ANDOVER — A local college student is doing her part to try to solve one of the enduring mysteries of medical science: How to stop the spread of cancerous tumors.
Patricia Collins of Andover has spent the summer serving as an Alvan T., Viola D. Fuller-American Cancer Society Junior Research Fellow under the guidance of Nader Rahimi, PhD, a researcher at Boston University Medical School in Boston.
Collins, a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in chemistry and neuroscience at the University of Connecticut, received a grant from the American Cancer Society's New England Division to study how blood vessel growth is controlled and how it may be possible to stop tumors from spreading.
She became interested in cancer research because it is a disease that affects so many people.
"No one can say they haven't been affected by cancer," said Collins. "I want to be a part of something important, and this is a way I can make a difference."
Eventually Collins wants to go to medical school, but hasn't yet decided which branch to focus on.
"I want to try out everything," she said.
For the last 42 years, generations of gifted undergraduate science students from New England have had the opportunity to spend 10 weeks working and training with experienced cancer investigators in some of the finest laboratories in the state.
Baddour talks to seniors about elderly driving
METHUEN — State Sen. Steven Baddour will be talking with seniors at 1 p.m. at the senior center today.
He will be talking about legislation pending on Beacon Hill regarding elderly drivers.
The event is open to the public. The Methuen Senior Activity Center is located at 77 Lowell St.
Crafters sought
METHUEN — St. Lucy Church is looking for crafters for its third Annual Fall Craft Fair on Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The church wants crafters to register ahead of time. The event will be in the church hall at 254 Merrimack St. Space includes an 8-foot table for $30. Details, Cathy Rubino at 978-685-8818.
Family Service receives grant
Family Service, Inc. was awarded a grant for $6,000 from the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund, a fund of the Essex County Community Foundation. The grant will be used to fund Family Service's Project Venture Summer Adventure Camps.
Project Venture Summer Adventure Camps are designed to give young people fun, new experiences that take them out of their "comfort zone". Through outdoor adventure and experiential education, youth utilize positive interpersonal skills and gain a sense of accomplishment and importance. The program also provides a safe and constructive activity for young people during the summer months.
Since 1990, the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund (GLSF) has provided a collaborative process for donors seeking to support enriching summer opportunities for inner-city youth and agencies in need of funds for their programs. Originally administered by the Stevens Foundation, the ECCF became the GLSF's administrator in 2001. The fund supports high quality innovative programs which keep young people active and engaged during the summer.
