August 20, 2021
Member/Center Highlights
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U.S. Patent Issued for Cleveland Clinic Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Technology
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued the first U.S. patent for a novel ovarian cancer vaccine technology developed by Cleveland Clinic researchers Vincent K. Tuohy, PhD, Suparna Mazumder, PhD, and Justin M. Johnson. The technology is licensed worldwide by Anixa Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer and infectious diseases. A European patent covering this technology was issued earlier this year.
According to a news release: "The ovarian cancer vaccine targets a protein (the Extracellular Domain of the Anti-Mullerian Hormone Receptor 2, AMHR2-ED) that is normally expressed only in the ovaries of pre-menopausal women. After menopause, the target protein is no longer expressed in normal tissues and is only found again in ovarian cancer cells. Our vaccine targets the AMHR2-ED protein and trains the immune system to destroy ovarian cancer cells as they arise," said Tuohy, staff in the Department of Inflammation and Immunity at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and member of the Immune Oncology Program of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
AI Used to Confirm Role of Collagen Structure in Tissue for Predicting Aggressiveness of Tumors, Recurrence of Cancer
Scientists in Anant Madabhushi's lab have used artificial intelligence (AI) to identify new biomarkers for breast cancer that can predict whether the cancer will return after treatment—and which can be identified from routinely acquired tissue biopsy samples of early-stage breast cancer.

The key to that initial determination is collagen, a common protein found throughout the body, including in breast tissue. Previous research had suggested that the collagen network, or arrangement of the fibers, relates strongly to breast cancer aggressiveness. But this work by Case Western Reserve researchers definitively demonstrated collagen’s critical role—using only standard tissue biopsy slides and AI.

The researchers, using machine-learning technology to analyze a dataset of digitized tissue samples from breast cancer patients, were able to prove that a well-ordered arrangement of collagen is a key prognostic biomarker for an aggressive tumor and a likely recurrence.
Haojia Li in front of research poster
Doctoral student Haojia Li led the research, which was published in the journal npj Breast Cancer. Co-authors include Cancer Center Members: Anant Madabhushi, PhD, Pingfu Fu, PhD, Cheng Lu, PhD, Hannah Gilmore, MD and Trainee Associate Member: Kaustav Bera.
Cancer Center Seminar Series: Starts September 9
The Cancer Center Seminar Series will commence for the 2021-2022 academic year on September 9 at 12p in the Wolstein Research Building Auditorium. This interdisciplinary seminar series addresses cutting-edge clinical, translational, and basic research topics in cancer and is a focal point of the educational and inter-programmatic activities of the Cancer Center. CME credit is available for those who attend seminars. 

We hope to see you in person to ask questions and engage with our invited speakers!
roy-partha
September 9
"Targeting actin-regulatory protein in clear cell renal cancer"
Associate Professor, Bioengineering and Pathology
University of Pittsburgh
Presented by the Molecular Oncology Program
Headshot of Rui Wang wearing dark suit
September 17
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
Member, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Presented by the Developmental Therapeutics Program
Christopher McFarland outside smiling
September 24
"Quantitative Modeling of Cancer Evolution in silico and in vivo"
Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences
Assistant Professor, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Member, Cancer Genomics Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Presented by the Cancer Genomics Program
Now Accepting Applications: Computational Genomic Epidemiology of Cancer (CoGEC) T32 Training Program
The Computational Genomic Epidemiology of Cancer (CoGEC) T32 training program (Director: Rong Xu, PhD; Associate Director: Thomas LaFramboise, PhD) has an opening for a September 2021 appointment of a training grant eligible postdoc conducting computational research focused on cancer. Cancer researchers obtaining training in this program will have the skills vital to deciphering the complex pathways comprised of genetic and environmental risk factors for disease, and will ultimately be able to provide clinicians and their patients with valuable information for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

An eligible postdoc will be a United States citizen or permanent resident. If you have an eligible postdoc you would recommend for the program, please contact Damian Junk at damian.junk@case.edu.
What's Coming Up
Mark Your Calendar
Register today for VeloSano 8!
September 10-12, 2021
Join us for VeloSano 8!

VeloSano is offering options to participate in any way you are most comfortable - whether riding with us during "Bike to Cure" weekend September 10-12, riding virtually, or by choosing your own activity to participate as a Virtual Fundraiser.

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Team Case CCC, will be joining VeloSano again this year and providing complimentary registration and jerseys for its riders. Please contact team captains Caroline El Sanadi or Mary Wright for the registration waiver or code with any questions!

Volunteers Wanted: Cheer Station
Join the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at a Cheer Station on Saturday September 11, 2021 from 11am-3pm. Volunteer shifts are either two or two and a half hours.

We will cheer on VeloSano 100-Mile, 50-Mile & 25-Mile riders by ringing cowbells, holding signs, and making noise to keep everyone motivated. Children are welcome!

To register, to go to https://www.velosano.org/velosano-volunteer/login-register. Once you have logged in, choose Register with a Group and then Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Affordable Cancer Technologies (ACT) Conference 2021
September 23-24, 2021 | Virtual
The Affordable Cancer Technology (ACT 2021) Conference is a global oncology virtual event that is open to the public for the very first time. The focus will be the intersection of technological innovation, cancer research, and global disparities, and it will bring together researchers, public health experts, policy advocates, and industry partners from all over the world. Panels of world-renowned experts will discuss the development of new technologies for LMICs, conducting cancer research in low-resource settings, and promoting scale-up and sustainability of cancer prevention programs. Dr. Tedros Adhanom, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, will be opening the conference.

Early registration discount ends August 31. To ensure diversity and inclusion, discounted and waived registration are available for selected LMIC researchers and students.

Call for Abstracts: Deadline Aug 31
We welcome abstract submissions on these and related topics. Selected abstracts will be presented to the audience of conference participants. Abstracts should be submitted in English and be 300 words or less. Instructions are available upon registration. 

This event is sponsored by Case Western Reserve University and presented by Basic Health International. This conference was made possible by an award from the National Institutes of Health (R13 CA254456-01). CME credits are available.
ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED: Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium
October 25-26, 2021 | Virtual
Registration today and reserve your spot for the Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium, to be held virtually October 25-26, 2021!

This annual symposium highlights 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.

Program topics include: therapeutics-response resistance, survivorship and disparities, metastasis, cancer cell biology, and microenvironment and immunology.
Helen Piwnica Worms
Keynote Presentation: "Tackling resistance in triple-negative breast cancer"

Helen Piwnica-Worms, PhD, will deliver a keynote at the symposium. Dr. Piwnica-Worms is Professor, Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology and Senator AM Aiken Jr. Distinguished Chair at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Call for Abstracts
This call for abstracts affords an exciting opportunity to highlight ongoing basic, translational, clinical and population breast cancer focused research. Abstracts must be submitted electronically by 5 pm ET on Friday, August 27, 2021 (deadline extended).

Thanks to our Sponsors and Exhibitors
Seagen, Pfizer, Genentech and Puma Biotechnology.
REGISTRATION AND ABSTRACT SUBMISSION NOW OPEN: Artificial Intelligence in Oncology Symposium
November 8-9, 2021 | Virtual
Now in its third year, the 2021 Artificial Intelligence in Oncology Symposium: Precision Medicine and Cancer Disparities will bring together clinicians, biomedical engineers, computer scientists, executives, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs with expertise in precision medicine, AI, machine learning, and oncology. These experts will discuss technical advances in AI, the challenges and advancements in deploying AI in the clinic, the need for the use of AI to address health disparities, the current regulatory and reimbursement landscape for AI in medicine, and the potential of AI to impact global health.

For the health and safety of all attendees, this year's symposium will again take place virtually. Registration for the symposium is open now!
Keynote Address

Rohit Bhargava, PhD
Director and Professor, Bioengineering, Founder Professor of Engineering; Director of the Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Call for Abstracts: Now Open! 
All students, postdocs, residents and fellows conducting research in Artificial Intelligence in Oncology are invited to submit abstracts. A committee will review abstracts based on the relationship to cancers and AI, novelty, significance of findings, and clarity.
Deadline: September 24, 2021
Additional Upcoming Events
NIH Grants and Funding Logo
Save the Date: Fall 2021 NIH Virtual Seminar on Program Funding and Grants Administration
November 1-4, 2021 | Virtual
The National Institutes of Health invites you to take part in a unique opportunity to learn more about working with the NIH grants process, programs, policies, and staff at the 2021 NIH Virtual Seminar on Grants Administration and Program Funding.

If you are an administrator, researcher, early-stage investigator, graduate student, or anyone new to working with the NIH grants process, then this seminar is designed specifically for you.

If you are more experienced then attend the policy updates and case study series.

Registration is free!
Brain Mets Symposium 2021 Banner
22nd Annual Brain Tumor Update and the 11th Annual Symposium on Brain Metastases and Spine Tumors
October 29-30, 2021 | Livestream
This symposium is co-provided by Cleveland Clinic and Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. This advanced multidisciplinary virtual meeting is led by expert faculty from Cleveland Clinic and USC, with additional internationally recognized guest faculty. This symposium is designed to improve competence to assess and treat patients with brain tumors and primary tumors of the spine, especially as it relates to comparing treatments for brain metastases and primary spine tumors, evaluating new technologies, treating vestibular schwannomas, and assessing and treating gliomas, with the overall goal of improving outcomes in these patient populations.
Cleveland Clinic CME course
8th Annual Multidisciplinary Colorectal Oncology Course
October 22, 2021 | Livestream 9am-12:30p
This symposium will focus on providing an in-depth and up-to-date review of the multidisciplinary management of colorectal cancers.

Oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and nurses with an interest in the management of patients with colorectal cancer should participate in this course.

MOC Credit Available
8th Annual Genetics Education Symposium
September 30, 2021 | Live Stream 8a-4:45p ET
This accredited program, presented by Cleveland Clinic’s Genomic Medicine Institute (GMI) and the Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare (CPGH), will provide the opportunity to review the latest advances in genetics and genomics. GMI and CPGH will provide state-of-the-art information to healthcare providers treating patients with hereditary cancer syndromes.

Expert Cleveland Clinic and guest faculty will present case- and research-based presentations highlighting the integration of genetics and genomics into clinical practice.

Invited are practitioners and healthcare professionals seeking to learn the latest developments in medical genetics, especially providers in Hematology/Oncology, Genetics, Internal Medicine and Subspecialties, Pediatrics, and Nursing. Trainees and students with an interest in expanding their knowledge of genomic medicine and related topics are also encouraged to attend.

AACR
AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
Oct 7-10, 2021 | Virtual Meeting

Hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research, the National Cancer Institute, and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, the 2021 Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics conference will take place as a virtual event due to the continued impact of COVID-19 on travel and in-person scientific meetings. The conference has historically attracted 1,500-2,500 academics, scientists, and pharmaceutical industry representatives from across the globe to discuss innovations in drug development, target selection, the impact of new discoveries in cellular and molecular biology, and early clinical trials.

Submit your late-breaking abstract by August 25 for the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. This year’s program includes sessions on new computational technologies, DNA damage response, next-gen CARTs, synthetic lethality, tumor-targeted conjugates, and more.
Funding Opportunities
nih-logo
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites institutions to apply for funding through this Request for Applications (RFA): NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program: FIRST Cohort (U54 Clinical Trial Optional). Applications are due September 24, 2021.

Although progress has been made to increase the participation of historically underrepresented groups in biomedical research trainee populations, faculty diversity remains an ongoing challenge. These groups include underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, and women.

The NIH Common Fund’s FIRST program is providing support through this RFA to institutions to recruit diverse groups or “cohorts” of early-career research faculty and prepare them to thrive as independently funded researchers.

 This RFA aims to facilitate institutions in building a community of scientists by recruiting and supporting a cohort of early-career faculty who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence. “Inclusive excellence” refers to cultures that establish and sustain scientific environments that cultivate and benefit from a full range of talent. This program seeks to positively impact faculty development, retention, progression, and promotion and develop inclusive and sustainable environments.

 All biomedical research areas within the NIH mission are invited to apply for this funding opportunity. The FIRST program is expected to fund 12 awards in total from the three cohort RFAs, contingent upon the availability of funds.
The Technology Validation and Start Fund (TVSF), funded by the Ohio Third Frontier, aims to accelerate and fund the translation of promising technologies into the marketplace through Ohio start-up companies with the eventual goal of creating greater economic growth.

CWRU is the only Ohio institution to have received five consecutive awards of $500,000/yr, which is administered by the Technology Transfer Office as the CWRU TVSF Program (CTP) to advance a number of selected programs over a 12-month period.

Technology focus areas:

  • Biomedical/Life Sciences
  • Advanced Materials
  • Energy
  • Software/Information Technology
  • Sensors
  • Advanced Manufacturing

Deadlines:
Pre-Proposal (using template): September 1, 2021 at 5p
Invited Full Proposals: September 20, 2021 at 5p
In The News
Crain's Cleveland Business - Aug 16, 2021
A state legislative panel has approved a $100 million, forgivable loan to help finance a planned pathogen-research center on the Cleveland Clinic's main campus.
From The NIH
Weekly NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
COVID-19 Funding Opportunities and Notices
The NIH has issued two Research Opportunity Announcements for the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative:

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