celebrates its 30th anniversary of improving cancer outcomes through scientific discovery.

The center is one of just 49 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers nationally, and one of a small handful to earn an exceptional rating after an exhaustive review of its programs, which involve more than 370 physicians and scientists across the three organizations. The NCI evaluates cancer centers every five years as part of its grant renewal process.

"This 'exceptional' rating reflects national recognition of the excellence of our 370 brilliant and dedicated center members," President Barbara R. Snyder said, "as well as the inspiring progress they can make when they work together to defeat the common enemy that is cancer. We deeply appreciate the National Cancer Institute's support in helping us find still more treatments and cures for this deadly and devastating disease." more>

Additional Coverage
Cleveland's Collective Effort to Fight Cancer Garners High Marks and Big Money [ideastream - Jun 22, 2018]

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center earns NCI 'exceptional' rating, $31.9 million in grants [Crain's Cleveland Business - Jun 22, 2018]

Watch newly released video about the Case CCC

VELOSANO BIKE TO CURE

Join Team Case CCC!

It's hard to believe there is less than 1 month before VeloSano weekend! Team Case CCC is going strong so far, and continuing to recruit at Case CCC institutions.

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.

We are one of the top teams - join us and help to raise money to fund cancer research in Cleveland!

Basket Raffle!

Team Case CCC is holding a fundraising basket raffle this week! All money raised goes to VeloSano Bike to Cure. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 (cash only).

Ticket sales:

Tues, Jun 26, 10a-2p - WRB Lobby
Wed, Jun 27, 10a-2p - WRB Lobby
Thurs, Jun 28, 10a-2p - BRB Lobby
Fri, Jun 29, 10a-12p - BRB Lobby

Winners will be drawn Fri, Jun 29 at 12p.

Contact Team Captain Mary Wright at [email protected] with any questions or to purchase tickets.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Annual Scientific Retreat 2018

Jul 26-27, 2018

The Retreat Organizing Committee is excited to announce that registration is open for the Case CCC scientific retreat, Jul 26-27, 2018.

The keynote address will be

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 Gerson, a judged student/trainee poster session, and a reception.

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.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

All students, postdocs, and fellows conducting cancer research are invited to submit abstracts. Cancer Center leadership will review abstracts based on the relationship to cancer, novelty, significance of findings, and clarity. Monetary Prizes will be awarded.

Winners will be announced at the beginning of the general poster/networking session on Thurs, Jul 26. Winners will also have the opportunity to provide a one-minute "elevator pitch" highlighting their research at the general session of the retreat on Fri, Jul 27 in the presence of the Cancer Center membership. Winning posters will also be on display that day during the retreat wrap-up from 4:50-6:30p.

Abstract submission deadline is Fri, Jul 6 at 5p via email to [email protected]. Visit the retreat website for detailed instructions.

Cancer Stem Cell Conference

Aug 6-8, 2018 | Tinkham Veale

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) and National Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) invite you to Cancer Stem Cell Conference (CSC 2018)! Now in it's third year, CSC 2018 will feature renowned thought leaders in the field of cancer stem cell research. This conference is guaranteed to offer cutting-edge keynote presentations from a variety of niches within the field. Join world-class investigators for this 3-day summit and network with scientists and clinicians advancing cancer stem cell research and therapeutic applications.

Conference Highlights

The 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.
Pre-conference career development workshop for junior faculty and trainees

Meet the Editors: Natalie Cain, PhD (CellReports), Mark Landis, PhD (CancerDiscovery) and Teodoro Pulvirenti, PhD (JEM)
Discussion of NIH grants: Michael Espey, PhD (NCI) and Michelle McGuirl, PhD (NIH)

Young Investigator Awards available to support travel for senior trainees or junior faculty (less than 5 years from their first independent position).
Opportunity to share ideas with world-class investigators in stem cell research. 2016 CSC was attended by over 300 from 20 countries and 25 U.S. states. This year's conference is on track to attract a similar crowd of colleagues.

Keynote Speakers

Norman 'Ned' E. Sharpless, MD National Cancer Institute	John S. Condeelis, PhD Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Irving Weissman, PhD Stanford University	Zena Werb, PhD University of California, San Francisco

IN THE NEWS

University Hospitals is Hitting Mark with Proton Therapy

Crain's Cleveland Business - Jun 24, 2018

While some proton therapy centers across the country have reportedly struggled to stay profitable, officials at University Hospitals say they've found the "sweet spot" two years after the Cleveland-based health system opened its own $30 million center. UH's Proton Therapy Center, which saw its first patient in July 2016 and is the only of its kind in the region, serves at least 20 patients a day, which puts the center in a financially healthy position to sustain its $25 million annual budget, said Dr. Ted Teknos, president and scientific director of UH Seidman Cancer Center and deputy director for University Hospitals, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center...Cleveland's other large health system, the Cleveland Clinic, has no plans to obtain proton therapy technology, said Dr. John Suh, chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Clinic's Taussig Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Best Ways to Dispel Patients' 'Cancer Myths' in Clinical Practice

Medscape - Jun 22, 2018

Commentary from Dr. Jack West, medical director of the thoracic oncology program at Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle. Dr. Sumanta Kumar Pal, co-director of the kidney cancer program at City of Hope; and Dr. Timothy Gilligan, vice chair for education and associate professor at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Genomic Analyses Reveal Dozens More Prostate Cancer Susceptibility Loci

Cancer Network - Jun 22, 2018

A large genomic analysis of more than 140,000 men identified more than 60 new prostate cancer susceptibility loci, including one locus significantly associated with early onset of the malignancy. The study could improve risk prediction and help elucidate the underlying biology of prostate cancer. " Although prostate cancer is the most common noncutaneous cancer among men in the Western world, and one in seven men will be diagnosed during their lifetime, very few modifiable risk factors have been established,"wrote study authors led by Fredrick R. Schumacher, PhD, MPH, of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Previous genome-wide association studies have identified more than 100 gene variants associated with prostate cancer. For the new studies, the researchers developed a custom high-density genotyping array (OncoArray). First, they applied this to a dataset from previously published studies of 46,939 prostate cancer cases and 27,910 controls with no known prostate cancer diagnosis. They then compared this with previously genotyped data from 32,255 prostate cancer cases and 33,202 controls, for a total of 79,194 cases and 61,112 controls. Results were published in Nature Genetics.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

*NEW* 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.

*NEW* 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.

Opportunities for Pilot Projects in Cancer Disparities Research

Deadline: Jul 2, 2018

The Office of Cancer Disparities Research of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is providing seed funding for highly innovative and impactful disparities-focused proposals that will generate key data for larger, nationally competitive grants. Attention to cancer disparities (or catchment area) is a cross-cutting theme across the scientific programs; thus projects aligned with the Center's strategic plan, and specifically the Community and Cancer Health Disparities scientific initiative, are preferred. Collaborative, multi-investigator projects are particularly encouraged. The main goal of this RFA is to stimulate novel research designed to (1) improve understanding of factors that contribute to cancer disparities and (2) develop and test interventions for reducing and ultimately eliminating them. Transdisciplinary, interprogrammatic, and translational approaches are especially encouraged, as are new investigator proposals.