MICB is supported by. Notes from the Director s Chair:

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1 Notes from the Director s Chair: A new academic year is soon upon us. It seemed like summer when by really fast and now Medical students, undergraduate students and graduate students will start classes again. Fortunately, the weather at the end of August has been hot and humid masking the coming fall temperatures. I would like to thank all summer students and project students this summer for their contributions to the ongoing research efforts a MICB and good luck with your studies this year! The sixth Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (CAPIH), was the first of its kind of joint meetings between CAPIH, the Manitoba Association of Asian Physicians (MAAP) and the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). It was held from August 2nd to 5th, 2013 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. MICB was represented by Dr James Johnston, Dr. Shantanu Banerji and Dr. Versha Banerji. Donna Hewitt (research nurse), Diane McAlpine (research nurse) and Jean Gueverra (Mb Tumour Bank Data Entry Clerk) were special guests at a family reunion / 91st birthday party on Sunday August 11. They were invited to the party because the family wanted to participate in Dr Johnston and Dr Banerji's study on the genetics of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Because of Manitoba's high rates of CLL, our dedicated CLL clinic (the only one in Canada), and our reputation for CLL research, Mayo clinic approached us to join the study as the only non US centre to participate. Family members were approached by another family member and with their permission consented prior to the event. A pedigree or family tree was created to more clearly demonstrate the intergenerational history of cancer within this family. Donna, Diane and Jean collected DNA saliva samples (spit), blood, and medical histories from willing family members. This will help to discover why some families have higher rates of cancer, especially CLL. Collecting samples from an entire family, all at once, was very efficient and a lot of fun. They expressed that participating in this research project was in honour of their father who has passed away from CLL. The birthday "girl" (the 91 year old) also recorded a video to James Johnston on Jean's iphone thanking him "for giving me 20 more years with my husband". James had treated her husband in 1976 shortly after he had come to CancerCare. Amy Cisyk is our new MCIB student representative and Cell Biology co ordinator. Please sign up for Cell Biology Club on the main office window. Presentations will be 20 minutes for post doc and PhD

2 students, 15 minutes for MSc students. Just a reminder that trainees are required to present recent data (re: last few months), not an annual project summary. We ll have 3 special guest speakers this year: Dr Sachin Katyal talking about DNA damage assays, Dr Lawrence Ryner talking about MRI/MRS of cancer, and Dr Dilshad Khan talking about CHiP and primer design. Based on survey results, timing of presentations will be moderated more closely with a 3 minute warning to let you know when the time is up. Congratulations to Dilshad on her PhD thesis defense Role of Histone Deacetylases in Gene Expression and RNA Splicing. Dilshad has accepted a research associate position in the Davie s lab. Congratulations to Jennifer Schacter on her MSc thesis defense Role of MCl 1 in breast cancer. We wish her the best of luck as she moves to Ireland to attend medical school. Farewell to Sandrine Lafarge who has completed her post doctoral fellowship will be leaving for France to work at the beginning of October. Our annual MICB/BMG BBQ was held at Kildonan Park on August 23 rd. The weather was perfect and everyone enjoyed to great food and great company. Some photos to enjoy below. Thank you to everyone who came, to Chef Don for perfectly prepared hot dogs and hamburgers, and especially to the organizing committee for another fun afternoon out! The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance Conference will be held November 3 6th, Dr. Gibson will arrange to have travel grants through MICB available once again this year to trainees to attend this important Canadian Cancer Research Conference if your submitted an abstract to this conference. He hopes to have enough to support up to 10 trainees to attend with $1000 travel grants available.

3 The 2013 MICB Annual Retreat will be held from Sept 20 th 22 nd at the Victoria Inn and Convention Centre in Brandon, Manitoba. This year s theme is Platforms. Please contact your supervisor regarding your attendance so that Cecile can create a list of attendees. Deadline for registration is August 20 th at 10:00am. A sign up sheet will be posted for those who can drive or require a ride. Guests are welcome to attend at a cost of $ per adult or children over 11 (which include hotel room and meals). Children between 3 11 years old will cost $63.10 per person, children under 3 are free. On October 3 rd, and 4 th, the annual National CLL meeting will be held at the Inn at the Forks. The keynote address will be given by Nicholas Chiorazzi, Head, Karches Center for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, NY. Please contact Lynn Savage if you wish to attend this conference. Dr Mai will be hosting a workshop on Microscopy, Optics and Imaging from November University of Manitoba students can receive credit for this course Basic Molecular Imaging (IMED7300). Early bird registration deadline is September 30th. Topics include: Basic Microscopy, Live Cell Imaging, Digital Imaging and Documentation, Automated Sample Analysis Fluorescent Dyes, Probes, Instruments, Platforms and Applications Fluorescent in situ Hybridization, Different Types and Applications Introduction to Human Cytogenetics FISH experiments, Imaging of Samples, Data Analysis and Discussion, Journal Clubs. Last chance: Entries for the Simon and Sarah Israels Graduate Thesis Prize are due by August 31 st. All graduate students whose supervisors hold appointments as Senior Scientists or Research Affiliate Scientists at MICB and who have successfully completed a program of study (MSc or PhD) at the University of Manitoba between September 2012 and are eligible to enter. The winner of this prize will be presented with an engraved plaque and $2,000. Information that might be interesting only to a Director: In 2012, there were 42 publications down from 45 the previous year. However, the impact factor of these publications increased to above 8 and the number of citation of published papers in the past five years was also increased from previous years. This means we might not be publishing our research more often but the quality is increasing.

4 Publications: Steroid receptor RNA activator protein (SRAP) expression as a prognostic factor in ER+ human breast tumors. Yan Y, Penner CC, Skliris GP, Cooper C, Nugent Z, Blanchard A, Hamedani MK, Wang X, Myal Y, Murphy LC, Leygue E. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print] Sister chromatid cohesion defects are associated with chromosome instability in Hodgkin lymphoma cells. Sajesh BV, Lichtensztejn Z, McManus KJ. BMC Cancer Aug 20;13:391. doi: / Telomerase contributes to fludarabine resistance in primary human leukemic lymphocytes. Shawi M, Chu TW, Martinez-Marignac V, Yu Y, Gryaznov SM, Johnston JB, Lees-Miller SP, Assouline SE, Autexier C, Aloyz R. PLoS One Jul 29;8(7):e doi: /journal.pone Print Yin yang gene expression ratio signature for lung cancer prognosis. Xu W, Banerji S, Davie JR, Kassie F, Yee D, Kratzke R. PLoS One Jul 17;8(7):e doi: /journal.pone Print Establishment of primary cultures from ovarian tumor tissue and ascites fluid. Thériault BL, Portelance L, Mes-Masson AM, Nachtigal MW. Methods Mol Biol. 2013;1049: doi: / _24. Developmental changes in the in vitro activated regenerative activity of primitive mammary epithelial cells. Makarem M, Kannan N, Nguyen LV, Knapp DJ, Balani S, Prater MD, Stingl J, Raouf A, Nemirovsky O, Eirew P, Eaves CJ. PLoS Biol Aug;11(8):e doi: /journal.pbio Epub 2013 Aug 13

5 Grants and Scholarships Aug 26 FAAF Komen for the cure post doctoral fellowship FAAF Komen for the cure Research grants Aug 30 Stem Cell Network public outreach award Stem Cell Network drug discovery program Stem Cell Network impact research Alex s Lemondae Stand Nurse Researcher Award Registration deadline CIHR Secondary analysis of neuroimaging databases LOI Children s Hospital Foundation Child health advisory grant application Aug 31 Simon and Sara Israels Graduate Thesis Prize submission deadline Matsumae International Foundation Fellowship Sept 1 Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute Impact Grant ASH Physician Scientist Career Development Award Technology Evaluation in the elderly network MICH Travel Grant (monthly) Colon Cancer Canada Operating grant Crohn s and Colitis Research Foundation Innovation Award UK Science and Innovation Network Sept 3

6 FAAF CIHR Open operating grant CIHR Proof of Principle Phases 1 & 2 Technology Commercialization CFI (LEF/NIF) NOIs submitted to Associate Dean (Research) LOI Burroughs Wellcome Fund career awards at the scientific interface CIFAR Global Scholar FAAF CIHR Industry partnered collaborative research program FAAF CIHR Operating grant Population Health Intervention Research FAAF CPAC Quality initiative Accelerated Diffusion of strategic QI for diagnosis Sept 5 Association for women in science gastric biology related to cancer research scholarship Lymphoma Research Foundation Clinical Investigators Career Development award Lymphoma Research Foundation Clinical research mentorship program Lymphoma Research Foundation Post doctoral Fellowship CDMRP Prostate cancer research program Physician research training ASH translational research training in hematology Pre application Komen for the Cure research grants in breast cancer Sept 6 AACR Team science award National Brain tumour foundation LOI Innovation award Sept 9 International development research centre call for concept notes for Canadian

7 Partnerships Sept 10 CONCERN foundation Conquer Cancer Now award Sept 11 CIHR Population health intervention research Cystic Fibrosis Foundation research grant FAAF Mitacs Accelerate PhD Fellowship Sept 12 FAAF US Dept of Defense Pre application for breast cancer breakthrough award Sept 13 Canadian Cancer Society graduate student travel grant LOI Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - special fellowship - scholar award - scholar in clinical research - quality of life research funding initiative - special fellow in clinical research Sept 15 March of Dimes operating grant Sept 16 CIHR Open operating grant Sept 17 CIHR Industry partnered research program CIHR Maud Menten new PI prize CPAC quality initiatives RFP Accelerated Diffusion of strategic QI for diagnosis and treatment Alex s Lemonade Stand A Award for pediatric neuro oncology Alfred P Sloan Foundation fellowship FAAF Banting Post doctoral fellowship FAAF CIHR Doctoral Research award FAAF Canadian Cancer Society Innovation grant

8 FAAF CIHR Catalyst grant Secondary analysis of neuroimaging databases FAAF Burrough Wellcome Fund Career Awards in Medical Sciences LOI MHRC Partnership for health systems improvements Sept 18 FAAF US Dept of Defense Prostate Cancer idea development award Pre application US Dept of Defense Prostate cancer population science impact award Pre application US Dept of Defense Prostate cancer clinical consortium Pre application US Dept of Defense Prostate cancer pathology resource network Award FAAF CIHR Doctoral Research Award Sept 19 FAAF National Sanitarium association innovative research program Mitacs Accelerate PhD Fellowship Sept 20 FAAF CIHR Knowledge synthesis grant Sept 22 NSERC Collaborative research and training experience program (studentship and fellowship, by invitation only) Sept 23 CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Travel award for trainees Sept 25 FAAF Pfizer Canada Geriatric Anxiety research award FAAF Pfizer Canada Major Depressive Disorders research grant US Dept of Defense breast cancer research program breakthrough award Health Minds Canada / Sun Life Financial / Pfizer Canada Research Award

9 Prostate Cancer Canada Graduate Studentship Award Registration Deadline Prostate Cancer Canada Rising Star Award Registration Deadline Sept 26 FAAF MICH Small grants FAAF US Dept of Defense prostate cancer biomarker research program FAAF Thrasher Research fund pediatric medical research Sept 27 FAAF SSHRC Insight Grant Sept 30 Canadian Gene Cure Foundation Champion of genetics Oct 1 National Sanitarium Association Innovative Research Program Diagnostic Services Manitoba Operating grant Canadian Cancer Society Innovation grant Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Quality of Life Research Funding initiative - Scholar in clinical research - Scholar - Fellow - Special Fellow in clinical research Gairdner Foundation - Wightman award - International Award - Global Health Award CIHR Doctoral research award CIHR Clinician Scientist Salary award phases 1 & 2 CIHR NSERC Collaborative health research project CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Publication prize CIHR Institute of Gender and Health

10 - Travel award - Award of Excellence - Trainee KT Supplements - Skills Development award - Award of excellence in KT CIHR Catalyst grant: Secondary analysis of neuroimaging databases CIHR Age+ prize CIHR Banting and Best Award CIHR Foreign study doctoral award CIHR Knowledge Synthesis MICH Travel grant The Life Science Research Foundation Fellowship Cancer Research Institute Irvington Fellowship program in tumour immunology FAAF Google Faculty Research Award Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards for Medical Sciences Pfizer Canada Geriatric anxiety Pfizer Canada Major Depressive disorders research award Health Minds / Sun Life financial / Pfizer Canada Research Award

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