Recent Communications

Molecular Targets for Cancer Prevention Symposium
The Center for Cancer Research and the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute will present the following symposium: Molecular Targets for Cancer Prevention Symposium - February 4-5, 2009 at NIH Natcher Conference Center, Bethesda, Maryland. Evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies will provide an exciting forum for timely discussion and debate on the state-of-the-science, recent advances, and opportunities for discovery. Further information is available in this flyer. Interested investigators may register at: http://web.ncifcrf.gov/events/cancerprevention/2009/default.asp —posted 10/09/2008

Registration for the NCI Biospecimen Best Practices Forums is Open
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is holding a series of public forums about the NCI Best Practices for Biospecimen Resources, which outlines technical, operational, ethical, legal and policy principles for biospecimen resources. The purpose of these forums is to educate and obtain feedback about the NCI Best Practices from a broad range of perspectives, including those of investigators, physicians, industry representatives, hospital administrators, cancer survivors, patient advocates, and the general public. These forums will be held on November 5, 2007, in Boston, Massachusetts, December 3, 2007, in Chicago, Illinois, and January 28, 2008, in Seattle, Washington, and will feature expert presentations and interactive discussions. Attendance is free and open to the public. —posted 10/26/2007

PLCO EEMS Winter Review Cycle Reminder
Proposals will be accepted for the PLCO EEMS winter review cycle between December 1 and December 28, 2007. Applications will be accepted until December 28, 2007 at 5 PM ET. For more information go to the previous PLCO communication. —posted 10/5/2007

Availability of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Data Portal
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) would like to advise you of the availability of the initial version of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Data Portal. The Data Portal serves as a storage and data management tool for TCGA data. All genomic characterization, sequencing and clinical data from TCGA are available within the Portal.

This is the first release of the Data Portal. To help create a fully–integrated version of the portal in the coming months, we welcome your input and feedback on this initial version. The Data Portal can be accessed at http://cancergenome.nih.gov/dataportal.

The Data Portal makes accessible the first of many sets of data from TCGA, and will be continually updated as data are generated. Please check back frequently for updates, additional data submissions, and improvements to the functionality of the database.

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a comprehensive and coordinated effort to accelerate our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through the application of genome analysis technologies, including large–scale genome sequencing. This 3–year pilot project was announced in December of 2005, and after careful planning, the first funding awards were made in the Fall of 2006.

For more information about TCGA, please visit http://cancergenome.nih.gov.

For further assistance or to submit feedback on this version of the portal, please contact: http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/support. —posted 10/5/2007

Overcoming Cancer Health Disparities
National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (April 16–21) provides an opportunity for us to reflect upon the overall burden of cancer health disparities. During the week organizations across the country have been educating Americans about cancer, raising awareness about treatments, and renewing our collective commitment to reducing cancer health disparities.

• Cancer.gov en español www.cancer.gov/espanol.
  
NCI’s new Spanish Web site features themes of prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship.

Highlights of the Web site include:


• Information organized by types of cancer
• Myths and beliefs
• Support and resources in your community
• Dictionary of cancer terms

• Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities revised website: http://crchd.cancer.gov.
  New features include:


• “For Researchers” section that provides links to funding, training opportunities, and information about the grant application process
• Current and timely information about special CRCHD cancer health disparities initiatives, upcoming meetings and events, research resources and tools, and CRCHD staff contacts
• “Education” section, for practitioners and the public, with minority–focused information about cancer, including statistics, links to NCI publications for patients and their families, access to seminal reports and milestones in health disparities, health disparities timeline and definition, and additional resources on cancer and health disparities

• Cancer Health Disparities Web portal: http://www.cancer.gov/health-disparities.
  The portal includes links to NCI’s cancer health disparities resources, as well as information about training opportunities, statistics, and research resources and results.

NCI Risk Assessment Web Site
This interactive website has been designed to help people assess and understand their risk of developing cancer, along with information on how to lower risk for six cancers. The site also contains a section on analyzing news stories about cancer to help people determine the accuracy and applicability of findings reported in the media and on the Web. Links to numerous sources of information, as well as online quizzes to test readers’ understanding of cancer risk, also appear on the site. Click on the link indicated in the card to visit the site.