LMP News, August 20

Li awarded NIH grant to investigate biomarkers associated with mild cognitive impairment

NIH’s National Institute on Aging has awarded Danni Li a four-year R01 grant in the amount of $491,000 to study “Blood Biomarkers as Surrogate Endpoints of Treatment Responses to Aerobic Exercise and/or Cognitive Training in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.” 

Linden joins Steering Committee for MDS-AML education program

MikeLinden recently joined the Steering Committee for MDS+AML MATTER, a free education program focused on myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia that offers continuing education credit. It is hosted in partnership by the American Society of Hematology, American Society for Clinical Pathology, National Marrow Donor Program, Oncology Nursing Society, and The France Foundation.  Mike will design course curricula and will be presenting at four meetings this fall.

MPG Symposium slated for October 11

The annual MPG Symposium will be held October 11 at Coffman Memorial Union with keynote speaker Muneesh Tewari from the University of Michigan.   Tewari is Ray and Ruth Anderson-Laurence Sprague Memorial Research Professor, Professor of Internal Medicine, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering.  He is also affiliated with the Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics.

Tewari will discuss the integration of cell free DNA with wearable sensors for early cancer diagnosis.  

Kelekar to introduce keynote speaker at Center for Women and Science retreat

Ameeta Kelekar will introduce keynote speaker Deborah Streeter, theBruce F. Failing Sr. Professor of Personal Enterprise and Small Business Management at Cornell University, at theCenter for Women and Science’s first annual retreat Sept. 27 in theCancer and Cardiovascular Research Building.

MCC pre-R01 pilot grant proposal deadline approaching

The deadline to apply for the Masonic Cancer Center’s pre-R01 pilot grants program is Sept. 17. The grants will be awarded through a competitive peer review process. It is anticipated that 1-2 projects will be funded for up to $100,000 each in the current cycle. These grants are intended to support new research ideas that address the MCC Scientific Priorities for Growth.

Medical School research and equipment grants available

Research and equipment grants are awarded to Medical School faculty for basic and clinical research. Priority is given to startup funding for new faculty, bridge funding during lapse of an NIH R01 or similar type grant, and equipment funding.  Assistant Professor Startup Funding and Equipment Funding grant applications are received two times per year including September 15. Applications for bridge funding now have four deadlines per year including September 15

U of M Grant-in-Aid funding available

The Grant-in-Aid of Research, Artistry, and Scholarship program (GIA) promotes the research, scholarly, and artistic activities of faculty and supports academic excellence throughout the University.  Grant-in-Aid funds act as seed money for developing projects to the point of attracting more complete, external funding.  In fiscal year 2017, 84 grants were awarded with an average award of $33,000.  GIA application deadline is Sept. 17

Applications for the Health Equity Leadership & Mentoring Fellowships now being accepted

The Health Equity Leadership & Mentoring Program (HELM) is designed to enhance the academic excellence and leadership capacity of diverse faculty and health disparities researchers at the University of Minnesota and ultimately reduce health inequities. HELM addresses some of the challenges that faculty and postdoctoral fellows/trainees from minority and underserved communities and other faculty whose research focuses on health equity may face in the academic setting. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 10 or until the 10 slots available are filled.

Chainbreaker bicyclists hit the road

The second annual Chainbreaker bike ride (25 – 180 miles) took place August 10- 12 under sunny skies and very warm temperatures.  Last year more than a thousand riders helped to raise nearly $1.4 million for the Masonic Cancer Center.  Donations are accepted through Oct. 12.  Go to chainbreakerride.org to donate.

Faculty publish

Hogquist KA and Hamilton SE.  For T cells, the child Is father of the man [Commentary].  Cell. 2018; 174(1): 16-18. doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.06.015

Flanagan ME, Keene CD, Louis DN and Gordana J-S.  Localized crystal-storing histiocytosis of the posterior fossa.  Neuropathology. 2018 Jul 31. doi: 10.1111/neup.12486. [Epub ahead of print] 

Martin AM, Nirschl CJ, Polanczyk MJ, Bell WR, Nirschl TR, Harris-Bookman S, Phallen J, Hicks J, Martinez D, Ogurtsova A, Xu H, Sullivan LM, Meeker AK, Raabe EH, Cohen KJ, Eberhart CG, Burger PC, Santi M, Taube JM, Pardoll DM, Drake CG, Lim M.  PD-L1 expression in medulloblastoma: an evaluation by subgroup.  Oncotarget. 2018 Apr 10;9(27):19177-19191. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.24951

Bell WR, Meeker AK, Rizzo A, Rajpara S, Rosenthal IM, Flores Bellver M, Aparicio Domingo S, Zhong X, Barber JR, Joshu CE, Canto-Soler MV, Eberhart CG, Heaphy CM.  A unique telomere DNA expansion phenotype in human retinal rod photoreceptors associated with aging and disease.  Brain Pathol. 2018 Apr 18. doi: 10.1111/bpa.12618. [Epub ahead of print] 

Kline SE, Neaton JD, Lynfield R, Ferrieri P, Kulasingam S, Dittes K, Glennen A, Jawahir S, Kaizer A, Menk J, Johnson JR.  Randomized controlled trial of a self-administered five-day antiseptic bundle versus usual disinfectant soap showers for preoperative eradication of Staphylococcus aureus colonization.  Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2018 Jul 24:1-9. doi: 10.1017/ice.2018.151. [Epub ahead of print]

Arbefeville S, Nelson K, Thonen-Kerr E, Ferrieri P.  Prospective postimplementation study of Solana Group A streptococcal nucleic acid amplification test vs conventional throat culture. Am J Clin Pathol. 2018 Jul 5. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/aqy051. [Epub ahead of print]

Gilles SR, Arbefeville SSFerrieri PCourville EL.  Lymph node with extensive involvement by Cryptococcus shortly following liver transplantation.  Lab Med. 2018 Jul 5;49(3):e78-e81. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmy021.

Upcoming events of interest or things to do 

The U of M Farmers Market takes place Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Gateway Plaza outside McNamara Alumni Center through Sept. 26. Local farmers are looking forward to bringing you the freshest vegetables, berries, flowers, and more. Once again there will be plenty of dining options including the UDS dining tent and several food trucks. Representatives from the U of M's Wellbeing Program will be handing out t-shirts.

There's still time to earn wellbeing points to save money on UPlan premiums. Points must be earned by August 31Learn more.

Send news to Bill

Please send publications, achievement and event information and announcements you think appropriate for the LMP Newsletter to Bill Hoffman at hoffm003@umn.edu.  Also, Bill has an ongoing interest in photographs, images, and story ideas you may have for the LMP website.