Breakthrough: UAMS Cancer Institute Research News

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Vol. 3, No. 18 September 9, 2020

Cancer Institute Member Spotlight

Jia Liu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
UAMS College of Medicine

Dr. Liu's research interest related to cancer biology and tumor immunology is to understand the intracellular signaling events that distinguish malignancy from normal cells with viruses as a tool. Read more>

Team of Researchers Awarded $11.4 Million COBRE Grant to Continue Study of Cancer Therapy Side Effects

Led by Marjan Boerma, Ph.D., a team of UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute researchers has received a five-year $11.4 million grant to continue research into the side effects of cancer therapies, including radiation and chemotherapies.

The Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), a program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, awarded the grant. The COBRE researchers work in the Center for Studies of Host Response to Cancer Therapy. Read more>

Donald J. Johann, M.D., Contributes to BloodPAC Publication of Validation Protocols for Liquid Biopsy

Cancer Institute researcher Donald J. Johann, M.D., played an integral role in the publication of research related to liquid biopsy tests, or blood tests, for cancer.

The article titled “Generic Protocols for the Analytical Validation of Next-Generation Sequencing-Based ctDNA Assays: A Joint Consensus Recommendation of the BloodPAC’s Analytical Variables Working Group” was published in the September 2020 issue of Clinical Chemistry by the Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer Consortium (BloodPAC). Read more>

Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
Shared Resource Voucher Program

The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Shared Resource Voucher Program provides Cancer Institute members paid access to shared resources supported by the Cancer Institute. Available resources include the Experimental Pathology Shared Resource, Genomics Shared Resource, Proteomics Shared Resource and Bioinformatics Shared Resource. This voucher program is intended to accelerate the collection of data for NCI grant submissions and cancer relevant publications.

Cancer Institute members may submit an application requesting up to $5,000 to access fee-for-service shared resources. Interested applicants can submit an application here. Applicants will need to prepare a one-page application including the following subsections: Project Summary, Resource Utilization, and Plan for Extramural Funding and Publication. An official quote must be obtained from the Shared Resource director and uploaded with the application. Applicants should meet with Resource Directors at least 2 weeks ahead of the submission deadline. Applicants using the Proteomics or Genomics Cores are encouraged to consult with the Bioinformatics Core.

All vouchers must be used within three months of award.

Due dates:
5 p.m. on January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1

For general questions or concerns, contact Dr. Alan Tackett.
For administrative questions or concerns, contact Ms. Sonet Weed.

Request for Pilot Project Applications:
Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research

The UAMS Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research (CMDR) is a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) that encompasses a broad area of musculoskeletal research, including osteoporosis, orthopedics, biomechanics, multiple myeloma, and cancer metastases to bone, osteoarthritis, osteomyelitis and aberrant skeletal development.

The Pilot Project Research Program will provide up to $65,000 direct costs for one year’s support of research projects aligned with the CMDR focus. Two awards will be made annually. Funded pilot investigators will have access to all of the CMDR’s core laboratories and facilities. Successful applications will be relevant to the focus of the CMDR, collaborative and likely to lead to extramural funding.

More information on how the CMDR is structured, the core facilities and services can be viewed by visiting their website or by emaling the CMDR director, Dr. Charles O’Brien.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. O’Brien prior to submitting an application. The application must be focused on musculoskeletal research.

Administrative questions and submission of applications must be via e-mail to Dhivya Suresh (DSuresh@uams.edu). Applications must use NIH PHS398 forms. Required components of the application are indicated in the table below. If applicable, include Human Subjects and/or Vertebrate Animal sections addressing all NIH requirements. The PI is responsible for securing institutional clearance and must secure final IRB and/or IACUC approval before an award can be made.

The submission deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 23, 2020. The funding period for this cycle will be February 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022.

Application Format Please use form PHS 398 observing the following page limits:
Budget    1 page
Biosketch (for all key personnel)    Up to 5 pages
Specific Aims    1 page
Research Strategy*    Up to 6 pages
Vertebrate Animals (if applicable)    No limit
Human Subjects Research (if applicable)    No limit

Cancer-related Research Funding Opportunities

Foundation and Intramural Funding Opportunities
Implementation Science Pilot Grant Opportunity

Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Award

Development Enhancement Awards for Proposals

Faculty Research Enhancement Awards

American Society of Clinical Oncology – Advanced Clinical Research Award

American Society of Clinical Oncology – Career Development Award

American Society of Clinical Oncology – Global Oncology Young Investigator Award

American Society of Clinical Oncology – Young Investigator Award

American Society of Clinical Oncology – Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Awards

Barton Pilot Grants

Hornick Endowment Grants

Sturgis Foundation Grants

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