Massey Research Report for April 2018

April 2018

Table of Contents

Leaders' Update

Research Highlights

Center News

Member Showcase

Researcher Recognition

Upcoming Events

Massey in the Media

Top Cancer News

Funding Opportunities

U.S Tobacco Control Policies to Reduce Health Disparities (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

Leveraging Cognitive Neuroscience to Improve Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

View a full list of current funding opportunities.

Open

Recruitments

Highlighted positions related to cancer for which VCU is currently hiring. View the full list.

Associate Director, Basic Research (F51620)

Program Co-Leader, Cancer Molecular Genetics (F36090)

Shared Resource Spotlight

New Director Appointed to Lipidomics/

Metabolomics Core

Massey is pleased to announced that L. Ashley Cowart, Ph.D., has been appointed as the new director of the VCU Lipidomics/Metabolomics shared resource core. Cowart graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2001 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2005. The objective goal of the VLMC is to provide cost-effective and highly quantitative lipid and small metabolite analyses for Massey members.

For more information, contact Ashley Cowart, Ph.D., or operational manager Jeremy Allegood, Ph.D., or visit the Massey website.

Leaders' Update

A message from Vanessa B. Sheppard, Ph.D., associate director for disparities research

Dear colleagues,

Collaborative, transdisciplinary and community focused

disparities and minority health research is a critical component

of Massey's Vision 2021 strategic plan. I'm excited to say we've made significant progress over

the last year thanks to Massey's increased focus on cancer prevention and control and our amazing group of colleagues.

Continue reading for updates on:

- Massey's Office of Health Equities and Disparities Research and inaugural retreat

- Collaborations to expand disparities research beyond our catchment area

- New and ongoing minority based biospecimen and genetic counseling

- Engaging Massey members in cross-cutting disparities research

- Research efforts and future plans at Massey's education and outreach sites

Research Highlights

Fisher develops experimental drug that may improve treatments for brain and other metastatic cancers


	Paul Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D. Cancer Molecular Genetics member

A team of scientists led by Paul Fisher may have developed a drug that can overcome some of the most challenging aspects of treating brain cancer. In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , they were able to extend survival in mouse models of human brain cancer by targeting the gene MDA-9/Syntenin with a PDZ1 inhibitor. The experimental drug limits protein-protein interaction to reduce the spread of glioblastoma multiforme into healthy tissue and overcome resistance to radiation therapy.

Faber's study could lead to creation of more effective therapies to treat HER2-positive breast cancer


	Anthony Faber, Ph.D. Developmental Therapeutics member

A team of Massey researchers led by Anthony Faber found that the molecule microRNA-4728 prevents therapies targeting the HER2 protein from being effective. The team found that when microRNA-4728 is overexpressed with HER2, it binds to estrogen receptors. This research could lead to more effective and relatively nontoxic combination therapies that inhibit the overexpression of HER2.

Center News

Massey's new clinic simplifies care for women with breast cancer

Massey received coverage for its new Breast Cancer Collaborative Care Clinic at Stony Point. The comprehensive clinic simplifies care for women diagnosed with breast cancer by bringing all specialists together under one roof on the same day to recommend the best course of treatment.

Member Showcase

McGuire joins Massey as chief of breast surgery


	Kandace McGuire, M.D. Developmental Therapeutics member

Kandace McGuire joined Massey as a member of the Developmental Therapeutics research program in 2017. Her research focuses are minimizing breast cancer intervention, targeted surgical and medical therapies for breast cancer and decreasing age-related, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer detection, treatment and survivorship. McGuire is the chief of breast surgery and surgical leader of the Breast Health Program at Massey and is an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology at the VCU School of Medicine.

Researcher Recognition

Sanyal named as one of Virginia's Outstanding Scientists for 2018


	Arun Sanyal, M.D. Cancer Cell Signaling and Cancer Prevention and Control member

Massey researcher Arun Sanyal was recognized as one of Virginia's Outstanding Scientists for 2018 by Gov. Ralph Northam at the annual Outstanding STEM Awards held at the Science Museum of Virginia. Sanyal earned the designation for his work identifying the mechanisms and clinical outcomes and developing effective management for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome.


Upcoming Events 7th Annual Cancer Symposium and Clinical Research Affiliate Retreat Saturday, April 21: Worta McCaskill-Stevens, M.D., of the NCI; Thomas George, Jr., M.D., of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center; and Sarah Gordon, D.O., of Massey, will speak at the symposium. Monthly Research Meetings Meetings for research programs and scientific groups Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k Massey is the official charitable partner of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Make your miles matter and use your 10k to honor those who have battled cancer and unite the community toward a world without cancer. Register your team today. For a full listing of events, view the calendar.	Massey in the Media The Daily Express Bernard Fuemmeler, Ph.D., M.P.H., was featured for his research finding that poor sleep as a child can increase cancer risk later in life. *The Free Lance-Star* Gita Massey, M.D., and John McCarty, M.D., were interviewed about bone marrow transplantation at Massey. Medical Xpress Emma Fields, M.D., received coverage for her research analyzing radiation therapy doses for cervical cancer patients.	Top Cancer News *Cancer* A study found that fatigued patients, African American patients and publicly insured/uninsured patients with cancer were more likely to experience unemployment after two years. *Cell Stem Cell* Researchers found that induced pluripotent stem cells may be harnessed to elicit anti-tumor responses in cancer vaccines for many different forms of the disease. *Science* A study found that lab-engineered microtumors can help predict drug effectiveness in cancer patients better than the standard method of testing on rodents.

Share with us your research, awards and accomplishments!

Submit your news to Blake Belden at beldenba@vcu.edu or (804) 628-4578.

Connect with us!

Join Massey's online communities.