CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN IMMUNOLOGY

STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

SUMMARY MINUTES

October 17, 2005

# CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN IMMUNOLOGY

# STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

October 17, 2005\
3:00--5:00 p.m.

**Bldg. 31, Room 3A11**

**Videoconference to Frederick Bldg. 549, Room 8**

> **Members present:** Dr. Robert Wiltrout *(Chair)*
>
> Dr. Jay Berzofsky
>
> Dr. Stephen Creekmore *(Adjunct)*
>
> Dr. Ronald Gress
>
> Dr. Allan Hildesheim
>
> Dr. Diana Linnekin
>
> Dr. Douglas Lowy
>
> Dr. Anatoli Malyguine *(Adjunct)*
>
> Dr. Joost Oppenheim
>
> Dr. John Ortaldo
>
> Dr. Ira Pastan
>
> Dr. George Pavlakis
>
> Dr. Marjorie Robert-Guroff
>
> Dr. Steven Rosenberg
>
> Dr. Jeffrey Schlom
>
> Dr. Alfred Singer
>
> Dr. Dinah Singer
>
> **Members absent:** Dr. Jonathan Ashwell
>
> Dr. Jeffrey Lifson
>
> Dr. Crystal Mackall
>
> Ms. Karen Maurey *(Adjunct)*
>
> Dr. Dale Shoemaker
>
> Dr. Thomas Waldmann
>
> Dr. John Wigginton
>
> Dr. Robert Yarchoan
>
> **Guests:** Mr. Ray Butler
>
> Dr. Petra Delgado
>
> Dr. Curt Harris

######### Handouts:

1.  Agenda

2.  Information on the *Inflammation and Cancer Initiative*

    **CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN IMMUNOLOGY**

# STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

October 17, 2005

ACTION ITEMS

-   **Dr. Diana Linnekin**

    -   Arrange for the distribution of copies of the CEI booklet
        *Immunology: Making a Difference Through Basic Discovery,
        Translation, and Clinical Care* to CEI members.

    -   Revise the CEI Web site to improve access to links to
        recruitment opportunities at CEI member organizations.

-   **CEI 2005 Conference Steering Committee Members (*Dr. Jeff Schlom,
    Chair*)**

    -   Send a thank-you note to the invited speakers.

-   **CEI 2006 Conference Steering Committee Members (*Dr. Joost
    Oppenheim, Chair*)**

    -   Convene to prepare a proposal for next year's CEI-sponsored
        conference in basic immunology.

-   **CEI SC members**

    -   Provide Dr. Linnekin (<dlinnekin@ncifcrf.gov>) with scientific
        information and links of relevance to the CEI to be included on
        the CEI Web site.

overview

The Center of Excellence in Immunology Steering Committee (CEI SC)
convened its monthly meeting on October 17, 2005, at 3:00 p.m. Dr. Bob
Wiltrout welcomed a new CEI SC member, Dr. Dinah Singer, Head of the
Molecular Regulation Section, Experimental Immunology Branch, CCR, and
Director of the Division of Cancer Biology, NCI. Dr. Wiltrout provided
an update on recent events at the CCR, and Dr. Diana Linnekin described
current progress in the preparation of the Immunology Reports. CEI SC
members commented on the success of the *Translational Immunology
Related to Cancer* conference and discussed plans for next year's
conference. Finally, Dr. Curt Harris, Chief of the Laboratory of Human
Carcinogenesis, CCR, presented the goals and an overview of the new
*Inflammation and Cancer Initiative*.

general update

Dr. Wiltrout explained that NCI's Executive Committee had met on October
14, 2005, to discuss next year's NCI budget. Although significant
funding reductions for CCR are unlikely for FY2006, across-the-board
cuts are expected for FY2007. Also, a small percentage of CCR's budget
will be kept for internal competition among CCR investigators.
Dr. Wiltrout added that the NCI leadership fully supports the IRP (of
which immunology research is a distinctive feature) and is aware of its
key role as an integral component of NCI's portfolio.

Immunology Reports

Dr. Linnekin explained that a booklet briefly describing research in the
CEI (*Immunology: Making a Difference Through Basic Discovery,
Translation, and Clinical Care*) was distributed to participants in the
*Translational Immunology Related to Cancer* conference. A link to this
booklet was recently posted on the CEI Web site. A more comprehensive
*CEI Report* is in preparation and will include work on immunotherapy,
basic research in immunology, HIV research, and accomplishments in bone
marrow transplantation. An additional summary of work done by CEI
members has been prepared by Dr. Michelle Bennett and co-workers. This
includes a series of stories, written for patients, on immune-based
treatments for cancer developed in the CCR. An additional version under
consideration is a booklet highlighting the NCI intra- and extramural
portfolio in cancer immunology research.

Dr. Linnekin also mentioned that the CEI Web site
(<http://home.ccr.cancer.gov/coe/immunology/index.asp>) has been updated
with new text and links to CEI members' Web pages, as well as to CCR's
fellowship opportunities.

Discussion OF the Recent *Translational Immunology Related to Cancer*
Conference

Dr. Wiltrout thanked Dr. Jeff Schlom for having organized the successful
*Translational Immunology Related to Cancer* conference held September
22--23 at the Masur Auditorium. NCI leadership, as well as some NCAB and
BSC members, indicated that the conference did an excellent job of
highlighting the commitment and contributions of CCR scientists to
translational immunology. Dr. Wiltrout mentioned that the plenary
sessions were outstanding and that the poster session was unusually
interactive and fruitful. Dr. Schlom thanked the other members of the
conference steering committee, as well as Dr. Linnekin, for their
contributions to the conference organization.

The CEI SC discussed whether the abstract books and DVDs of the lectures
could be distributed to investigators who were unable to register for
the conference due to limited capacity. Some CEI SC members requested
that this be further investigated since some speakers had presented
unpublished data. In addition, the sessions were videotaped and are
available at <http://videocast.nih.gov/PastEvents.asp?c=1>. The CEI SC
also discussed the possibility of preparing a meeting summary for
publication.

Plans for a conference on Basic Immunology at the CCR

Dr. Wiltrout proposed holding an annual conference in cancer immunology,
with focus alternating between translational and basic immunology
research. This would help maintain the momentum created by the
*Translational Immunology Related to Cancer* conference. The CEI SC
agreed that the conference should be steered towards basic immunology
topics relevant to cancer; also, the specific goal of the conference
(e.g., highlighting CEI's strengths or research areas complementary to
the extramural community) should be clearly defined from the initial
preparatory stages. Some members mentioned that there are many other
meetings on basic immunology, and it may be challenging to organize a
distinct conference on basic cancer immunology. The CEI SC also
discussed which organizations may be interested in co-sponsoring the
meeting. This could include the Immunology Interest Group and the NCI's
Division of Cancer Biology.

Following the strategy used for this year's conference, the CEI SC
decided to form a Scientific Organizing Committee that will prepare a
proposal for a conference in *Basic Immunology Related to Cancer* in
2006. Dr. A. Singer, as well as Drs. Oppenheim and Ortaldo volunteered.
Dr. A. Singer also suggested Drs. Ashwell and Samelson participate.
Dr. Joost Oppenheim was tentatively designated Chair, and Dr. Susan
McCarthy, Program Director, DCB, may also participate.

UPDATE/OVERVIEW OF the INFLAMMATION AND CANCER PROGRAM

Dr. Curt Harris updated the CEI SC on the progress of CCR's
*Inflammation and Cancer Initiative*. The *Initiative's* goals are to
deepen the knowledge of the mechanisms of the chronic inflammatory
response that predisposes individuals to cancer and to rapidly translate
this knowledge into a molecularly targeted strategy to prevent and treat
cancer. This initiative will combine the research efforts of several CCR
laboratories in basic, translational, clinical, and population studies
of chronic inflammation and cancer. Drs. Harris and John Ortaldo are the
Co-Chairs of the Inflammation and Cancer Steering Committee, whose
members include Drs. Nancy Colburn, Larry Keefer, Joost Oppenheim,
Snorri Thorgeisson, and Stuart Yuspa. The initiative was discussed and
drafted at an organizational meeting held on May 31, 2005; a number of
investigators from different laboratories participated. Although it was
recognized that CCR is conducting outstanding research on several cancer
types, it was decided that the *Initiative* should initially focus on
liver and colon cancers. Collaborative networks on these cancers are
already under development. The *Initiative*'s focus on these cancers
will be discussed at two separate meetings organized by Drs. Ortaldo and
Thorgeisson (liver cancer) and Drs. Harris and Scott Durum (colon
cancer), respectively. The meeting on liver cancer is scheduled for
December 1, 2005, and the meeting on colon cancer will be held on
February 8, 2006.

Dr. Wiltrout emphasized that the *Initiative* brings together two areas
of excellence (carcinogenesis and basic immunology) within the IRP; it
has already fostered communication among investigators and led to
fruitful collaborations; and there will be unique opportunities for
interaction with the extramural community as well. CEI SC members
expressed interest in the *Initiative* and were willing to participate
in the focused meetings. It was suggested that Dr. Alan Mufson, Chief,
Cancer Immunology and Hematology Branch, DCB, as well as DCEG staff, be
invited to participate in these meetings.

The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

**Next Meeting: November 21, 2005, from 3-5 p.m.**

**NIH, Bldg. 31, Room 3A11**

**Videoconference to Frederick: Room not yet confirmed.**