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JULY 2024
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IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
- From the Cancer Consortium
- Congratulations to the 2024 New Investigator Awardees!
- Invitation to Advise Student-Led Projects Combating Health Disparities in Migrants
- In the Spotlight
- Current Funding Opportunities
- Save the Date - Upcoming Events
- From the Office of Community Outreach & Engagement
- From the Consortium Shared Resources
- From Clinical Research Support
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*This newsletter is a corrected version of the original, containing additional information about the TRPCD funding opportunities.*
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FROM THE CANCER CONSORTIUM
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Congratulations to the 2024 New Investigator Awardees!
The Cancer Consortium is pleased to announce that the following individuals have been awarded New Investigator funding from the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG).
- Dr. Kaitlyn Fladeboe (Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention & Control)
- Dr. Christopher Lapointe (Cancer Basic Biology)
- Dr. Xueqiu Lin (Biostatistics & Computational Biology)
- Dr. Sanjay Srivatsan (Cancer Basic Biology).
- Dr. Alexi Vasbinder (Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention & Control)
- Dr. Claudia Vasquez (Cancer Basic Biology)
New Investigator funds provide a flexible source of funding designed to allow new and junior faculty to work toward obtaining future, independent research funding. More information about the awardees and their projects can be found on the Cancer Consortium's News page.
Please join us in congratulating these investigators!
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Invitation to Advise Student-Led Projects Combating Health Disparities in Migrants
The Fred Hutch Cancer Center Health Equity Program was recently approached by the Health Disparities Think Tank (HDTT) to invite any interested staff to join HDTT as a policy advisor relating to health disparities in cancer screenings for Asian American immigrants.
HDTT is an undergraduate think tank focused on creating a direct research-to-policy pipeline to address health disparities. HDTT is composed of 40+ college, graduate, and medical students nationwide and 20+ mentors from Harvard Medical School, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering, etc. They also partner with divisions at Mass. General Hospital and Cambridge Health Alliance.
To learn more and to apply to join, please check out their website here.
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In the Spotlight
The following interinstitutional collaborations by Consortium members were featured in the most recent edition of the Science Spotlight:
- "Life after stem cell transplant: Finding ways to improve survivors’ transition back to work" featured collaborative work by Drs. Rachel Salit (Hematologic Malignancies), Stephanie Lee (Hematologic Malignancies), Catherine Lee (Hematologic Malignancies), Neel Bhatt (Hematologic Malignancies), Paul Carpenter (Hematologic Malignancies), Masumi Ueda Oshima (Hematologic Malignancies), Laura Connelly-Smith (Hematologic Malignancies), Elizabeth Krakow (Hematologic Malignancies), and Phuong Vo (Hematologic Malignancies).
- "For overlooked cholangiocarcinoma patients, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel" featured collaborative work by Drs. Lucas Sullivan (Cancer Basic Biology), Paul Lampe (Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention & Control), Jonathan Cooper (Cancer Basic Biology), Raymond Yeung (Non-Programmatically Aligned), and Sita Kugel (Cancer Basic Biology).
- "Getting the DURT on T cell responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis" featured collaborative work by Drs. Aude Chapuis (Cancer Immunology), Phil Bradley (Biostatistics & Computational Biology), Evan Newell (Cancer Immunology), and Chetan Seshadri (Affiliate Member).
- "Safety and feasibility approved for new therapy to treat relapsed hematologic malignancies" featured collaborative work by Drs. Elizabeth Krakow (Hematologic Malignancies), Corinne Summers (Cancer Immunology), Ryan Cassaday (Hematologic Malignancies), Ann Dahlberg (Hematologic Malignancies), Brian Till (Cancer Immunology), Cecilia Yeung (Hematologic Malignancies), Ted Gooley (Biostatistics & Computational Biology), David Maloney (Cancer Immunology), Stanley Riddell (Cancer Immunology), Philip Greenberg (Cancer Immunology), Aude Chapuis (Cancer Immunology), Evan Newell (Cancer Immunology), Scott Furlan (Cancer Immunology), and Marie Bleakley (Cancer Immunology).
- "Inching closer to an EBV vaccine?" featured collaborative work by Drs. Andrew McGuire (Pathogen Associated Malignancies), Stephen De Rosa (Cancer Immunology), Evan Newell (Cancer Immunology), and Martin Prlic (Cancer Immunology).
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CURRENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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Funding Opportunities from the Translational Research Program in Colorectal Cancer Disparities (TRPCD)
1) Career Enhancement Program
The purpose of TRPCD‘s Career Enhancement Program (CEP) is to support early career investigators interested in pursuing cancer disparities research as well as associate professors without a prior track record in cancer disparities research to become engaged in this field. Individuals from a broad range of disciplines, including clinical, basic, translational, and population sciences, are encouraged to apply. Cornerstones of our program include identifying and providing multi-disciplinary mentors, assigning sponsors, and providing opportunities for leadership development as appropriate.
Eligibility:
- Fellows in their final year of clinical or post-doctoral fellowship who will continue on to an independent faculty appointment at one of the TRPCD participating institutions
- Assistant professors (or equivalent), with or without prior experience in cancer disparities research
- Associate professors (or equivalent), with no prior experience in translational cancer disparities research but with a strong interest in engaging in this field
Grant Size/Duration: Awarded amount will be $50,000 direct costs per year for up to two years ($100,000 direct costs over two years). The award period is 09/01/2024–08/31/2025.
Areas of Interest: The CEP is interested in translational cancer disparities research proposals across a range of fields, including molecular biology, epidemiology (primary and secondary prevention), risk prediction, early detection, prognosis, therapeutics, and survivorship.
2) Developmental Research Program
The purpose of the Developmental Research Program (DRP) for the TRPCD is to support early-phase projects in the area of translational cancer disparities research related to any cancer type with a well-documented disparity among racial and ethnic populations. The DRP is meant to develop potential future projects to be included in TRPCD SPORE renewal or independent R type of grants. The DRP provides a flexible means of funding basic, clinical, and population sciences research with outstanding translational promise.
Eligibility: Applications are invited from any researcher who is eligible to apply for NIH R01 grants. Investigators new to the field of cancer disparities demonstrating an interest in working in this field, junior faculty with evidence of exceptional talent during post-doctoral residency or fellowship training, and senior faculty with a track record for conducting significant original research are encouraged to apply. Investigators from underrepresented minority groups are encouraged to apply.
Grant Size/Duration: Awarded amount will be $50,000 direct costs per year for up to two years ($100,000 direct costs over two years). The award period is 09/01/2024–08/31/2025.
Areas of Interest: The DRP is interested in translational cancer disparities research proposals across a range of fields, including molecular biology, epidemiology (primary and secondary prevention), risk prediction, early detection, prognosis, therapeutics, and survivorship.
The immediate goal of the DRP is to identify impactful projects with the potential to advance to a SPORE project or R type grant. The ultimate goal of the program is to fund projects that will lead to a reduction in the morbidity and mortality of cancer among underserved populations.
Targeted research areas include, but are not limited to, the following topics as related to cancer disparities:
- Tumoral immune response
- Risk Prediction
- Novel prevention approaches, including dietary interventions
- Biological aging and cancer progression
- Novel biomarkers for early detection in underserved populations
- Genetic and environmental factors that enhance susceptibility
- Factors that contribute to cancer progression or recurrence
- New prognostic or predictive markers
- Novel treatments or therapeutic approaches
- Population, behavioral, or psychosocial studies that address mechanistic aspects of the cancer biology
All proposals must be applicable to health disparities in cancer, but otherwise can cover the full spectrum of basic, population, and clinical research. While pilot projects focusing on early detection are within the scope, those focused on improving cancer screening are outside the scope of this funding announcement.
Submission Details
Applications for both the Career Enhancement Program and the Developmental Research Program are due by 5:00pm on Friday, August 9th. To submit, please email one PDF copy of the complete proposal to trpcd@fredhutch.org.
Questions?
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NCI Notice of Funding Opportunity: U54 SPORE in Cancer Health Disparities and Minority Health
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for U54 Specialized Programs of Research Excellence in Cancer Health Disparities and Minority Health (CHD-MH SPOREs). The program will fund a network of multidisciplinary, multi-institutional U54 CHD-MH SPOREs uniquely focused on health disparities and/or minority health translational research for improved prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in populations who are underserved (and/or underrepresented). Applications are due September 26th, 2024 (the only receipt date for this opportunity).
The Cancer Consortium may submit a single application for this opportunity, and we are inviting interested investigators to join a working group facilitated by the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement and the Cancer Consortium Research Development Office to discuss this RFA and to build consensus/identify a team to put forward a competitive application. Please consider the following:
- U54 CHD-MH SPOREs can investigate more than one cancer type in underserved populations, including groups of highly related cancers (e.g., gastrointestinal, neuroendocrine, and head and neck).
- The research supported through this program must be translational and must stem from knowledge of human biology, addressing the interplay of various determinants of health with the biology of the disease.
- U54 CHD-MH SPORE projects must have the goal of reaching a translational human endpoint within the project period of the grant.
If you are interested in participating in this working group, please fill out this form or contact Kris Blair ( kblair@fredhutch.org) no later than Monday, June 17 th.
Key Dates
- Applications Due: September 26th, 2024
- Review: February 2025
- Start Date: Summer 2025
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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» [Ongoing]: IIRC Seminars
Please see below for a list of upcoming seminars hosted by the Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center:
Talk Title: TBA
Details: Pelton Auditorium (Fred Hutch Campus) or Zoom ( click here)
Talk Title: Functional identification and therapeutic targeting of cancer neoantigens
Details: Pelton Auditorium (Fred Hutch Campus) or Zoom ( click here)
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» July 12, 2024: Symposium in Pediatric Cell Therapy
This event is co-hosted by Dr. Colleen Annesley, Interim Section Chief of Cellular Immunotherapy, SCRI, and Dr. Marie Bleakley, Director, Cellular Therapy and Transplantation for Pediatric Leukemia, Fred Hutch and Co-leader Cancer Immunology Program CCSG.
Date: Friday, July 12th
Time: 8:00am-5:00pm
Location: McKinstry Auditorium and 1st floor meeting room (01-750), Building Cure (Seattle Children's Campus)
Please RSVP by emailing Kristen Ettinger (kettinge@fredhutch.org) by Friday, July 5th. Please also feel free to forward this invitation to other colleagues and lab members who are interested, all are welcome to attend!
Speakers will include both senior and junior investigators from across the Cancer Consortium and SCRI. For this kick-off symposium, the focus of presentations will be on cellular products in late development or recently translated into early phase pediatric clinical trials. Speaker topics will cover a broad range of diseases and highlight the depth of experience and range of novel cellular therapies developed here. There will be a lunchtime panel discussing the potential for investigators to access SCTx resources. There will also be an afternoon breakout session to facilitate collaboration discussions.
Speakers will include:
- Dr. Corinne Summers
- Dr. Marie Bleakley
- Dr. Adam Lamble
- Dr. Jacob Appelbaum
- Dr. Shannon Oda
- Dr. Danielle Kirkey
- Dr. Colleen Annesley
- Dr. Katie Albert
- Dr. Jim Olson
- Dr. Nicholas Vitanza
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» September 25, 2024: Save the Date for the Beverly Torok-Storb Symposium: A Lifetime of Science and Mentorship
Fred Hutch is pleased to present the Dr. Beverly Torok-Storb Symposium: A Lifetime of Science and Mentorship. The one-day symposium will feature scientific presentations on the advances in hematopoietic stem cell research, as well as highlighting “Dr. Bev’s” extraordinary impact on the future generation of researchers in the field. This one-day event will take place on Wednesday, September 25 th, 2024.
Registration will open on Monday, July 15th, 2024.
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» September 26-27, 2024: Save the Date for the E. Donnall Thomas Symposium
The 2nd bi-annual E. Donnall Thomas Symposium will be held from September 26-27 th, 2024. This two-day event will feature leading researchers from around the world sharing their current research on improving survival after hematopoietic transplantation, adoptive cell therapy, gene therapy and hybrid therapies.
Dr. E. Donnall Thomas and his colleagues discovered a way to treat advanced leukemia by eradicating malignant white blood cells in the bone marrow using high doses of chemotherapy and radiation, and then replacing them with healthy donor cells. This revolutionary approach was the first definitive and reproducible example of the human immune system’s potential to eliminate cancer, and it earned Thomas a Nobel Prize in 1990. Today, cell-based therapies have become a standard of care for many patients with cancer and other diseases.
Registration will open on Monday, July 15th, 2024.
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» November 14, 2024: Save the Date for the Joint BOC + CEPC Program Retreat!
Please save the date for a joint retreat hosted by the Consortium's Breast & Ovary Cancers (BOC) and Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention & Control (CEPC) Programs. The retreat will take place from 8:00am-3:00pm on Thursday, November 14th, in the O’Mack Symposium Suite in the Steam Plant Building (Fred Hutch campus).
The theme for this retreat is "Understanding disparities contributing to oncogenesis and cancer outcomes." This is a unique opportunity to learn from leading minds in the field, alongside basic scientists, epidemiologists, and clinicians involved in developing genetic tests for predicting patient outcomes and response to therapy.
We are especially thrilled to announce that our keynote speaker for this year's retreat is the esteemed Professor Melissa Davis from the Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Davis’s pioneering research is leveraging high-throughput genomics technologies to uncover how genetic underpinnings interplay with social factors to drive health disparities. A testament to her original and highly rigorous research program is that her team was just awarded a Cancer Research UK Grand Challenge Award.
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FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT (OCOE)
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Congratulations to the 2024 Health Equity Awardees! Professor emeritus Beti Thompson, PhD, who founded the OCOE (formerly known as the Health Disparities Research Center) at Fred Hutch, presented awards to three individuals for their compassionate and tireless work addressing health disparities in Washington state at the Pathways to Equity Symposium:
- Laura Starr, RN, received the Beti Thompson Community Health Champion Award
- Vida Henderson, PhD, PharmD, received the Beti Thompson Community Health Equity Research Award
- Anne Devine, MA, received the Stephaun Wallace Health Equity Staff Champion Award
Do you know a health equity champion? Please consider nominating them in 2025!
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FROM THE CONSORTIUM SHARED RESOURCES
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Dr. Eric Tam Joins the Shared Resources as New Antibody Technology Director
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Eric Tam, PhD, has joined the Antibody Technology team as its new director. Eric received his PhD from the University of British Columbia. He brings more than 15 years of experience in antibody and protein production, having worked at Pfizer Oncology, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, and at EvolveImmune Therapeutics most recently. At EvolveImmune Therapeutics, he led a scientific team in developing novel protein biotherapeutics and was the co-inventor of a novel trispecific T-cell engager platform. On behalf of the Antibody team and Shared Resources, please join us in welcoming Eric to the Consortium!
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FROM CLINICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT
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Protocol Review & Monitoring System (PRMS) Updates
- The SRC Low Accrual Policy has been updated to include additional criteria for the Exempt Track. You can find the latest version of the Low Accrual Policy on the Cancer Consortium website. If you have questions, please send them to PRMS@fredhutch.org.
- Radiation Oncology is now recognized as one of the Cancer Consortium’s Modality Research Groups. The Research Group Review form has been updated to include this group. If a new protocol requires PRMS review and will require services from Radiation Oncology or Total Body Irradiation, ensure the RGR form indicates Radiation Oncology as a collaborating group. Requests for review by this group can be sent to radoncregulatory@uw.edu.
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FRED HUTCH/UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON/SEATTLE CHILDREN'S CANCER CONSORTIUM
1100 FAIRVIEW AVE. N., SEATTLE, WA 98109
Award number P30 CA015704-49
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