As we end December, I, for one, am glad to see 2020 fade into the rear-view mirror. Almost like the Alfred Hitchcock movie (rear window), the whole year looked and felt wrong—unlike anything we have ever experienced. It threw immense challenges at us, pushed many to our limits, and tested us in ways we did not know possible.

What has kept me going is hearing from you—your resilience, your spiritual and collegial character, your excitement and search for new ideas, your ability to flexibly pivot and keep asking important questions, your pursuit of our mission and goals, and your compassion and care for patients and helping others.

Interim Dean, School of Medicine

Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Director, National Center for Regenerative Medicine

During the Dec 1-2 joint meeting of the National Cancer Institute's Board of Scientific Advisors (BSA) and the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB), the BSA voted unanimously for NCI to initiate an RFP of a 10-year recompetition contract for operations and technical support at the Frederick National Lab and approved the following new and reissued concepts. Presentations and recorded videocasts are now available.

NCI Director's Report - Norman Sharpless, MD

Legislative Report - M.K. Holohan, JD

President's Cancer Panel Report - John P. Williams, MD, FACS

Why and How the NCI Uses the U01 Mechanism - Michelle Berny-Lang, PhD

Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Cancer Research - Tram Kim Lam, PhD, MPH

Exercise and Nutrition Interventions to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes in Cancer Survivors - Frank Perna, EdD, PhD

Drug Development Support for the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program - Julie Rhie, PhD

Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) - Henry Rodriguez, PhD, MS, MBA

NCI Youth Enjoy Science (YES) Research Education Program - Alison Lin, PhD

Low-dose CT Lung Cancer Screening Image and Data Resource - Paul Pinsky, PhD

Status Report: Childhood Cancer Data Initiative - Warren Kibbe, PhD

Program on the Origins of Gastroesophageal Cancers - Rihab Yassin, PhD

Translational and Basic Science Research in Early Lesions (TBEL) Initiative - Elis Woodhouse, PhD

Centers on Telehealth Research and Cancer-Related Care - Roxanne Jensen, PhD

Re-Competition of the NCI at Frederick Operations and Technical Support Contract of the FNLCR - Sara S. Hook, PhD

John Pounardjian, MBA, associate director for administration of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, is this year’s recipient of the Joan Harris Staff Recognition Award, named in honor of Joan Harris, the former associate dean for faculty affairs to Dean Frederick Robbins in the 1960s. The award is given annually to a staff member who consistently exemplifies the very best work ethic and demeanor.

John was one of four School of Medicine employees honored with a staff award in 2020. Please join us in congratulating him on this honor.

The administrative offices of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center will be closed from Thursday, December 24 through Sunday, January 3, 2021, as Case Western Reserve University is closed for Winter Recess. Our staff will be available again beginning Monday, January 4. We wish you safe and healthy holidays and look forward to serving you in the new year!

The RGME is the first two-year master's level program in Ohio focused on Regenerative Medicine and Entrepreneurship. Students enrolled in the RGME program will have access to cutting-edge clinical and research facilities along with small biotechnology companies within the network of the National Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM).

Join our team! The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) is currently seeking qualified candidates for the following staff roles:

The Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Genetics Program at The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, with affiliates University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic, also invites applications for tenure track/tenured faculty positions at the level of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor.

The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas, through a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. Proposals are requested that address any interdisciplinary or convergent research theme of national priority, as noted above.

The NRT program addresses workforce development, emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity building needs in graduate education. The program encourages proposals that involve strategic collaborations with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science centers, and academic partners.

The Dream Project component of the Regeneron Prize application is designed to be a differentiating exercise that allows Regeneron's Selection Committee to distinguish between applicants who have excellent research records because of their mentors and those who have excellent research records because of their own scientific merits. The research that is proposed is not necessarily meant to be conducted, nor is the prize meant as a funding mechanism for research. The prize, $50,000 for each graduate and postdoctoral fellow winner, is a cash prize to the trainee, and the trainee may use the money in any way he or she wishes.

The proposal is a mechanism for evaluating a student's scientific clarity, elegance, precision and creativity. There is no need for preliminary data (although not prohibited), and there is no need for the student to feel limited by time or resources for the research proposed. "Out of the box" thinking is not only acceptable but encouraged. The proposal should describe research the applicant wishes he/she could conduct (i.e., a "dream" project), and be performable within the fundamental limitations imposed by today's technologies (e.g., don't propose cloning Albert Einstein). Finalists, who will also be awarded $5,000 each, will be invited to Regereron as the final step in selection of the Prize winners, and they should be prepared to explain and defend aspects of their proposal at that time.

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) is pleased to announce two 2021 Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Awards to support the work of investigators with exceptionally novel and creative projects with great potential to produce breakthroughs in our understanding of the management of bladder cancer. Two proposals will be funded for $300,000 at $150,000 per year. The proposed research may be basic, translational, clinical or epidemiological and must have direct applicability and relevance to bladder cancer. Innovation, either conceptual or technological, is essential.

The Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Awards are available to full-time, independent investigators who are affiliated with a non-profit academic, medical, or research institution within the United States or Canada. Eligible recipients include investigators who have experience in other areas of cancer or biomedical/health science research with promising ideas and approaches that can be applied to bladder cancer research. Projects that are high-risk and high-reward, as opposed to incremental in nature, are required. BCAN encourages diversity in applicants.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) offers a limited number of grants to investigators who have had the rank of full professor for 15 years or less and made seminal contributions that have changed the direction of basic cancer research.

It is expected that these investigators will continue to provide leadership in their research area. Up to 2 awards are made annually for a 5-year term that can be renewed once. The award of up to $80,000 per year (direct costs only) may be used for salary or research project support.

Interested individuals should submit their curriculum vitae with a complete bibliography and a letter of intent that briefly describes their seminal contributions to research. This information must be submitted via the Research Professor letter of intent on proposalCENTRAL. Upon receipt, ACS will provide appropriate guidance either by telephone or email.