Week of November 14, 2022 |
|
Celebrating Immunotherapy’s Dawn, Progress and Future
It’s hard to find much good to say about climate change, but our whole family decamped to the beach this weekend to celebrate Harriet’s birthday, and we spent a few hours on the beach, in shorts, on a beautiful, cloudless and warm day — in mid-November, no less.
The weekend followed an eventful week dominated by my trip to Boston for the annual Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) meeting. There were 7,000 attendees, or nearly as many as attended AACR meetings when I started out in the field. Amazing.
|
|
Four Georgetown Lombardi Researchers Receive Grants from the Children’s Cancer Foundation |
|
CCF Chair Jerrold C. Chadwick Jr. and CCF President Tasha Museles presented
Aykut Üren (first image) and Joanna Kitlinska with their awards at CCF’s 38th Annual Gala. Drs. Waldman and Toretsky were unable to attend. (Images: CCF)
|
|
Four Georgetown Lombardi researchers were among those receiving grants for their pediatric cancer research from the Children’s Cancer Foundation at the organization’s 38th Annual Gala, held November 5. CCF awarded grants of $325,000 in total to the following Georgetown Lombardi researchers:
-
Todd Waldman, MD, PhD, who received $75,000 for research in Ewing Sarcoma
-
Aykut Üren, MD, who received $75,000 for research in osteosarcoma
-
Joanna Kitlinska, PhD, who received $75,000 for research in Ewing Sarcoma
-
Jeffrey Toretsky, MD, who received a $100,000 Professor Award for research in Ewing Sarcoma
CCF’s support of Georgetown Lombardi to date totals more than $5.6 million.
|
|
The Ruesch Center Symposium is This Friday and Saturday
Be sure to register for the 13th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium: Innovations in GI Cancer, held this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19. Day one attendance is in-person (2115 Wisconsin Ave, NW) or virtual; day two is virtual only. Topics include targeted therapies, expanding immuno-oncology therapies, and advances in peri-operative strategies. Registration is free for Georgetown and MedStar staff and trainees with the promo code Guest2022. Learn more and register.
|
|
Cancer Cell Biology Program Meeting
Monday, November 14
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
|
|
Tuesday, November 15
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
|
|
Tuesday, November 15
12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Presented by Amy Zhang, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Laboratory of Immunology, Immunoregulation Section, National Eye Institute. Join this lecture in the Medical-Dental Building, SW107 or via Zoom.
|
|
Thursday, November 17
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Riggs Library, 3rd Floor, Healy Hall (south end)
|
|
Cancer Cell Biology Program Special Seminar: “Role of SMAD4 in Suppressing Serrated Cancer Invasion”
Thursday, November 17
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Presented by Kevin Tong, PhD, assistant member, Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation. Join this seminar in the New Research Building, E501 Conference Room or via Zoom.
|
|
Strategies for Mitigating Linguistic and Cultural Barriers in Health Research
Thursday, November 17
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
The DC Metropolitan area is one of the most racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse in the U.S. Despite this rich diversity, clinical trials are not reflective of the U.S. population. The forum seeks to promote a culture of inclusivity in health research and enhance investigator capacity by featuring tested culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches for inclusion of people with limited English proficiency (LEP). Sponsored by the Georgetown University School of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Georgetown Howard Universities Center for Clinical Translational Science (GHUCCTS) and Nueva Vida, Inc. RSVP to receive Zoom link.
|
|
Thursday, November 17
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Featuring Stephen Lockett, PhD, director, Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. Sponsored by Frederick National Laboratory and GUMC. Join this lecture via Zoom.
|
|
Friday, November 18
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Presented by Paul Kolm, PhD, associate director in the Department of Biostatistics and Biomedical Informatics at MedStar Health Research Institute. Sponsored by GHUCCTS. Register for this Zoom webinar.
|
|
Friday, November 18
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
|
|
Monday, November 21
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Presented by Wendy Bottinor, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and a Wright Center KL2 scholar. Register for this Zoom webinar.
|
|
Save the Date: GUMC Community Meeting with Georgetown President John J. DeGioia
The next GUMC community meeting will be held on November 29, 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. in the Research Building Auditorium. A Zoom link will be available closer to the meeting for virtual attendance.
|
|
Funding and Award Opportunities |
|
DEADLINE TODAY: Request for Applications: American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Pilot Project Grants
Up to three American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (IRG) Pilot Project Grants will be funded to help launch promising new projects by early career faculty members. These are one-year, non-renewable $30,000 research grants that are funded through Georgetown Lombardi’s IRG, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. View eligibility criteria, full application, and submission instructions. Note the following eligibility clarification: Open to early career faculty (e.g. assistant professor or equivalent), who are eligible to apply for independent national competitive research grants (e.g. NIH R-level grants, ACS Research Scholar Grants, and similar), but who do not currently hold and have not previously held such a grant, with the exception of an R00, which is allowed. Application deadline: 11:59 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14.
|
|
NEW GI Program Funds Award
A newly established Ruesch Center / GI Working Group grant mechanism is currently soliciting research proposals for consideration. Funding will be available to Georgetown Lombardi and MedStar Health scientists and clinicians with a GI cancer-relevant research focus — basic, clinical, population and translational. This set of pilot grants is intended to foster translational collaborations and generate new hypotheses and results to prove them, leading to jointly authored publications. Between two and five one-year collaborative project awards are available, ranging from $25,000 to 50,000 each, with at least two investigators each. View more information and application procedure details. Submit a letter of intent to marshalj@georgetown.edu. LOI Deadline: Friday, January 13, 2023, 5 p.m.
|
|
One LOI/application can be submitted per award per institution, with an exception for the following areas: brain tumors – all types, including rare forms; Burkitt lymphoma (sporadic, endemic, and immunodeficiency related); complementary and alternative therapies; hepatoblastoma; Langerhans cell histiocytosis; and rhabdoid tumors. Send all proposed letters of intent to Sharon Levy via email (sgl5@georgetown.edu) by Monday, Nov. 21.
|
|
AACR Clinical Oncology Research (CORE) Training Fellowships Program
|
|
Damon Runyon Quantitative Biology Fellowship Award
The Damon Runyon Quantitative Biology Fellowship Award supports computational scientists who are deeply connected to biology labs so that they can bring their computational skills to bear on important biological questions, particularly in cancer. The proposed mentored research training must reflect the individual's potential to develop into a productive, independent cancer research scientist. The award provides $240,000 over three years in stipend and expense allowance for the award recipient. Application deadline: Thursday, Dec. 1. View more details and application guidelines.
|
|
Damon Runyon Physician-Scientist Training Award
In an effort to confront the growing dearth of physician-scientists, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has created this award program, which is designed to recruit outstanding U.S. Specialty Board-eligible physicians (MDs only) into cancer research careers by providing them with the opportunity for a protected research training experience under the mentorship of a highly qualified and gifted mentor after they have completed all of their clinical training. The award will provide up to $460,000 over four years in financial support for the award recipient. In addition, the Foundation will retire up to $100,000 of medical school debt still owed. The application deadline for the Physician-Scientist Training Award is Thursday, Dec. 1. View more information and application guidelines.
|
|
Cancer Immunotherapy Translational Research Program Grant
The Cancer Research Institute offers Clinic and Laboratory Integration Program (CLIP) grants to qualified scientists who are working to explore clinically relevant questions aimed at improving the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies. The grants support basic, preclinical, and translational research that provides information that can be directly applied to optimizing cancer immunotherapy in the clinic. Proposals in all cancers are encouraged. Applicants must hold a faculty appointment as a tenure-track assistant professor (or higher rank) at the time of award activation. Funding: $200,000 over two years. LOI deadline: Thursday, Dec. 1. Full application deadline: March 1, 2023. View application guidelines.
|
|
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation-American Cancer Society Childhood Cancer Research
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation-American Cancer Society Childhood Cancer Research award provides funding to advance innovative translational pediatric cancer research conducted within the context of a clinical trial. Studies may include analysis of clinical data and biospecimens collected from children enrolled in a clinical trial. Proposals should focus on research leading to improvements in the care of children with cancer. All research proposals must be coupled with ongoing or recently completed, approved pediatric clinical therapeutic trial, such as large/definitive trials conducted in a cooperative group setting. LOI due: Monday, Dec. 5, at 10:59 p.m. EST via proposalCENTRAL. View LOI instructions. Invitations to apply will be issued Wednesday, January 11, 2023.
|
|
NCI Funding Opportunity: Intramural Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (iCURE)
The Intramural Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (iCURE) program supports mentored research experiences for qualified students and scientists from diverse backgrounds in the multidisciplinary research environment of the NCI campuses in Bethesda, Rockville, and Frederick, Maryland. Individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and population sciences are encouraged to apply. The program offers two-year awards for post-baccalaureate (including post-master's) individuals and graduate students and three-year awards for postdoctoral fellows. Application deadline: Dec. 15 for fall 2023 research experiences; target start date will be September 1, 2023. View eligibility information and application instructions.
|
|
Meetings in italics should be attended by all fellows.
|
|
9:00 AM | Breast Research Meeting | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 528212194)
11:00 AM | GU/Melanoma Research Meeting | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 796253566)
12:15 PM | Primary Myelofibrosis, ET/PV - Dr. Cunningham | Podium A / Zoom
4:00 PM | GU Tumor Board (on 1st/3rd Mondays of the month) | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 869742463)
|
|
9:00 AM | Hematology Path Conference - Inpatient Heme fellows + Outpatient Heme + BMT fellow | Podium A / Microsoft Teams (CME code: 80737; phone: 202-796-7323)
4:00 PM | Liver Tumor Board | WebEx (dial 844-302-0362; Meeting number (access code): 711 507 430, password: Mse4mGSA2N5)
5:00 PM | Breast Tumor Board | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 93777073374; CME code: 80044)
|
|
8:00 AM | Thoracic Tumor Board – Thoracic Fellow | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 941 1630 5835)
12:15 PM | BTK Inhibitors – Dr. Dunleavy | Podium A / Zoom
|
|
9:00 AM | Cancer Research Data Meeting | Speaker: Greg Gallanis | W302 New Research Building or Zoom
9:30 AM | Head and Neck Tumor Board - Thoracic Fellow attendance encouraged as clinic allows | Microsoft Teams
12:15 PM | Thrombotic Microangiopathies – Dr. Alcedo | Podium A / Zoom
12:30 PM | GI Research Meeting | WebEx (dial 844-302-0362, Meeting Number (access code): 712527865, HOST PIN: 5514)
|
|
7:00 AM | CNS Tumor Board | Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 378 807 316)
12:00 PM | Oncology Grand Rounds Lecture Series: None | New Research Building Auditorium / Zoom
12:00 PM | No Lecture | Zoom
|
|
Connect with Georgetown Lombardi on Social Media |
|
If you would like to share news or updates from your department, please get in touch with Sarah Riehl. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
