newsletter masthead
March 15, 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Monica Webb Hooper Monica Webb Hooper, PhD
Associate Director for Cancer Disparities Research, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Reflecting on the 3rd Annual Cancer Disparities Symposium

"We should ask ourselves what is one thing we can do from here to make a difference in
the community?"
- Louis J. Norvak, MD
Radiation Oncology
Lake Health | University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center

On March 1, 2019, over 200 people convened in the state-of-the-art Tinkham Veale University Center on the Case Western Reserve University campus for the 3rd Annual Cancer Disparities Symposium "Eliminating Cancer Disparities: Staying the Course Toward Collective Impact." The phrase, "stay the course," used historically in the context of battle, refers to a concentrated effort to persist through obstacles and challenges. This exemplifies what is necessary to achieve the goal of disparity elimination in all domains. In its third year, the Cancer Disparities Symposium served to educate, motivate and inspire those in attendance. We were delighted to welcome researchers, clinicians, health professionals, community outreach teams, patient advocates, trainees and key stakeholders from community-based organizations, local government, private foundations, commercial businesses and other entities - representing seven states. We discussed the current landscape of cancer disparities research across the continuum, from basic, clinical and community sciences. We shared ideas and laid the foundation for new partnerships. The energy and collaborative spirit exhibited throughout the day across the many sectors of our local and national community was transformational.  more>
Interview with NIMHD Director Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable  and Monica Webb Hooper
ideastream logo
During the Cancer Disparities Symposium, Lecia Bushak from ideastream sat down NIMHD Director Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD and Monica Webb-Hooper, PhD to discuss racial disparities in cancer.

MEMBER/CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
de Lima Named Chief, Division of Hematology and Oncology at University Hospitals
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center  
extends congratulations to Marcos de Lima, MD
for his recent promotion to Chief of Hematology and Oncology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Seidman Cancer Center. de Lima is Co-leader of the Case CCC's Hematopoietic and Immune Cancer Biology Program and professor of hematology and oncology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.  "I see leading the Division as a, 'connecting the dots' job - a great opportunity to increase the link between basic and clinical researchers and develop a common language that ultimately benefits our patients all while advancing science," he said. "It will be fun!"
Lathia Named Vice Chair, Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences at CCLRI
Please join us in congratulating Justin Lathia, PhD for his promotion to Vice Chair 
of the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute (CCLRI). "I look forward to working with the institutional and department leadership to continue to build our research programs and fulfill our mission to understand the underlying causes of human diseases and to develop new treatments and cures," said Lathia. He is Co-leader of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center's Molecular Oncology Program.
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation Endows Chair for Urological Cancer Research at Cleveland Clinic
A $1 million donation from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation matched directly by the Cleveland Clinic will endow a chair supporting work in the clinic's new Center for Genitourinary (GU) Malignancies Research, a collaboration of Lerner Research Institute, Taussig Cancer Institute and Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute. "The Center for Genitourinary Malignancies Research is helping to streamline and focus our clinical and research efforts in urologic cancers," said Eric Klein, MD, chair of the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, co-director of Cleveland Clinic's Center of Excellence in Prostate Cancer, and member of the Case CCC's GU Malignancies Program. more> 
Rotz Selected as CTSC KL2 Scholar
The Clinical & Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) recently announced clinical scholars selected
 for their KL2 career development program beginning July 2019. Among those selected is Cleveland Clinic pediatric hematologist-oncologist Seth Rotz, MD. Rotz is a member of the Case CCC's Cancer Prevention, Control & Population Research Program.
NEWS FROM THE NCI
NCI Director Ned Sharpless Appointed Acting FDA Commissioner
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Ned
Sharpless, MD will assume the role of acting commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration
NCI logo
in early April 2019.  Sharpless will succeed resigning commissioner Scott Gottlieb as the administration searches for a permanent replacement.

The NCI's Deputy Director, Douglas Lowy, MD, will then assume the role of acting director of the institution, a role he previously held during the Obama administration. Jim Doroshow, Dinah Singer and Donna Siegle will also make the transition as deputies. In his announcement, he noted he has, "every confidence that the NCI will continue to serve the American public with honor in meeting the formidable challenges that cancer still poses."
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Cancer Center Seminar Series: "Mitochondrial Fission: Structure, Function and Cancer Implications"
Mar 15, 12p | WRB Auditorium

Join us today at noon in the Wolstein Research Building Auditorium to hear Jason Mears, PhD present, "Mitochondrial Fission: Structure, Function and Cancer Implications." Dr. Mears is assistant professor of pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University and a member of the Case CCC's Molecular Oncology Program. The central goal of his research is to investigate proteins that interact with membranes and alter their  morphologies. His lab has focused on macromolecular complexes that regulate mitochondrial fission and fusion, because these dynamic processes have recently come to the forefront as a therapeutic target in several diseases including neurodegeneration, cancer and aging.
View a list of upcoming seminars>

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 cvmp@case.edu 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>
Abstracts Due Today: Great Lakes Breast Cancer Research Symposium
May 2-4, 2019 | Columbus, OH
 
The Great Lakes Breast Cancer Research Symposium (GLBCRS) will take place May 2-4, 2019 at the  Grand Event Center in Columbus, OH. This symposium will highlight ongoing basic, translational, clinical and population studies addressing the biological mechanisms, management and prevention of breast cancer. Researchers from participating institutions will share their exciting work with a goal to develop cross-institutional collaborations.

The deadline to submit abstracts for the symposium is today.  Submit an abstract>

The GLBCRS is made possible through the collaboration of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (The James), the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University (Case CCC) and the WVU Cancer Institute at West Virginia University . Register today>
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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>
2019 V Foundation Translational Cancer Research Grant
Internal Deadline: April 3, 2019 


V Foundation logo The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is able to nominate one investigator for the V Foundation's Translational Cancer Research Grant Program. The V Foundation seeks to support translational research projects within the scope of adult cancer research. Translational projects should move a novel strategy from the laboratory into a human clinical trial or use specimens from a clinical trial to develop biomarkers or mechanisms. The research should apply in some direct way to human beings within the time frame of fewer than 3 years. If biomarker research is undertaken, a validation set or independent clinical trial is essential. A plan for biomarker validation, if applicable, must be included in any proposal. The endpoint of the project should be the planning or initiation of a new clinical trial. The Translational Research Award is a $600,000 grant paid in three annual installments of $200,000. Indirect costs of up to 10% are permitted.

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

Submit a one-page LOI and biosketch to casecccpilots@case.eduContact John Pounardjian at 216.368.0846 with any questions. more>
Opportunities for Pilot Projects from VeloSano Bike to Cure
Deadline: April 30, 2019

With the generous support from VeloSano Bike to Cure 2018, the Case CCC is providing seed funding for highly innovative and potentially impactful proposals that will generate key data for larger, nationally competitive grants. Projects must be aligned with at least one of the eight Case CCC Research Initiatives (Cancer Genomics, Cancer Immunotherapy, Brain Tumors, AYA cancers, Drug Discovery and Development, Women's Cancers, Community and Cancer Disparities, Computational Diagnostic Informatics) and the Center's Strategic Plan. Collaborative, multi-investigator projects are particularly encouraged and preferred. Learn more>
Harrington Scholar-Innovator Grants
Deadline: May 3, 2019


The Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award 
recognizes physician-scientist innovators throughout the US and Canada, whose research has the 
potential to change standard of care. 
The Scholar-Innovator  Award provides research and drug  development  support to help bridge the gap between basic discovery and the clinical realm.  Up to 12 Harrington Scholar-Innovator awards are made each year through a competitive selection process.  

Each award includes:
  • $100,000 guaranteed, opportunity to qualify for up to $700,000
  • Drug development expertise and project management support through the Harrington Discovery Institute Innovation Support Center
  • Consulting services from highly experienced drug development personnel
  • Business and commercialization advice
  • Clinical development advice
  • Regulatory assistance
  • IP review and advice
  • Assistance identifying and securing additional financial support based on project needs
Learn more about the awards, policies and application process>
IN THE NEWS
Northeast Ohio child is the youngest patient in the world to be diagnosed with an extremely rare and extraordinarily aggressive cancer
Fox 8 News - Feb 28, 2019
Chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Pediatric Hematology Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Rabi Hanna, MD immediately diagnosed the leukemia. Dr. Hanna is a member of the Case CCC's Hematopoietic and Immune Cancer Biology Program.

NCI program's Research Highlights of 2018 includes manuscript by Anant Madabhushi, MS, PhD 
NCI EGRP - Mar 1, 2019
The manuscript, titled "Spatial architecture and arrangement of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for predicting likelihood of recurrence in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer," was nominated by other researchers as among the best publications in 2018.

Some Progress But Much More To Be Done To Address Racial Disparities In Cancer
ideastream - Mar 1, 2019
Ideastream's Lecia Bushak interviews NIMHD Director Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD and Monica Webb-Hooper, PhD at the 3rd Annual Cancer Disparities Symposium regarding racial disparities in cancer.

Cleveland Clinic describes uphill battle when patients face pancreatic cancer
Cleveland 19 News - Mar 7, 2019
Cleveland Clinic medical oncologist Davendra Sohal, MD, MPH explains how pancreatic cancer is a hard disease to detect early. Dr. Sohal is a member of the Case CCC's Developmental Therpeutics Program.
NIH BULLETIN - Notices and Funding Opportunities
Notices
Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for Geospatial, Multilevel, and Contextual Approaches in Cancer Control and Population Sciences

Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements to Promote Data Sharing in Cancer Epidemiology Studies

Notice of a Joint Veterans Health Administration/National Cancer Institute Data Science Initiative called the Big Data Scientist Training Enhancement Program (BD-STEP)

Program Announcements
Administrative Supplement for Research on Bioethical Issues (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)(PA-19-217)
Deadline: May 14, 2019

Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) (T34)(PAR-19-218)
Deadline: May 21, 2019; May 21, 2020; May 21, 2021

Maximizing Access to Research Careers (T34)(PAR-19-219)
Deadline:  May 21, 2019; May 21, 2020; May 21, 2021
IN THIS ISSUE
EVENTSevents
Fri, Mar 15
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
Genomic Medicine Institute
Costin Leu, PhD
Lal Lab, Cleveland Clinic
"Design and Execution of the First Polygenic Risk Study in Epilepsy"
12p NE1-205

CWRU SOM Lunch & Lecture
Christopher Leggett, MD [MED '86]
Interventional Cardiologist and Entrepreneur
12p Robbins Building

Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
Magdalena Grabowska, PhD

Assistant Professor, Urology, Case Western Reserve University

1p WRB 3-136

7th Annual Hopfer Lecture
Alicia A. McDonough, PhD, FAHA
Professor of Integrative Anatomical Sciences
Keck School of Medicine
University of Southern California
"Maintaining Balance under Pressure: Renal Adaptations to Angiotensin II Hypertension in Females and Males"
3:30p reception
4p lecture SOM/Robbins Building E-501
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

NCCN Annual Conference
Timothy Gilligan, MD, MS
"Staging of Testicular Cancer: Germ Cell Tumors"
3:25p Orlando, FL
Mon, Mar 25
Genomic Medicine Institute
Masahiro Hitomi, MD, PhD
"PTEN in Cell Fate Decision; Case of Neural Stem Cell"
12p NE1-205

Cancer Center Research Chalk Talk
Youwei Zhang, PhD
1p WRB 3-136
Tues, Mar 26
CWRU SOM Staff Toolkit Session
Benefits
12p BRB 105

Cancer Imaging Monthly Meeting
1:30p WRB 1-422D
Thurs, Mar 28
Developmental Therapeutics Journal Club
9a N E 6-218

Molecular Biology and Microbiology Seminar
Andrew Mack
1p SOM W203
Fri, Mar 29
Taussig Cancer Institute Grand Rounds
8a CA5-120

AACR Annual Meeting 2019
Mar 29-April 3
Atlanta, GA

Cancer Center Seminar Series
John T. Schiller, PhD
NIH Distinguished Investigator
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
"HPV VLPs: Nature Nanoparticles for Cancer Prevention and Treatment"
12p WRB Auditorium
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS
prev-funding
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open

Deadline: Open
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center