Dr. William Klein to Lead NCI's Behavioral Research Program

Dr. William Klein

Dr. William Klein has been named associate director of NCI’s Behavioral Research Program in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, which includes five branches—Applied Cancer Screening Research, Basic and Biobehavioral Research, Health Communication and Informatics Research, Health Promotion Research, and Tobacco Control Research.

Dr. Klein received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and mathematical methods in the social sciences at Northwestern University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in social psychology at Princeton University. Most recently, he was a faculty member in the Social Psychology and Biological and Health Psychology graduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh, where he also served as director of undergraduate studies. Dr. Klein’s research interests fall largely under the areas of self-judgment, risk perception, and risk communication.

Deadline for Immune Response Modifiers RFI is August 24

The NCI Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials (CCCT) is gathering input through a Request for Information (RFI) on translational research opportunities focused on cancer immunotherapy and immunoprevention. Members of the scientific community, including clinical oncologists and investigators from academia and the pharmaceutical industry, are encouraged to respond to this new approach to accelerate translational research.

The RFI is in response to the Translational Research Working Group’s (TRWG) recommendation to set up a process to accelerate translational science; one that identifies promising translational projects and provides the resources and coordinated management required to rapidly advance those projects to phase I and II clinical testing. NCI may use the information gathered to develop requests for proposals, requests for applications, program announcements, cooperative research and development agreements, and other cooperative agreements; or advance intramural research by NCI staff and intramural mechanisms.

The RFI can be found online and responses will be accepted through August 24, 2009.

NCI to Host Conference on Emerging Technologies for Circulating Tumor Cells

On September 10–11, NCI will host a conference titled, “Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC): Emerging Technologies for Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” Attendees will gather on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, to learn about technologies for CTC-based cancer detection and treatment; meet with leaders, experts, and investors in the field; and hear about funding opportunities for CTC research and technology development. NCI’s Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, Small Business Innovation Research Development Center, and Division of Cancer Prevention are hosting this conference to build new scientific collaborations and promote innovative research programs that translate basic research to product development and commercialization.

Participation is free, but space is limited. Go online for more information and to register.

Registration Open for February State-of-the-Science Conference on Colorectal Cancer Screening

On February 2–4, 2010, NCI and the NIH Office of Medical Applications of Research will convene a state-of-the-science conference on enhancing the use and quality of colorectal cancer screening. The conference will be held at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH campus and will address the following key questions:

• What are the recent trends in the use and quality of colorectal cancer screening?
• Which factors influence the use of colorectal cancer screening?
• Which strategies are effective in increasing the appropriate use of colorectal cancer screening and follow up?
• What are the current and projected capacities to deliver colorectal cancer screening and surveillance at the population level?
• What are the effective approaches for monitoring the use and quality of colorectal cancer screening?
• What research is needed to make the most progress and have the greatest public health impact in promoting the appropriate use of colorectal cancer screening?

Invited experts will present information pertinent to these questions, and a systematic literature review will be summarized. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide statements during open discussion periods. After weighing the scientific evidence, an independent panel will prepare and present a consensus statement addressing the key conference questions.

The conference is free and open to the public but advance registration is recommended. Go online to find more information and register.