National Cancer Institute NCI Cancer Bulletin: A Trusted Source for Cancer Research News
November 1, 2011 • Volume 8 / Number 21

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NCI Recognizes 11 Clinical Investigators with Leadership Awards

NCI has announced the 2011 recipients of the Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Awards. These awards recognize 11 exceptional clinical investigators for their contributions to the advancement of clinical research through collaborative team science.

  • Dr. Julie Bauman, University of New Mexico Cancer Center
  • Dr. Tanios Bekaii-Saab, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Dr. Anthony El-Khoueiry, University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Dr. David Gerber, Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Dr. Andrew Ko, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco
  • Dr. Antonio Omuro, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Dr. Chong-xian Pan, UC Davis Cancer Center, University of California, Davis
  • Dr. John Sarantopoulos, Cancer Therapy & Research Center, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • Dr. Scott Schuetze, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Dr. Tait Shanafelt, Mayo Clinic
  • Dr. Brenda Weigel, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

Designed for midlevel clinical investigators, these 2-year awards provide recognition and up to $50,000 in annual funding for those who lead cancer research programs and clinical trials at NCI-designated cancer centers. Recipients are expected to devote 10 to 15 percent of their time to the activities associated with this award.

This annual award, now in its third year, is the result of one of the recommendations of NCI's Clinical Trials Working Group. The Working Group was established to advise NCI on methods to improve and enhance the publicly funded cancer clinical trials enterprise.

"NCI is delighted to recognize these exceptional clinical investigators who serve as leaders for clinical research activities at their cancer centers," said Dr. Sheila Prindiville, director of NCI's Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials. "Dedicated clinical researchers like these individuals are crucial for advancing care for patients through clinical trials."

Learn more about how NCI is restructuring the national cancer clinical trials enterprise online.

NCI Program Pairs Young Public Health Professionals with Mentors

Research to Reality banner

NCI's Research to Reality (R2R) Mentorship Program recently announced the six pairs of mentors and mentees participating this year. The pilot program, a joint initiative of NCI's Office of Communications and Education and Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, helps build the capacity of cancer control practitioners to make evidence-based decisions in a "real-world" context.

The program has matched six mentees with experienced public health professionals. With guidance from their mentors, the mentees will work on a year-long cancer control and prevention project relevant to their current jobs to learn and apply the skills and knowledge of evidence-based public health. Participants will also receive technical assistance and training, virtually and in-person, from NCI. Mentorship and project components will last for 12 months, with another 6 months for evaluation and to complete deliverables.

This year's projects include sun safety education and skin cancer protection in Idaho, a client reminder program for colorectal screening in Michigan, and increasing the use of the Public Health Service's clinical practice guidelines on tobacco cessation in Louisiana.

To find out more about the mentors, mentees, and their projects, visit the program's webpage.

TCGA to Hold First Annual Scientific Symposium

The Cancer Genome Atlas banner

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) will hold its first annual TCGA Scientific Symposium November 17–18, 2011, in Washington, DC. 

This open scientific meeting will consist of collaborative workshops, poster sessions, and plenary sessions in which investigators can share and discuss their research findings using TCGA data. Scientists who use TCGA data, and investigators who wish to use TCGA data, are welcome to participate. 

More details about the TCGA Scientific Symposium, including the agenda, registration, and information about hotel reservations, may be found online.

SEER Releases New U.S. Cancer Mortality Data, Cancer Statistics Review 2011

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2008 (CSR), published by NCI's Surveillance Research Program, was recently updated to include U.S. cancer mortality data. The full report is available online.

Materials posted include:

  • SEER CSR, 1975–2008
  • SEER Data, 1973–2008
  • Updated Stat Fact Sheets and Fast Stats
  • Delay Adjusted Incidence for the SEER 9 and SEER 13 databases

The updated Cancer Statistics Review presents the most recent cancer incidence, survival, mortality, and prevalence statistics. Lifetime risk statistics will be added to the report as soon as they are available. All material in the SEER CSR report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission. Citation of this source is, however, appreciated.

The latest SEER data were also released through SEER*Stat, a statistical software tool for analyzing SEER and other cancer-related databases.

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