2021 Consortium Pilot Awardees The Cancer Consortium is pleased to announce the results of its annual Pilot Award Competition. Awards provide up to $80,000 in direct costs and support innovative proposals which are reviewed by Consortium experts and leaders. This year, a special focus has been placed on projects targeting cross-disciplinary research (^), health equity research (*) and catchment area needs (++). This year, the Consortium was able to provide 9 awards. Please join us in congratulating this year’s Pilot Award recipients!
Member
Research Program
Award Institution
Neelendu Dey, MD++
Pathogen Associated Malignancies
FH
Maitreya Dunham, PhD
Cancer Basic Biology
UW
Mark Headley, PhD
Cancer Immunology
FH
David Hockenbery, MD++
Cancer Basic Biology
FH
David MacPherson, PhD
Cancer Basic Biology
FH
Margaret M. Madeleine, MPH, PhD*
Pathogen Associated Malignancies
FH
Manoj Menon, MD, MPH++
Pathogen Associated Malignancies
FH
Evan Newell, PhD
Cancer Immunology
FH
Lawrence D. True, MD^
Prostate Cancer
UW
2021 New Investigator Award Funds are available from CCSG to provide developmental support to new or junior faculty who are establishing their research within the Consortium.
Application Due Date: May 24, 2021
Follow thislink for information.
Cancer Consortium Human Trials: Clarifications and Resources The Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium is a federally designated comprehensive cancer center, one of only 51 in the nation. As such, the Consortium is guided by federal requirements in the conduct of all cancer-related human interventional trials, including treatment and prevention trials, through the Protocol Review & Monitoring System (PRMS). Cancer-related human interventional trials are inclusive of interventional treatment trials (e.g., evaluation of a cancer drug) and interventional non-treatment trials (e.g., smoking cessation). Non-interventional trials (e.g., study of health behaviors using questionnaires) are exempt from PRMS review. Studies led by Consortium investigators from Fred Hutch, University of Washington, Seattle Children’s, and the SCCA undergo a central PRMS review focused on scientific aspects. Separate and complementary to PRMS review is the Institutional Review Board (IRB) review, which focuses on the protection of human subjects.
As part of CCSG reporting requirements to the NCI, the Consortium must perform PRMS review (documented for future audits) and subsequently report on all interventional cancer-related trials initiated at any of the Consortium institutions, even those supported by non-NCI funds. The PRMS consists of Research Group Review (RGR) and Scientific Review Committee (SRC) oversight. A newly formed Research Group focused on Population Science provides disciple-centric review of population science studies. The focus of the PRMS is on scientific merit, feasibility, prioritization, and progress of clinical research within the Consortium. In addition, review helps reduce duplication of effort across studies, especially across a large Consortium where investigators may not be aware of all 700+ active trials, and helps evaluate the number of patients/study subjects available for recruitment. Full approval from the SRC is required prior to IRB review. In addition to new trial review, the SRC also reviews protocol modifications to scientific elements and performs annual accrual monitoring per the Low Accrual Policy. For more information on the PRMS scope of review, policies, and templates, please visit the Cancer Consortium website.
May 12: PAM IRC and Pathogen Associated Malignancies Research Program Virtual Retreat Contact Becca Jourdan at rjourdan@fredhutch.org
FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
The Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium (Consortium)’s Office of Community Outreach & Engagement released its annual Community Grants Program request for applications (RFA) in January 2021. The RFA called for innovative projects to address COVID-19 vaccine education to increase vaccine uptake in Washington State, or projects that addressed the impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening and care. The following projects have been funded:
Brain Injury Alliance of Washington - Brain Injury Survivor COVID Vaccine Education Program in Washington State ($5,500)
Centro de Servicios Comunitarios Yakima - Outreach: Power to Protect in the Yakima Valley ($10,000)
Communities of Color Coalition – Vaccine Education (in Snohomish County) ($10,000)
Multicare – South Sound Community Vouchers ($10,000)
World Relief Seattle - Promoting vaccine education & immunization within refugee and immigrant communities in King, Pierce & Snohomish Counties ($10,000)
YMCA of Greater Seattle - YMCA of Greater Seattle East African & African American Community Health Navigation ($10,000)
Cancer Health Equity NOW Podcast As the Office of Community Outreach & Engagement has pivoted from in person to virtual outreach and education, they have launched a monthly podcast series entitled, “Cancer Health Equity NOW”, hosted by Community Health Educator Danté Morehead. Since the last CCSG newsletter, they have released two new episodes.
March: Building Trust and Relationships Among Indigenous Communities (Featuring Dr. Myra Parker from UW and Kris Rhodes (former CEO of the American Indian Cancer Foundation)
April: Recognizing Minority Health & Wellness Month (Featuring OCOE community health education staff)
Registration for 2021 Pathways to Equity Symposium Now Open Free registration is now open for the 2021 Pathways to Equity Symposium: “Racial Justice, Health Equity & Community Engagement”. Join us on Friday, May 21, 2021 from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM as we hear speakers address the critical role of racial justice in health equity and the roles of community engagement in cancer care and cancer health equity.
Register at: https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/jsarkjzy
Nominations Open for 2021 Beti Thompson Community Health Trailblazer & Cancer Health Equity Research Awards These awards are named for Dr. Beti Thompson, a community-based participatory research practitioner at Fred Hutch. Dr. Thompson has devoted her research career to helping underserved populations and works with community partners and stakeholders to develop culturally relevant interventions that addresses public health concerns brought forth by the community. Nomination criteria as well as the link to submit nominations by going to www.fredhutch.org/healthdisparities and click on “Awards”. Awards will be presented at the Pathways to Equity Symposium.
FROM CANCER RESEARCH CAREER ENHANCEMENT
Staffing Announcements
Andrea Brocato promoted to Director, Fred Hutch Office of Graduate Education (OGE) and Assistant Director, Cancer Consortium Office of Education and Training (OET)
Andrea will be working on strategy, finance, initiatives, and partnerships for both OGE and OET. She will help lead efforts within the OET to support the Fred Hutch/University of Washington CCSG cancer research career enhancement activities. Andrea has been with OGE for 3 years and has proven leadership with a strong focus on equity and inclusion. She has taken the lead on building new initiatives to improve processes that affect staff and faculty, and programs that enhance the lives, experiences, and professional development for graduate students. For the OET, Andrea will build on her successful relationships with Consortium members, the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s, and her previous experience at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Maura Do promoted to Program Manager, Fred Hutch Office of Graduate Education Maura will be leading the day-to-day operations of the administration of graduate students at Fred Hutch, while continuing to support the training grant efforts at Fred Hutch. Maura has a keen eye for process improvement, adopts initiatives focused on graduate students’ needs and impact to stakeholders, and will continue to develop ways to enrich the OGE.
Carolina Chambers welcomed as Project Coordinator, Fred Hutch Office of Graduate Education OGE welcomed Carolina on March 15. Carolina joins us from the Pacific Science Center and Celgene. She is settling in well with the team, working on operations and initiatives with both Maura and Andrea. Carolina is enthusiastic, has constructive process improvement suggestions, and has embraced the OGE’s commitment to diversity and equity initiatives.
Office of Education and Training Newsletter to launch soon The Fred Hutch Office of Education and Training is launching a quarterly newsletter in May 2021. The newsletter will include updates, resources and highlights from OET programs that span the education pipeline - teachers, high school and undergraduate interns, through graduate students, postdocs and faculty development. To subscribe to learn more about all of the educational initiatives going on around the Center, click here.
FROM THE CONSORTIUM SHARED RESOURCES
Staffing Announcements
Welcome Sam Minot, Associate Director, Data Science Applications
Message from Jeff Delrow, Senior Director, Molecular & Cellular Scientific Resources
I am excited to welcome Dr. Sam Minot to the Hutch Data Core team beginning February 1. Sam, in his role as Associate Director of the new Data Science Applications team, will lead an effort to initially build tools and resources for primarily (but not exclusively) genomics data analysis applications. He will be partnering with HDC colleagues in Bioinformatics, Morphometrics and Image Analysis, Data Visualization, and Bioinformatics Education and Training, with the goal of supporting the wide array of needs within the Fred Hutch/UW Cancer Consortium research community. In addition, Sam will be engaging with technology experts who provide services through the various data-intensive SR cores to learn more about data generation and how investigators interact with their data.
Welcome David Jellyman, New Antibody Technology Director
Please join us in welcoming David Jellyman virtually as the new Director of Antibody Technology. David is coming to us from Gilead Sciences, where managed and developed assays for inflammation projects. Although David has experience working in inflammation and infectious disease, most of his expertise is in immune-oncology. He has extensive experience building novel antibody discovery platforms that combined advanced antigen-specific B cell selection with B cell culture. These platforms are especially well suited to more difficult antibody discovery projects and are compatible with human, mouse and rabbit B cells. David looks forward to bringing this knowledge to bear and would encourage conversations about how this novel antibody discovery technology could be used here at Fred Hutch.
Genomics & Bioinformatics shared resource
New Illumina Infinium Mouse Methylation Beadchip
After years of anticipation, the Illumina Infinium Mouse Methylation Beadchip is now available. The beadchip features >285K markers across the methylome for high-resolution epigenetic analysis of virtually all murine strains used in research laboratories, including wildtype, knockout, transgenic, and other types of engineered mice. The Genomics Resource offers full-service support of this assay, including bisulfite conversion and Infinium processing, utilizing our robotic workflow. Contact us at genomics@fredhutch.orgto find out more or visit the product site for detailed content info and kit pricing.
With more than 20 years of service at Fred Hutch, the Genomics Biomek FX liquid handling instrument is nearing the end of its supported service life. Its successor, a Biomek i7 Dual-Multichannel instrument, has been installed in the High Throughput Screening and Gene Modulation Lab of the Genomics Resource, located in the Eastlake Building, and is currently undergoing operational testing before active duty deployment.
Flow Cytometry shared resource
New Cony ID7000 The Flow Cytometry facility received the Sony ID7000, one of the first placements in the world. The instrument is equipped with six lasers (deep UV laser to be added this summer) and 150 fluorescence channel detection (soon to be 186 channel). The ID7000 utilizes the full spectrum of a fluorescent marker, collecting continuous fluorochrome emission from 360nm-920nm. The fluorescent spectra from colors with similar peak emission can now be detected by looking at total light fingerprint of each color then applying an unmixing algorithm to resolve them. Building a panel with 40+ colors is now attainable using commonly available, directly conjugated antibodies. While the spectral data looks different, when it is unmixed and displayed in 2D format, it looks like normal flow data. This instrument is placed in the Steam Plant facility. If you are interested in this new technology and how it might fit in to your project, please call the Steam Plant lab at x1221 or email at flowcytometry@fredhutch.org .
FROM THE INTEGRATED RESEARCH CENTERS
Did you miss a seminar in the 2021 Virtual TDS IRC and Consortium Retreat Seminar Series?
Past seminars can be viewed again by using the links in the corresponding IIRC, TDS, and PAM Teams channels. For any questions related to past or future seminars, please reach out to Becca Jourdan at rjourdan@fredhutch.org.
IRC Funding Opportunities
The IIRC is offering Funding for Early Stage Clinical Trials to accelerate development and launch of phase I immunotherapy clinical trials. More information regarding eligibility and application requirements can be found here on CenterNet.
** If you do not have access to CenterNet and are interested in any of the Funding Opportunities listed here, please contact Becca Jourdan rjourdan@fredhutch.org.
Sarcoma Innovation Pilot Project - Request for Proposals
The University of Washington Sarcoma Oncology Program and Dr. Lee Cranmer would like to share the Anderson Sarcoma Innovation Pilot Project request for proposals. The project is open to any Consortium investigator and offers up to $20k in direct costs for a 12 month project aimed to improve the outcomes, quality of life, or therapeutic interventions for Sarcoma patients. The application deadline is May 15, 2021. A total of 5 projects will be funded, annually. For more information please see the RFP, or contact sarcomainnovation@seattlecca.org.
FRED HUTCH/UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CANCER CONSORTIUM
1100 FAIRVIEW AVE. N., SEATTLE, WA 98109 cancerconsortium.org
