Fall is here. The leaves are changing colour. The days... almost over (the pain will end soon) and the Jets... Notes from the Director’s Chair:

Fall is here. The leaves are changing colour. The days... almost over (the pain will end soon) and the Jets... Notes from the Director’s Chair:

Notes from the Director’s Chair:
Fall is here. The leaves are changing colour. The days are getting shorter. The Bombers season is
almost over (the pain will end soon) and the Jets are just beginning their season (playoff bound?).
We are still in the middle of grant writing season with large number of grant deadlines (see below).
Annual conferences have begun again. I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and good
luck with your grants and applications.
Congratulations to Suhaila Selamat on the birth of her daughter on Friday!
The 2013 MICB Annual Retreat was held on Sept. 20th-22nd at the Victoria Inn and Convention
Centre in Brandon, Manitoba. This year’s theme was “Platforms”. Dr. Susan Newbigging, Director,
Pathology Core, Centre for Modeling Human Disease at The Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics
gave a talk about the type of experiments they can do with animal
models. We also welcomed Dr. Mike Jackson and Dr. Christine Zhang from
the U of M Small Animal and Material Imaging and the Flow Cytometry
Core Facilities on the research applications of their respective facilities.
Several speakers from MICB spoke about their research and how they
used technology in their experiments. This retreat was the first time we
were in Brandon; both the weather and city were great. Several people
toured the Western Manitoba
Cancer Centre. A radiation nurse
was our guide and the Centre was a very warm and friendly
place. The hotel rooms were very nice and the time to meet
with colleagues was great. It was generally a good place for
a retreat and we will return in the future.
On a personal note, several families came to Brandon and took advantage of the pool and food. My
family especially loved the pool and spent a lot of time there. The rooms were great but my
daughter found out the hard way that the spray in the shower can be cold when it is first turned on
and she gave a scream that people down hall probably heard! I would also like to thank Don and
Debbie for hosting a wine and cheese in the evening. It was a lot of fun.
MICB is supported by
September 2013
Congratulations to Laura Thompson from the McManus lab who received the most votes for “Best
presentation at the retreat”. Laura received tickets to the upcoming Bombers’ game. There’s still
time to provide suggestions on next year’s retreat location and theme. Your suggestions will be
compiled and discussed with the Senior Scientists during our next monthly meeting.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RLT3263
Dr. Asish Ghosh will be presenting on Wednesday, October 2nd at 2pm in the Lecture Theatre. The
title of his talk is “Microvesicle Mediated Crosstalk in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia:
Implications in Disease Progression". I strongly encourage all trainees to attend.
On October 3rd and 4th, the 9th Annual National CLL Meeting will be held at the Inn at the Forks.
The keynote address will be given by Dr. 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.
The Inside Ride will be held on October 17th. This stationary cycling challenge is raising money for
CancerCare Manitoba Foundation and MICB’s Dr. Issai Vanan will be participating. To sponsor Dr
Vanan, click here, http://winnipeg.theinsideride.com and search for him under the link “Search for
an Individual” on the left hand side. Good luck Dr. Vanan!
Cell Biology Club will start again on Oct. 21st with the first of three special guest lectures. Dr.
Sachin Katyal, our newest Senior Scientist, will start Cell Biology Club with a lecture on DNA
damage repair mechanisms in cancer. It is expected that all trainees will attend and participate in
Cell Biology Club. It provides information on what research is done at MICB and allows for feedback
on research projects. For more information, please consult with the MICB website and Amy Cisyk,
the student rep.
The annual Halloween party for pediatric patients is one of the highlights of our year as
approximately 100 kids with cancer and their families wind their way through the CancerCare
building collecting candy and toys. This year, the Halloween party will be on Oct. 31st. Time to
think about what costumes you will wear for this special day for the kids; best costume will win the
final pair of Bombers tickets! There is an envelope in the main office for cash donations to purchase
goodies or to drop off any candy. Thanks for your generous assistance in making this a special day
for “our kids”. For more information or to volunteer with decorating or making and distributing
goody bags, please contact Eileen McMillan-Ward.
MICB is supported by
September 2013
The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance Conference will be held November 3rd-6th, 2013.
Congratulations to the ten trainees who received MICB travel awards and two trainees who
received other awards. I have included all the successful applicants in this email in the event you
need to pair up with a roommate.
Brent Guppy
Iris Gehrke
Sara Beiggi
Oumar Samassekou
Amy Cisyk
Laura Thompson
Sumanta Chatterjee
Alexandra Kuzyk
Pratima Basak
Eric Bouchard
Dr. Mai will be hosting a workshop on Microscopy, Optics and Imaging from November 25th-29th.
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
Dr. Mai received $55,000 from the Manitoba Ride for
Dad to support her research program on characterizing
circulating tumour cells in prostate cancer patients. The
Ride for Dad organizes an annual motorcycle rally to
raise money to help men with prostate cancer.
Congratulations to Dr. Mai in getting this funding!
MICB is supported by
September 2013
Information that might be interesting only to a Director: In 2012, we had approximately 6
million dollars in operating grants which is similar from last year. This does not mean that nothing
has changed. Indeed, we lost several grants that were replaced by others. We project that 2013 will
be better as we turn a corner on our research activities.
Publications:
Valproic acid enhances fludarabine-induced apoptosis mediated by ROS and involving decreased
AKT and ATM activation in B-cell-lymphoid neoplastic cells. Yoon JY, Ishdorj G, Graham BA,
Johnston JB, Gibson SB. Apoptosis. 2013 Sep 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Adhesion of ZAP-70+ chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to stromal cells is enhanced by cytokines
and blocked by inhibitors of the PI3-kinase pathway. Lafarge ST, Johnston JB, Gibson SB, Marshall
AJ. Leuk Res. 2013 Aug 9. doi:pii: S0145-2126(13)00282-8. 10.1016/j.leukres.2013.08.001. [Epub
ahead of print]
Increased risk of second malignancies in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients as compared with
follicular lymphoma patients: a Canadian population-based study. Beiggi S, Johnston JB, Seftel MD,
Pitz MW, Kumar R, Banerji V, J Griffith E, Gibson SB. Br J Cancer. 2013 Sep 3;109(5):1287-90. doi:
10.1038/bjc.2013.381. Epub 2013 Jul 16.
Investigating the role of reactive oxygen species in regulating autophagy. Gibson SB. Methods
Enzymol. 2013;528:217-35. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-405881-1.00013-6.
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. 2013 Oct;139(10):1637-47. doi:
10.1007/s00432-013-1485-2. Epub 2013 Aug 2.
Singlet and triplet excited-state dynamics study of the keto and enol tautomers of Cytosine. Mai S,
Marquetand P, Richter M, González-Vázquez J, González L. Chemphyschem. 2013 Sep
16;14(13):2920-31. doi: 10.1002/cphc.201300370. Epub 2013 Jul 25.
Synthetic Lethal Targeting of Superoxide Dismutase 1 Selectively Kills RAD54B-deficient Colorectal
Cancer Cells. Sajesh BV, Bailey M, Lichtensztejn Z, Hieter P, McManus KJ. Genetics. 2013 Sep 3.
[Epub ahead of print]
Is iron deficiency in the absence of anemia associated with fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease?
Goldenberg BA, Graff LA, Clara I, Zarychanski R, Walker JR, Carr R, Rogala L, Miller N, Bernstein CN.
Am J Gastroenterol. 2013 Sep;108(9):1392-7. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2013.14.
MICB is supported by
September 2013
Upcoming Grants and Fellowships
Oct 1
Burroughs Wellcome Fund – Career Awards for Medical Sciences Leukemia & Cancer
Research Institute Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowships Program in Tumour Immunology
CCSRI Innovation grant
CIHR Clinician-Scientist Salary Award (Phase 1 and Phase 2)
CIHR NSERC Collaborative Health Research Project
CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Publication prize
CIHR Catalyst grant: Secondary analysis of Neuroimaging databases
CIHR Age+ Prize
CIHR Institute of Gender & Health Award of excellence in Knowledge Translation
CIHR Banting-Best Doctoral Award
CIHR Foreign study doctoral award
CIHR Knowledge Synthesis
Diagnostic Services of Manitoba Operating grant
Gairdner Foundation Wightman Award
Gairdner Global Health Award
Health Minds Canada
Lymphoma Society

Quality of Life Research Funding Initiative

Scholar in Clinical Research

Scholar
MICB is supported by
September 2013

Fellow

Special Fellow in Clinical Research
Pfizer Canada Geriatric Anxiety Award
Pfizer Canada Major Depressive Disorder Research Award
Life sciences research foundation fellowship
UofM BSc Med and MedII call for abstracts
MICH Travel grants
FAAF Google Faculty Research Award
Oct 2
US DoD Prostate cancer research idea development
CIHR Mental health network (EOI was due April 2013)
FAAF CIHR catalyst grant in e-health innovations
Oct 3
FAAF CIHR Initiative in Substance missue
FAAF CIHR Planning grant
FAAF CIHR Dissemination Event
FAAF Kidney Foundation of Canada Allied Health Research Grant
FAAF Kidney Foundation of Canada Biomedical Research Grant
Oct 4
Genome Canada Applications Partnership Program full application due
FAAF Prostate Cancer Canada Rising Star
FAAF Prostate Cancer Canada Team grant
MICB is supported by
September 2013
Oct 7
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario - Registration deadline
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario Seed Funding grant – Registration deadline
CFI (LEF/NIF) VP feedback returned to departments
Oct 8 – US DoD breast cancer research program breakthrough award pre-application deadline
Oct 9
LOI – American Brain tumour association discovery grant
LOI - Thrasher Research Fund pediatric medical research early career award
US DoD Prostate Cancer Research Program Biomarker Development award
US DoD Prostate Cancer research program clinical consortium award
US DoD Prostate cancer synergistic idea development award
US DoD Prostate cancer research program clinical transition award
US DoD Prostate cancer research program population science impact award
US DoD Prostate cancer research program pathology resource network
US DoD Prostate cancer research program transformative impact award
Oct 10 - CIHR Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement
Oct 11
Bear Necessities Operating grant for pediatric brain cancer
LOI Simon Foundation Autism Research Initiative
LOI Simon Foundation Autism Research Pilot award
Oct 14 – Registration deadline Canadian Cancer Research Conference
Oct 15
MICB is supported by
September 2013
CIHR Dissemination Event
CIHR Health Challenges in Chronic Inflammation (LOI due Dec 2012)
CIHR Development grant in substance missues
CIHR e-health innovations catalyst grant
Google Faculty Research award
Kidney Foundation of Canada Allied Health Research Grant
Kidney foundation Canada biomedical research grant
NSERC Graham Bell Canada Scholarship
NSERC Postdoctoral fellowship
Prostate Cancer Canada graduate studentship
Prostate cancer Canada rising star award
University research grants program (new staff)
Oct 16
US DoD Lung cancer career development award
US DoD Lung cancer concept award
US DoD Lung cancer clinical exploration award
Oct 18
CIHR Pathways to health equity for aboriginal people
FAAF CIHR Partnerships for health systems improvement
FAAF Burroughs Wellcome Fund Pathogenesis of infectious disease
Oct 22 – FAAF Canadian Cancer Society quality of life
Oct 23
MICB is supported by
September 2013
FAAF Alliance for Cancer gene therapy young investigator award
CIHR Banting Post doctoral fellowship
Oct 24 – FAAF Heath & Stroke Foundation of Canada research fellowship
Oct 25 – NSERC Research Tools and Instruments grant
Oct 29 – FAAF Alzheimer’s Society of Canada operating grant
Oct 30 – FAAF Alzheimer’s Society of Canada Young Investigator’s grant
Oct 31 – UofM travel and conference sponsorship program
Nov 1
Brain Canada platform support grant deadline
Burroughs Wellcome Fund investigators in the pathogenesis of infectious disease
Cancer research institute clinic and lab integration program
Canadian Cancer Society quality of life
Canadian Child Health

clinician scientist program

doctoral award

post doctoral fellowship

career development award
Canadian Federation of University Women scholarship and fellowship deadline
CIHR Network catalyst grant
CIHR Partnership for health systems improvement
Heart & Stroke Foundation Fellowship
NSERC Discovery Grant full application
MICB is supported by
September 2013
MICH Travel grant
FAAF CIHR Fellowship
EOI Prostate cancer Canada team grant
Nov 4
FAAF Canadian Hemophilia Society Dream of a cure research program
FAAF CBCF CIHR Breast cancer in young women research program
MITAC Elevate Fellowship LOI
MICB is supported by
September 2013
And now for something completely different… (this doesn’t apply to Cell Biology Club, we want
questions!)
MICB is supported by
September 2013