AACR Annual Meeting Features Minorities in Cancer Research Program

Newswise — Minorities in Cancer Research (MICR), an AACR membership group more than 4,000 strong, will present a comprehensive program at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010, April 17-21.

MICR is committed to preventing and curing cancer while meeting the professional needs and advancing the careers of minority scientists. The program includes the following events:

Meet the AACR Chief Executive Officer and President during the MICR Town Meeting Monday, April 19, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ETCongressional Hall A, Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown Hotel

AACR President Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D., and Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the American Association for Cancer Research, will engage MICR members in discussion on topics intended to guide the AACR and MICR leadership in facilitating the MICR mission. MICR Council Chair Eddie Reed, M.D., will moderate this discussion and provide highlights of MICR’s accomplishments over the past year.

Fifth Annual AACR-MICR-Jane Cooke Wright LectureshipSunday, April 18, 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ETRoom 144, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., professor of epidemiology and biostatics and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, is the recipient of the fifth annual AACR-Minorities in Cancer Research-Jane Cooke Wright Lectureship.

The AACR-MICR-Jane Cooke Wright Lectureship, first presented in 2006, recognizes an outstanding scientist who has made meritorious contributions to the field of cancer research and who has, through leadership or by example, furthered the advancement of minority investigators in cancer research. Ramirez’ lecture is, “Networks in Acción for Latino Cancer Research.”

Meet the 2010 AACR-MICR-Jane Cooke Wright LecturerMonday, April 19, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ETMICR Networking & Resource Center, AACR Central, Hall A-B, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

This is an opportunity to interact personally with Ramirez and to discuss the advancement of minority investigators in cancer research.

MICR Scientific Symposium: “The Path Toward Personalized Oncology: Connecting the Dots”Tuesday, April 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ETRoom 102, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Current clinical oncology has seen impressive improvements in outcomes of patients with certain tumor types, and it is clear that exploiting the vulnerabilities of each cancer patient’s tumor as an alternative clinical course could become a reality in the foreseeable future.

While it is unlikely that genomic information will completely dictate treatment, this information could provide oncologists with additional options for clinical management. This will require, among other things, the ability to capture an accurate global picture of the genomic alterations and biological systems driving tumorigenesis; an exploitation of these alterations through the development of systems for testing pharmacological and biological agents; and appropriate design of clinical trials for targeted therapeutic intervention.

During this scientific symposium, experts with basic science and clinical expertise will present state-of-the-art developments in these areas. They will provide insights into novel technologies and clinical developments that are leading the way towards a more individualized strategy for treating cancer patients.

The session, led by John D. Carpten, Ph.D., senior investigator and director of the Integrated Cancer Genomics Division at TGen, Phoenix, Ariz., will include the following speakers:• Levi A. Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Mass.;• Ben Ho Park, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.; and• Alex A. Adjei, M.D., Ph.D., Roswell Park Cancer Center, Buffalo, N.Y.

MICR Forum: “How to Mentor and Be Mentored: Challenges and Opportunities for Minority Scientists”Monday, April 19, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ETRoom 102, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Mentorship is a key ingredient for the success of cancer researchers. Both scientific and academic mentorship are required to build a successful scientific research career. Minority scientists may have unique mentorship needs. Minority scientists may come from institutions or backgrounds that do not have a strong history of cancer research, so it may be critical to develop academic partnerships and mentoring relationships that account for their unique situations. Mentors may come from non-minority communities, and therefore may not be attuned to the needs or backgrounds of their minority mentees. The goal of this session is to provide insight to mentors and minority mentees at all career levels to maximize academic success. Panelists include scientists with experience mentoring minority researchers as well as minority scientists who will provide insight into optimal mentorship approaches.

Chaired by Timothy R. Rebbeck, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology in the department of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania, and also editor-in-chief of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the AACR, the panelists include:• Maria Elena Martinez, Ph.D., University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Ariz.;• Harvey L. Bumpers, M.D., Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga.; and• Bettina Drake, Ph.D., M.P.H., Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, Mo.

Professional Advancement Reception and Roundtable: “Navigating the Road to a Successful Career in Cancer Research”Monday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ETRenaissance Ballroom, Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown Hotel

This session, chaired by Jennifer J. Hu, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and public health and associate director of cancer prevention and control at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Fla., is intended for those pursuing careers in cancer research or other biomedical sciences. It provides a forum in which students, postdoctoral candidates and junior faculty can discuss important career development issues and survival skills with established senior scientists. Among the topics being discussed are research funding/grant opportunities; effective leadership communication and negotiating skills; and networking for personal and scientific development.

This event includes a keynote talk, followed by roundtable discussions facilitated by senior researchers in the cancer community, including academia, government and industry.

AACR Minority-Serving Institution Faculty Scholar Awards in Cancer ResearchThe American Association for Cancer Research will recognize 25 leaders in the minority cancer community with the Minority-Serving Institution Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research Awards.

These awards are given to scientists who are working at the level of assistant professor or above at a minority-serving institution and who are engaged in meritorious basic, clinical, translational or epidemiological cancer research. Minority-serving institutions include historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities and other post-secondary institutions as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

The award is intended to increase the scientific knowledge base of faculty members at minority-serving institutions, to encourage them in their research and to assist in inspiring students to pursue careers in cancer research. The award is supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities.

AACR Minority Scholar Awards in Cancer ResearchThe American Association for Cancer Research will award 25 Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Awards at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010.

The award, now in its 25th year, is intended to enhance the education and training of minority researchers and increase the visibility and recognition of minorities involved in cancer research. It provides funds for the participation of early-career, meritorious minority scientists at the AACR Annual Meeting. Scholars are chosen from minority institutions, universities, colleges and research institutions based on their qualifications, references from mentors and an estimation of the professional benefit to the awardees.

The award is sponsored by a grant from the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities.

MICR Networking and Resource CenterSunday, April 18, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ETMonday, April 19, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ETTuesday, April 20, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ETWednesday, April 21, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ETAACR Central, Exhibit Hall, Hall A-B, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

This forum provides attendees with the opportunity to network with peers, meet and interact with MICR leaders and share information on funding, employment and other opportunities. The center will also provide meeting attendees with a comfortable environment to network one-on-one and in small groups while learning about AACR and MICR programs as well as MICR membership and committee service opportunities.

All MICR members and Annual Meeting registrants interested in MICR membership and activities are encouraged to visit the Networking and Resource Center. MICR members are invited to provide relevant information/brochures/flyers for distribution in the center.

MICR Council Meet and GreetSunday, April 18, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET MICR Networking & Resource Center, AACR Central, Exhibit Hall, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

The MICR Council Meet and Greet is an opportunity for the MICR Council to meet and answer questions on issues related to award opportunities, programs sponsored by the MICR Council, and other topics of interest.

Download interviews with cancer researchers and recordings of the teleconferences by subscribing to the AACR Scientific Podcasts via iTunes (http://www.aacr.org/itunes) or an RSS Reader (http://www.aacr.org/rss).

The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes 31,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and more than 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants, research fellowship and career development awards. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment and patient care. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.