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APRIL 2023
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IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
- From the Cancer Consortium
- Consortium Kudos
- CCSG Updates
- In the Spotlight
- Reminder to Report Activities
- Save the Date - Upcoming Events
- From the NCI
- From the Consortium Shared Resources
- From Clinical Research Support
- From the Institutional Review Office
- How Well Do You Know the OCOE Team?
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FROM THE CANCER CONSORTIUM
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Consortium Kudos!
Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Leary (Cancer Basic Biology), who was recently awarded an R50 grant for her project, "Pediatric brain tumors: Improving survival through integration of clinical molecular diagnostics and biologically targeted therapies into clinical trials."
Dr. Leary made the following statement about her award: "I am so honored that the Fred Hutch and Seattle Children's Research Institute supported me as our first applicant for the R50 Clinical Scientist mechanism. The R50 award will provide me with the freedom to dedicate my time to broad clinical research programs which accelerate the work of many other individual researchers, both within the Cancer Consortium and Nationally."
Project description: Sarah Leary is an extremely qualified and experienced Clinical Scientist whose goal is to improve survival for children with brain tumors. This award will support her work nationally to maximize the impact of the NCI- COG partnership to bring molecular characterization to children with CNS tumors; to develop the next generation of COG trials for children relying on centralized molecular risk stratification; and to support clinical and genomic data sharing efforts. The goal of Dr. Leary's project is to improve clinical research operations infrastructure to decrease time to pediatric clinical trial implementation and increase equitable access and enrollment in clinical trials.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Leary!
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CCSG Updates
As a reminder, the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) Competing Renewal is due January of 2024. Check this section of the newsletter for CCSG-related updates and announcements, as well as a brief overview of what we're working on now.
- Updates: As of April 3, 74% of the first drafts for CCSG narratives had been completed and turned in! In the coming months leading up to the External Advisory Board Meeting on July 13, these drafts will go through both internal and external review and revision processes.
- With help from our partners, the Consortium Administration team will continue to collect, compile, and sort data on Consortium membership, clinical trials, grants, and publications
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In the Spotlight
The following interinstitutional Cancer Consortium collaborations were included in recent editions of the Science Spotlight:
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Reminder: Please Help the Consortium Track Awards, Honors, and External Activities for Members!
For CCSG reporting purposes, the Consortium Administration Team will be tracking Consortium members' significant accomplishments and activities. Below are examples of the information we're collecting:
- awards
- membership/service on national committees
- large grants
- any activities or work that have resulted in significant changes to cancer research policies or paradigms OR that have had far-reaching impacts for cancer health equity
If any of your activities from the last grant period (2019-present) fall into the above categories, please use the form below to submit them. Thank you!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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» April 15, 2023: Health & Wellness Festival
Join us at the Rainier Beach Community Center on Saturday, April 15, from 11am-3pm for the Health & Wellness Festival in Seattle!
This is an annual event in honor of Minority Health Awareness Month. Each year, the OCOE hosts community members and local organizations to bring awareness to health inequities and share community strengths. Together, we share resources, music, health education, and more!
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» April 25, 2023: NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship (OCS) Director's Series: Improving Care for Cancer Survivors with Serious Mental Illness
This webinar will take place on Tuesday, April 25, from 2-3pm Eastern (11am-12pm Pacific). The intended audience is researchers, advocates, clinicians, and policymakers with an interest in oncology, cancer survivorship, or mental health.
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» April 29-30, 2023: Eleventh International Conference on Ethics in Biology, Engineering, and Medicine
The 11th International Conference on Ethics in Biology, Engineering, and Medicine (ICEBEM) will be held at the University of Washington in Seattle, April 29-30, 2023. The conference's program will include a broad range of topics, with well-known keynote and other speakers, including Dr. Deeg from Fred Hutch.
To encourage the participation of students, the registration fee for students has been reduced by 50%.
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» May 1, 2023: OCOE Pathways to Equity Symposium
This free event will be hosted in-person in Seattle and livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
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» May 9, 2023: PAM IRC/MRI Joint Retreat
The 2023 Pathogen Associated Malignancies IRC and Microbiome Research Initiative Joint Retreat will take place on May 9, 2023, in the O’Mack Suites of the Steam Plant.
This event will feature a keynote presentation by Adam Zlotnick, PhD from Indiana University, Bloomington. Other highlighted speakers will include:
- Jhimmy Talbot, PhD, Fred Hutch
- Oliver Harrison, PhD, Benaroya Research Institute
- Kate Markey, PhD, Fred Hutch
- Rachel Lex, PhD, Fred Hutch
- Martin Prlic, PhD, Fred Hutch
- Michelle Shin, PhD, University of Washington
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» May 16, 2023: Spring Open House at Fred Hutch - Open to All!
Please join us for our second annual Open House. More than 45 groups representing teams at Fred Hutch and University of Washington who support scientific and clinical research will be hosting a fun and collaborative gathering. Last year, we had more than 400 attendees! This year we have even more participants and a new location.
When: May 16th, 2:30-4:30pm
Where: Fred Hutch Double Helix Café and B-Suites across the hall
Who is invited? Everyone! Faculty, clinicians, postdocs, grad students, technicians, administrators, operations, and more!
Snacks will be provided, and you will have an opportunity to enter a raffle for a prize!
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Teams hosting this event include Shared Resources, Clinical Research Support, Integrated Research Centers (IRC), Office of Scientific Career Development, Cancer Consortium Programs, Global Oncology, Office of Translational Research (OTR)/Seattle Translational Tumor Research (STTR), Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR), Arnold Library, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and more!
To receive a calendar hold and to sign up for future updates, please provide your name and email address through this brief Open House Attendee Form.
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» May 19, 2023: Dr. Eli Estey Honorary Symposium
The UW Division of Hematology is pleased to present "AML pathogenesis and therapy: a scientific symposium in honor of Dr. Eli Estey" at Fred Hutch Cancer Center.
Featured Presenters:
- Jorge Cortes, MD (Georgia Cancer Center)
- John DiPersio, MD, PhD (Washington University School of Medicine)
- Sergei Doulatov, PhD (University of Washington)
- Benjamin Ebert, MD, PhD (Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University)
- Christopher Hourigan, DM, DPhil. (NHLBI, National Institutes of Health)
- Mary-Beth Percival, MD (University of Washington & Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center)
- David Scadden, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University)
- Charles Schiffer, MD (Wayne State University)
- Lucy Godley, MD, PhD (University of Chicago)
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» June 3, 2023: 17th Annual Survivorship Event: Moving Beyond Cancer To Wellness
The Fred Hutch Survivorship Program is pleased to announce that the 17th Annual Survivorship Event will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023. The seminar will take place on the Fred Hutch Campus in Pelton Auditorium (Arnold Building) from 8:30am-3:00pm.
This year's event will feature a keynote speech from Mary Elizabeth Williams, a panel discussion and breakout sessions on survivorship topics, and more. Light continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
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» [Ongoing] PAM IRC Seminar Series
Upcoming Events:
May 17, 2023: Qian Yin, PhD (Assistant Professor, Florida State University)
This event will take place from 2-3pm in Pelton Auditorium (Fred Hutch Campus) or on Zoom. For more information, click here (CenterNet credentials required) or contact Jazmine Snow.
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» [Ongoing] TDS IRC Seminar Series
Upcoming Events:
April 6, 2023: Juan Lavista Ferres, PhD (Chief Scientist and Lab Director of the Microsoft AI for Good Research Lab)
This event will take place at 11:00am in the O'Mack Symposium Suites (Steam Plant Building, Fred Hutch Campus) or on Zoom.
May 4, 2023: Stephanie Hicks, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)
This event will take place at 11:00am in the O'Mack Symposium Suites (Steam Plant Building, Fred Hutch Campus) or on Zoom.
June 1, 2023: Peter Kharchenko, PhD (Gilbert S. Omenn Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School)
This event will take place at 11:00am in the O'Mack Symposium Suites (Steam Plant Building, Fred Hutch Campus) or on Zoom.
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FROM THE NCI
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NCI RFI on Strategies to Expand and Enhance Development of the Molecular Cancer Prevention and Cancer Interception Research Workforce
The NCI Division of Cancer Prevention recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) entitled, “Strategies to Expand and Enhance Development of the Molecular Cancer Prevention and Cancer Interception Research Workforce (NOT-CA-23-053).” The RFI seeks to gather input from the community on a wide range of topics (including education and training needs, mentoring, and utilization of current funding mechanisms) to guide the Division’s efforts in expanding and improving the development of the molecular cancer prevention and cancer interception research workforce in the United States. Responses to the RFI will be accepted via the webform through June 30, 2023.
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National Cancer Plan Announcement
On April 3, NCI Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli shared the following communication about the newly released National Cancer Plan:
Dear Colleagues,
I am honored to announce the release of the National Cancer Plan, a long-term, ambitious framework to end cancer as we know it. It was developed to coordinate a national response to achieving the goals of the Cancer Moonshot and deliver better cancer outcomes to all people.
We are grateful to our partners for their contributions in the development of the plan, including the National Cancer Advisory Board and NCI’s Council of Research Advocates and many others at NIH, HHS, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of the First Lady. The plan offers something for everyone who wants to join us in creating a society where more cancers are prevented and every person with cancer lives a full and active life.
At the heart of the plan are eight goals that build on our current knowledge and describe an ideal future state—essential aspects of ending cancer as we know it. By identifying how efforts across the cancer community align with these goals, we will be better able to identify gaps and work across society to address them. The plan will evolve over time, as science progresses and needs change.
Beginning today, we will disseminate the plan and spread the word to the research community and beyond and encourage everyone to explore the goals and strategies and sign up to receive updates. In the weeks and months ahead, we will provide more ways for stakeholders to engage.
Please read the plan, share it with your colleagues, and follow the conversation on social media using #Every1HasARole, #NationalCancerPlan, and #CancerMoonshot.
I look forward to seeing many of you soon at AACR, and at NCI in May!
Best wishes,
Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD
Director
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FROM THE CONSORTIUM SHARED RESOURCES
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Metabolomics Shared Resource Expands Lipidomics Capabilities
The Metabolomics Shared Resource is happy to report that we have recently significantly upgraded our capabilities in lipidomics analysis. We can now measure the absolute concentrations (in µM) of up to 1,500 lipid species from 19 different classes of lipids. The lipid classes include: cholesterol esters (CE), ceramides (CER), diacylglycerols (DAG), free fatty acids (FFA), hexosylceramides (HCER), lactosylceramides (LCER), lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC), lysophosphatidyl-ethanolamines (LPE), lysophosphatidylglycerols (LPG), lysophosphatidylinositols (LPI), lypopolysaccharides (LPS), phosphatidic acids (PA), phosphatidylcholines (PC), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), phosphatidylglycerols (PG), phosphoinositides (PI), phosphoserines (PS), sphingomyelins (SM) and triacylglycerols (TAG). Each lipid standard consists of d9-labeled palmitate along with a different, unlabeled second fatty acid chain that varies in length and saturation. Importantly, we are able to add additional lipid species, if requested, assuming it can be detected on our platform. We are also able to measure these lipids in a wide variety of samples, from biofluids and tissues to more exotic sample types. Just ask us!
We look forward to helping you expand cancer research using the new and improved lipidomics capabilities at the Metabolomics Shared Resource. Please contact Daniel Raftery (draftery@fredhutch.org or draftery@uw.edu) for more information.
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Proteomics & Metabolomics New Mass Spectrometer
The Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource recently completed the installation of a new liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system, consisting of a ThermoScientific Vanquish Neo HPLC coupled to a ThermoScientific Orbitrap Ascend mass spectrometer.
This is the most sensitive and fastest Orbitrap system for proteomics experiments. The Ascend will excel at multiplexed quantitative experiments (e.g. tandem mass tags), immunopeptidomics and label-free quantification experiments.
Contact the Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource to learn more about the instrument and to get assistance with designing experiments.
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This instrument was funded by an NIH S10 shared instrumentation grant.
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Please Remember to Acknowledge the CCSG!
If you are creating any publications, press releases, or other documents that cite results from the work of Shared Resources or any CCSG-supported research, don’t forget to include proper acknowledgement of the grant and compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy.
Click here for more information (requires CenterNet credentials).
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FROM CLINICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT
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Updated RGR and Low Accrual Policy
The Low Accrual Policy has been updated per the NCI rare disease definition. Trials focusing on a disease or condition with an incidence less than or equal to 15/100,000 now qualify for the Alternative Accrual Track.
Dependent documents and forms have been updated to align with this policy update:
Accrual Track Assignments:
- New trials will use the updated RGR form and include their incidence statement and additional background as you have with prior versions of the form. If the new trial meets the criteria for the alternative accrual track, the SRC will make that assignment during initial review. Definitions for each track can be found in the Low Accrual Policy.
- If you want to request the Alternative accrual track for a trial that is already open, you can time this with a Low Accrual Review or you can send in a separate Accrual Track Determination submission via OnCore to request the switch. You can check your current accrual track assignment in OnCore’s PC Console.
Questions can be sent to PRMS@fredhutch.org.
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FROM THE INTSITUTIONAL REVIEW OFFICE
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The Hutch IRB is Now Live
The Institutional Review Office is pleased to announce that Hutch IRB launched on March 29. Hutch IRB is an end-to-end, web-based electronic system that will support the Fred Hutch/Cancer Consortium IRB’s oversight of research. This technology will look familiar to those who have used the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s IRB systems, both of which are based on the same software platform. This rollout impacts all study teams who submit to the Fred Hutch IRB.
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HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE OCOE TEAM?
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In the coming months, the Consortium will be sharing the spotlight with a few of our partner organizations. This month, we polled the OCOE faculty for their food-related hot takes and deepest darkest secrets.
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How do you take your coffee/tea?
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What's your go-to comfort food?
- Stephen Schwartz, Jean McDougall, and Peggy Hannon: Pizza
- Allison Cole: Macaroni and cheese
- Vida Henderson: Smothered chicken and rice
- Myra Parker: Corn soup (a traditional Mandan and Hidatsa dish)
- Jay Mendoza: Lumpia
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What's your unpopular food opinion?
*for these respondents' safety, we've kept their names concealed
- Peas
- I am in favor of pineapple on pizza
- I really don't like hot dogs or hamburgers. Childhood was rough in this regard.
- Goat cheese, olives, beets - yuck.
- Seattle has good food, but Houston has amazing food!
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What's your signature dish?
- Stephen: Rugelach
- Allison: Baked ziti
- Peggy: Baked goods of almost any (sweet) kind
- Vida: Chicken stew
- Jean: Pollo en salsa
- Myra: Caprese salad
- Jay: Grilled salmon collar
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If you could have only one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- Stephen: My grandmother's poppyseed filling cookies
- Allison: Ice cream
- Peggy: Something chocolate-based
- Vida: Sweet tarts
- Jean: Carrot cake
- Myra: Strawberry shortcake
- Jay: Fruit salad
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Next month: keep an eye out for our May's Consortium Leadership Spotlight with Dr. Tom Lynch!
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FRED HUTCH/UNIVERISTY OF WASHINGTON/SEATTLE CHILDREN'S CANCER CONSORTIUM
1100 FAIRVIEW AVE. N., SEATTLE, WA 98109
Award number P30 CA015704-48
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