Massey Research Report for November 2016

November 2016

Table of Contents

Leaders' Update

Research Highlights

Center News

Researcher Recognition

Upcoming Events

Massey in the Media

Top Cancer News

Funding Opportunities

Examination of Survivorship Care Planning Efficacy and Impact (R01)

National Cancer Institute Program Project Applications (P01)

Translational Research Program: Leukemia and Lymphoma, Familial Platelet Disease (FPD) / RUNX1 and Myeloma

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.

Chair, Division of Epidemiology (F52780)

Shared Resource Spotlight

Vectra 3.0 Automated Quantitative Pathology Imaging System

Coming soon to the Cancer Mouse Models Core (CMMC), the fully automated Vectra® 3, 200-slide quantitative pathology imaging system is a state-of-the-art instrument for extracting proteomic and morphometric information from intact FFPE tissue sections or TMAs. Vectra 3 and inForm software analysis combine the power of multiplexed biomarker imaging and quantitative analysis all within a familiar digital workflow to accelerate cancer research. This instrument should be available by March 2017. The CMMC offers services and expertise that facilitate preclinical mouse models to support the development of novel cancer therapeutics and precision medicine.

Please visit this site for more information or contact CMMC Director Jennifer Koblinski, Ph.D., jennifer.koblinski@vcuhealth.org, or visit the CMMC website .

View a full list of Massey's Shared Resource Cores

Leaders' Update

A message from Director Gordon Ginder

Massey's NCI Site Visit for the renewal of our Cancer Center Support Grant was held on September 29. The cancer center's leaders presented to a group of peer reviewers and NCI staff on Massey's accomplishments in the past five years since we were last reviewed and our plans for the next five years.

This message continues with more about:

--Massey's progress over the last half decade, such as growth in peer-reviewed research funding, scientific publications, translational trials and cancer center membership

--The involvement of trainees in Massey research

--The impact of Massey's science on the catchment area

--Massey's Vision 2021 strategic plan priorities

--The addition of two new leadership positions to support strategic goals

Research Highlights

Phase 2 clinical trial demonstrates repeat breast conservation is safe and effective


	Douglas Arthur, M.D. Developmental Therapeutics member

Massey physician-researcher Douglas Arthur was the lead author of a phase 2 clinical trial that demonstrated partial breast irradiation with 3D conformal radiation therapy, following second lumpectomy for patients experiencing in-breast failures after whole breast irradiation, is successful and achieved high local control at three years. The goal of the prospective, three-year study was to determine the associated toxicity, tolerance and safety of partial breast irradiation.
View a video of Dr. Arthur discussing the trial's results.

International study finds promise in new class of anti-cancer drugs


	Nicholas Farrell, Ph.D. Developmental Therapeutics member

Massey researchers discovered that a new class of platinum-based drugs possesses significant anti-metastatic effects in fighting cancer. A recent study led by Nicholas Farrell, published in Chemical Science, found that polynuclear platinum-based drugs are effective by identifying new targets in tumor cells, which had previously been unidentified for this type of anti-cancer drug. The study results could lead to the expansion of cancers treatable by platinum-based drugs and possibly to the production of more cancer-specific drugs.

Center News

Massey debuts new brand video during Olympics opening ceremony

Massey debuted a new brand video during the 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. Several shorter TV spots were aired throughout the broadcast of the Olympic games, prior to local coverage of the Stand Up To Cancer telethon and around the NCI site visit at Massey. The video has also been shared online and through digital ads and more TV flights are planned. The video highlights Massey's mission to work toward a future without cancer.

Researcher Recognition

Huang awarded $1.5M to study enzyme's role and relationship to the growth of melanoma and colorectal cancer


	Rong Huang, Ph.D. Developmental Therapeutics member

Massey physician-researcher Rong Huang, Ph.D., was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for a five-year study on the structure, transformation and impacts of protein alpha-N-terminal methylation. This methylation plays an essential role in regulating cell mitosis, chromatin interactions and DNA repair, and it was previously implicated to be involved in the development of malignant melanoma and colorectal cancer cells. Huang plans to elucidate the biochemical pathways through which these enzymes contribute to cancer growth, and, which in turn, could potentially lead to new, effective cancer therapies.


Upcoming Events Cancer Research Seminars November 30, 2016: Jason Reed, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Physics at VCU, will lead a seminar on mass profiling melanoma responses to improve therapy choices and prognosis. Monthly Research Meetings Meetings for research programs and scientific groups Make It Real Campaign VCU has launched its most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. The success of the Make It Real Campaign will mean more world-class faculty and students, exciting innovation and state-of-the-art environments. Learn more about how your contribution will advance Massey's mission at www.campaign.vcu.edu. For a full listing of events, view the calendar.	Massey in the Media WTVR CBS 6 A news segment featured Mary Helen Hackney, M.D., demonstrating two effective forms of self examination for breast cancer. WRIC ABC 8 Jinxing Yu, M.D., was interviewed about Massey's use of multiparametric MRI in the detection of prostate cancer. WTVR CBS 6 Santosh Kale, M.D., provided expert commentary on microsurgical breast reconstruction.	Top Cancer News U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Federal statistics on children and adolescents demonstrated that cancer death declined by 20 percent over a 15-year period, and brain cancer surpassed leukemia as the leading cause of childhood cancer death.The data was reported by the Houston Chronicle, Reuters, The Washington Post and TIME. *The New England Journal of Medicine* A study concluded that genomic tests prove nearly half of women with early stage breast cancer who are at high clinical risk do not require chemotherapy. The findings were covered by Forbes, FOX News, NPR and The New York Times. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National data indicated that cancer replaced heart disease as the leading cause of death in 22 states. The statistics were reported by CNN, Los Angeles Times, U.S. News & World Report and Vox.

Share with us your research, awards and accomplishments!

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

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