President's Cancer Panel Focuses on Environment and Cancer
Beginning this month, the President's Cancer Panel ¹ will hold a series of four meetings titled Environmental Factors in Cancer. These meetings will focus on cancer-causing pollutants found in air, soil, food, and water; exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace; and radiation exposure, among other topics. The Panel will explore both current research and existing knowledge gaps in these areas, as well as the status of regulatory practices relevant to environmental factors and cancer risk reduction. The Panel will hear testimony from basic scientists, public health professionals, government representatives, and advocates.

The series begins September 16 in East Brunswick, NJ, where the focus will be on "Industrial and Manufacturing Exposures." Meetings are free and open to the public. To learn more about the series, go to http://pcp.cancer.gov.  

NCI Director to Kick Off Teleconference Series
NCI's Office of Advocacy Relations ² (OAR) begins its fall 2008 "Understanding NCI" teleconference series on September 17 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, with an update for the advocacy community from NCI Director Dr. John E. Niederhuber. Mr. Doug Ulman, chair of the NCI Director's Consumer Liaison Group ³, will also be a featured speaker.

The teleconference can be accessed toll-free within the U.S. at 800-857-6584; the passcode is NCI. Toll-free playback will be available through October 17 at 800-934-9468. For more information and the teleconference schedule, go to http://advocacy.cancer.gov/activities/teleconferences or contact OAR at 301-594-3194.  

Abstracts Accepted for Chromosome Biology Symposium
On October 30 and 31, NCI's Center for Cancer Research and the Center of Excellence in Chromosome Biology will host the "Genome-wide Chromatin Structure and Function" Symposium in the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH campus. Leading researchers from NCI and around the world will highlight recent advances, define novel directions of basic chromosome research, and discuss the use and implications of these advances for clinical use.

The deadline for abstract submission for the symposium poster session is September 24. Online registration for meeting participants ends October 15. For more information and to register for the symposium, please go to: http://www.blsmeetings.net/chromosomebio2008.  

International Meeting Addresses Global Cancer Burden
The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) hosted the World Cancer Congress in Geneva, Switzerland, on August 27-31.

This year, 2,500 experts and advocates from around the world, including NCI staff, focused on transforming the latest knowledge into strategies for reducing the cancer burden worldwide.

The scientific agenda covered global cancer prevention and control, tobacco control, knowledge transfer, supportive care, and capacity building. Other highlights included results from a UICC/Gallup poll on cancer risk factors, the cancer-themed Reel Lives film festival, and a full-day session with the International Cancer Information Service Group (ICISG).

Fifty participants from 18 countries attended a course presented by the ICISG on how to start and manage a cancer information service. NCI's Cancer Information Service and Office of Communications and Education also showcased products and services developed for international use.

NCI has a burgeoning international portfolio and supports international activities through the NCI Office of International Affairs ⁴ and the NCI Liaison Office ⁵ in Brussels, Belgium.  

Clinical Trials Participants Honored
On September 5, the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) Foundation commemorated its 50th anniversary by donating a sculpture to honor the thousands of people who have participated in NSABP research and clinical trials. The sculpture, titled "Emergence," signifies the development of new and proven therapies, which are only possible with the contributions of clinical trial volunteers. The limestone sculpture will be on permanent display at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD - the country's largest hospital devoted entirely to clinical research.  

NCAB Meeting Held
The National Cancer Advisory Board met on September 7 and 8. To view a videocast of the public portions of the meeting, go to http://videocast.nih.gov/PastEvents.asp.