newsletter masthead
March 8, 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dr. Stan Gerson Stan Gerson, MD
Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Change in Administrative Leadership
Dear members of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center community:

I want to update you on a change in leadership within
Kilbane, Megan
Megan Kilbane, MBA
Cancer Center administration. At the end of this month  Megan Kilbane, MBA will be stepping down as Associate Director for Administration to take a position at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. In her new role as Senior Administrator for Cancer Research, Megan will oversee multiple research projects, both basic and clinical, and will continue to foster collaboration between institutions. 
 
Megan was hired by the Case CCC as Assistant Dean for Oncology, Strategic Development, and Chief of Staff to the Director in January 2015. She was appointed Associate Director for Administration in October 2016. She stewarded the organization to our Exceptional rating review by the National Cancer Institute in 2017, an accomplishment that has been met with national acclaim. She has reorganized and expanded the administrative team into an effective, Case CCC member-responsive organization.
 
The cancer center will hold a national search for the Associate Director for Administration. We will send out the posting as soon as it is approved by human resources.
 
In the meantime, we are grateful to have a very
John Pounardjian
John Pounardjian, MBA
accomplished administrator to move into the role ofActing Associate Director for Administration. John Pounardjian, MBA was named Deputy Associate Director of Administration in March 2017. He has been a member of the Case CCC administration team since 2012, previously serving as GI SPORE Administrator. 
 
Please join me in wishing Megan the best of luck in her new role. We are confident she will continue to steward the mission of the Case CCC at Taussig. Congratulate John on taking on the role, while you help him keep the center vibrant.
MEMBER/CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
CWRU School of Medicine Selected for STAT Madness Bracket
The Case Western Reserve School of Medicine was
named 1 of 64 teams to compete in STAT madness, a bracket-style tournament to find the best innovations in science and medicine from institutions across the country. Thank you to all who cast votes for the project, "Cancer Test You Can Swallow" led by Case CCC members  Sandy Markowitz, MD, PhD and Amitabh Chak, MD, MS! The match-up in round one was a tight race that unfortunately did not push the innovative project to round two.

Round two of voting has begun and many projects from fellow cancer centers and the Cleveland Clinic advanced in the bracket from round one. Check them out and vote for remaining projects in round two.>
Majhail Appointed President of American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (formerly ASBMT)
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center extends congratulations to Navneet Majhail, MD, MS Majhail, Navneet headshotfor his recent appointment to President of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), formerly known as the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASMBT).

Majhail is Director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at the Cleveland Clinic and a member of the Case CCC's Hematopoietic and Immune Cancer Biology Program.
Gilligan to Speak at NCCN Annual Conference
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network NCCN logo  will host more than 1,500 cancer care professionals at its annual conference in Orlando, Florida from March 21-23, 2019.

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center member Timothy Gilligan, MD, MS will present, "Staging of Testicular Cancer: Germ Cell Tumors" on Friday, March 22 at 3:25pm. Read more about this years' conference highlights and focus>
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Cancer Center Seminar Series: "Metabolic Regulation of Melanoma Metastasis"
Mar 8, 12p | WRB Auditorium

Join us today at noon in the Wolstein Research Building Auditorium to hear Sean Morrison, PhD present, "Metabolic Regulation of Melanoma Metastasis." Dr. Morrison is Director of the Children's Medical Center Research Institute, the Kathryne and Gene Bishope Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research and Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.


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>
Biomedical Innovation & Entrepreneur Club
Mar 20, 4-6p | BRB 932

Case Western Reserve University is home to a new entrepreneurship club, meeting the third Wednesday of every month! Graduate students, medical students and post-docs are welcome to attend.

Curious to know how the licensing process works for commercializing a product or therapeutic? As a student, what is your share of the intellectual property? Please bring your questions to the next meeting with Stephanie Weidenbecher, MBA, MS and Wayne Hawthorne, MBA from the CWRU Tech Transfer Office.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Save $10 on GvHD Symposium Registration
April 26, 2019 | Cleveland Airport Marriott
 
Annual Graft  vs. Host Disease Symposium to take place Friday, April 26 at the Cleveland Airport Marriott. Use code CANCERCENTER to save $10 on your registration.

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.   more>
CANCER CENTER PROFILE: CLINICAL TRIAL
Can a Swallowable Capsule Revolutionize Screening for Esophageal Cancer?  

An NIH-funded, multi-center clinical trial underway at University Hospitals (UH) is aimed at improving outcomes for patients with Barrett's Esophagus (BE) and esophageal cancer. The outcome of this cancer remains poor, accounting for over one in 50 adult male cancer-related deaths. UH gastroenterologist and Case CCC member  Amitabh Chak, MD is looking to change this state of affairs through this clinical trial.

Barrett's esophagus, a precursor of esophageal cancer, can be easily recognized at endoscopy; however, current clinical strategies of endoscopic screening and surveillance based on the close association of BE with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults are woefully inadequate. Despite endoscopic screening and surveillance efforts, less than 5 percent of esophageal cancers are diagnosed in individuals with previously detected BE.

The study involves 4 groups of patients:
  1. Adults 18 and older with known BE or esophageal cancer
  2. Adults between age 40 and 85 who've had heartburn for at least five years and are having esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) for evaluation of GERD
  3. Adults between age 40 and 85 who've had heartburn or taken proton pump inhibitors for at least five years and are referred for a screening colonoscopy
  4. Adult controls 18 and older who are having an EGD without signs of BE or esophageal cancer
White males are at increased risk of BE and esophogeal cancer, which is reflected in the study's inclusion criteria. In groups 2 and 3, patients must be a white male or meet at least 3 of the following criteria:
  • Male gender
  • White race
  • Obesity (BMI > 30)
  • History of smoking
  • Family history - two family members with reported BE or esophageal cancer
If you have a patient who could benefit from this clinical trial, please email Study Coordinator Wendy Brock at [email protected]. more>
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
2019 V Foundation V Scholar Cancer Research Grant
Internal Deadline: March 18, 2019


V Foundation logo The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is invited to nominate one investigator for the V Foundation's V Scholar Cancer Research Grant Program. The V Scholar Award supports early tenure-track faculty by funding a range of projects from laboratory-
based fundamental research through bench to bedside research. The total amount of the grant is $200,000, paid in two annual installments of $100,000. Only direct costs of the research are supported by this award.

Projects may be focused in ANY area of adult cancer research.

Eligibility:
  • US Citizen or permanent legal resident of the US
  • Possess at least 2 years post-doctoral fellowship training
  • Hold a tenure-track faculty position as assistant professor
  • Have been appointed to first full-time assistant professorship within the last 5 years, not yet promoted to associate professor
  • NOT already holding an RO1 or RO1-equivalent as PI or co-leader
  • NOT already a co-leader on projects such as SPORE or NIH grant mechanisms like U01, DP1, DP2, R37 and R23.
Submit a one-page LOI and biosketch to [email protected]Contact John Pounardjian at 216.368.0846 with any questions.
Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation 2019-2021 Cancer Research Awards
Internal Deadline: March 20, 2019


The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is invited 
to nominate one investigator for the new awards  from the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) SWCRF anticipates funding half of the awards for research that will focus on the interplay of aging and cancer; the other half for research that will address aspects of aberrant gene expression, differentiation, or epigenetic therapies that relate to cancer.  8 two-year awards of $100,000 a year are available.  Review the full RFA here.

For consideration, please submit a one-page LOI and biosketch to [email protected]  by Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Contact John Pounardjian at 216.368.0846 with any questions.
University Hospitals Funding Opportunities
Deadlines: April 1 & 3, 2019

University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center has released a request for applications for pilot projects are requested for new cancer-focused research proposals utilizing "big data"/health informatics in cancer research with a focus on population health, health services research, quality and longitudinal outcomes. Applications are due April 1, 2019. View the full RFP>

University Hospitals Case Medical Center Neurological Institute and Seidman Cancer Center is requesting applications for collaborative pilot projects in support of the new Center of Exellence for Translational Neuro-Oncology (CETNO). The RFA supports both research awards and an infrastructure award available to both UH and CWRU-affiliated investigators. Applications are due April 3, 2019. View the full RFP>
Department of Defense (DoD) Funding Opportunities

The office of Congressionally Directed MedicalCDMRP logo Research Programs recently released the following funding opportunity:

IN THE NEWS
15 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Cancer Risk Factors 
Prevention - Feb 8, 2019
Experts share important questions to ask your doctor about your cancer risk factors. Cleveland Clinic hematologist oncologist and member of the Case CCC's Developmental Therapeutics Program Smitha Krishnamurthi, MD comments.

Exploradio Origins: The Birth of Cancer Immunotherapy
WKSU - Feb 14, 2019
"Our newest chemotherapies are immune treatments that recognize abnormal cells based on abnormal proteins which result from the abnormal mutations that occurred because of the mismatch repair loss," says Stan Gerson, MD, Director of the Case CCC.
NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities
Notices
Small Business Organization Type Information Pulled from System for Award Management Record Rather than Grant Application Form

Notice of Special Interest: Administrative Supplements for Activities to Promote Human Immune-Representing Oncology Models


IN THIS ISSUE
EVENTSevents
Fri, Mar 8
CWRU & UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Shave It Off 2019
7a-6p UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Performance Area

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Sean Morrison, PhD
Kathryne and Gene Bishop Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research Children's Research Institute at UT Southwestern Director, Children's Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics
" Metabolic Regulation of Melanoma Metastasis"
12p WRB Auditorium
Mon, Mar 11
Shared Resources Directors Meeting
12p WRB 1-422D

Cancer Center Special Seminar
Xiang-Yang (Shawn) Wang, PhD
Professor of Genetics, Immunology and Radiation
Mary Anderson Harrison Distinguished Professor in Cancer Research
Associate Scientific Director, Immunology
VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine
VCU Massey Cancer Center
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
"Improving Cancer Immune Responsiveness by Lighting a Fire in the Tumor Microenvironment"
12p WRB 2-136

Genomic Medicine Institute Integrative and Translational Seminar Series
David Lemberg, MS, DC
Associate Professor
National University
San Diego, CA
"Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Genomic Medicine Practice"
12p NE1-205

Wolstein Research Building Faculty Meetings with Stan Gerson
2:30p WRB
Weds, Mar 13
PRCHN Monthly Seminar
Monica Webb Hooper, PhD
Director, Office of Cancer Disparities Research
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
"Digital Interventions and African American Tobacco Smokers: Culturally Specific Enhancements"
12p BioEnterprise Building Ground Floor Conference Room

Cancer Center Special Seminar
Mythreye  Karthikeyan, PhD
Assistant Professor 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences
University of South Carolina 
"Growth Factor Networks in Tumor Progression and Metastasis"
12p WRB  2-136

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar: Pathogen of the Month
Nga Le
"Cryptosporidium"
1p WRT 206
Thurs, Mar 14
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a N E 6-218

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar
Fredrick Kizito
Kien Nguyen
1p SOM W203
Fri, Mar 15
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
8a CA5-120

Cancer Center Seminar Series
Jason Mears, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology
Case Western Reserve University
"Mitochondrial Fission: Structure, Function and Cancer Implications"
12p WRB Auditorium
Mon, Mar 18
CWRU SOM Lunch & Lecture
Christopher Leggett, MD [MED '86]
Interventional Cardiologist and Entrepreneur
12p Robbins Building

Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
Magdalena Grabowska, PhD
1p WRB 3-136
Tues, Mar 19
CWRU SOM Faculty Toolkit Session
Promotion & Tenure for Faculty in the Tenure Track
12p BRB 105

Cancer Center Drug Discovery and Resistance
George Stark, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Cancer Biology
CWRU/Cleveland Clinic
3p WRB 1-422D
Thurs, Mar 21
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a NE6-218

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Virology Journal Club
RCR+4: Human CRISPR
1p SOM W203
Fri, Mar 22
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
8a CA5-120

Cancer Center Seminar Series 
John DiPersio, MD, PhD
Virginia E and Samuel J Goldman Professor of Medicine 
Chief, Division of Oncology Deputy Director
Siteman Cancer Center Washington University School of Medicine
" Optimizing Allogeneic Transplant for the Treatment of Acute Leukemia "
12p WRB Auditorium
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS
prev-funding
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center