Charis Eng, MD, PhD, chair of  Cleveland Clinic's Genomic Medicine Institute and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, is receiving the American Cancer Society's Medal of Honor, the organization's highest award.  An internationally recognized physician-scientist in the cancer genetics field, Dr. Eng is among five honorees to receive the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on October 18.

Dr. Eng  is being honored for clinical research - contributions, specifically in genomic medicine research, which have significantly improved the clinical outcome of patients. In her dual role as Founding Chair of the Genomic Medicine Institute and Founding Director of the Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare, she continues to implement evidence-based genetic- and genomics-enabled personalized healthcare that has enhanced care for patients at genetic risk of disease nationally and globally. "Through educating physicians and promoting genetic counseling and smart clinical management," said Dr. Eng, "we can improve early diagnosis and develop the most targeted cancer treatment possible for individual patients."

The ACS Medal of Honor is presented to individuals who have made outstanding and valuable contributions in the field of cancer. This year's other recipients are The Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr., Emmanuelle Charpentier, PhD, Jennifer Doudna, PhD, and Michael J. Thun, MD. Past honorees include U.S. President and First Lady George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush; U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy; George Papanicolau, MD, inventor of the Pap test; Judah Folkman, MD, a leading researcher in the field of antiangiogenesis; and Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, MD. more>

The drug 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA), which helps neurosurgeons see the edges of a tumor more clearly to improve removal, was used in brain cancer surgery at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center for the first time since the FDA approved it for use in the United States.  Although the drug has long been a standard of care in Germany and much of Europe, it was only approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. in 2017.

Andrew Sloan, MD, Director, Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center at UH Seidman and UH Cleveland Medical Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, who has been doing  clinical trials with the drug for almost a decade based on his own FDA-approved IND clinical trial, was the first neurosurgeon in the U.S. to use the drug on a patient with brain cancer since FDA approval. more>

Oct 19, 12p | WRB 1-413

Join us Friday, October 19 at 12p in the WRB 1-413 to hear Jordan Winter, MD present " Metabolic reprogramming in pancreatic cancer." Dr. Winter is Associate Professor of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center; and Member, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. This seminar is p resented by the GI Cancer Genetics Program of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly lethal cancer with a long-term survival rate under 10%. Available cytotoxic chemotherapies have significant side effects, and only marginal therapeutic efficacy in patients with advanced disease.  FDA approved drugs currently used against PDA target DNA metabolism, DNA synthesis or DNA repair. However, alternative metabolic targets beyond DNA may prove to be much more effective. PDA cells are forced to live within a unique microenvironment characterized by relative hypovascularity, hypoxia, and nutrient deprivation. Thus, PDA cells must exhibit molecular strategies to adapt to severe metabolic conditions. A better understanding of the metabolic dependencies required by PDA to survive and thrive within the harsh metabolic milieu could reveal metabolic vulnerabilities which can be targeted therapeutically. Since normal cells are well perfused, therapies designed to exploit these adaptive changes will likely have a clinically significant therapeutic window. Recent work has uncovered a number of promising therapeutic targets in the metabolic domain, and clinicians are already translating some of these discoveries to the clinic. Basic biologic insights will likely yield novel therapeutic strategies with promise against this aggressive and chemotherapy resistant tumor.

Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine and Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute (LRI) is hosting the 9th annual meeting of the Midwest Association of Core Directors, the regional chapter of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities.

Program Highlights

• Newest Highlights in Shared Resources Technology & Expertise: Introductory ("101-level") and State of the Science level breakout meetings on Genomics, Mass Spec, Imaging, Administration, Drug Discovery, Entrepreneurship, and RNA Sciences.
• Satellite Workshops: Option to attend a pre and/or post Satellite Workshop, made possible by supporting Platinum Plus Level Sponsors FEI Thermo Fisher and Ilumina.
• Core Facility Tours: Pre-conference Core Facility Tours of Cleveland Clinic or Case Western University Research Sites.
• Tour Microsoft HoLoLens Facility: Limited space to sign up for a unique peek at the Microsoft HoLoLens Facility at CWRU! Only 20 people will be able to see this unique 'lens' into medical education using holographic technology.

Who Should Attend?

All members of the research community are encouraged to attend this conference to learn how core facilities can move your science ahead! 

Registration Discount for CWRU SOM Employees

CWRU School of Medicine Office of Research Administration will cover 50% of the registration fee for CWRU SOM employees. Contact Matt DeVries
( [email protected]) for discount code!

INTERNAL DEADLINE: Nov 25, 2018
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT LOI TO NIH: Jan 22, 2019
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Feb 22, 2019

The NCI has announced a  Request for Applications for the Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition (F99/K00) Award for 2019, to support outstanding PhD candidates as they complete their dissertation research training (F99 phase; 1-2 years) and transition to a mentored and research-intensive, cancer-focused postdoctoral career development research positions (K00 phase - up to 4 years). Projects must be clearly focused on cancer and developing a research-intensive career.

To apply for this award, an applicant must be nominated by their institution. As each institution is allocated only one nomination, the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) requires potential applicants to assemble a pre-application for review and selection of the candidate. 

Eligibility

• Open to 3rd or 4th year PhD students, including F31 Fellowship applicants and current awardees (3rd or 4th-year students would have matriculated in 2015 or 2016).
• International students may apply.
• Students in a dual-degree program (e.g. MD/PhD, DO/ PhD , DDS/ PhD , or DVM/ PhD ) are not eligible.

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.