American Cancer Society Summer Fellowship Supports Mansfield Residents at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School

BOSTON -  Nicholas Fitzgerald and Jeetayu Biswas of Mansfield, MA, have spent this summer serving as 2013 Alvan T., Viola D. Fuller - American Cancer Society Junior Research Fellows under the guidance of researchers in Boston.

            Mr. Fitzgerald worked in the lab of Elizabeth Battinelli, MD, PhD, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, on a project focusing on the role of blood platelets in breast cancer. A high platelet count at diagnosis is associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and a lower rate of survival. Mr. Fitzgerald studies the way anti-coagulants, or blood thinners, prevent blood platelets from forming in order to slow tumor growth. Mr. Fitzgerald explained that although the use of blood thinners is a well-established treatment method for different cancers, little is understood about the mechanisms behind this process.

            This American Cancer Society fellowship was his chance for Mr. Fitzgerald to break into the cancer field.

            “I’ve never been able to work in this area before, and I’ve been learning so much,” he said. “Cancer is the disease to beat – despite all these scientific advances, it still eludes us.”

            “I’ve always wanted a job that’s about more than getting paid,” he continued. “I want to help people, and working in the cancer field is so meaningful. This fellowship has given me a fantastic opportunity.” Mr. Fitzgerald is currently a senior working towards a degree in biology with a minor in biochemistry at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

            Mr. Biswas spent his summer at the lab of Alfred Goldberg, PhD, at Harvard Medical School, studying a protein complex called proteasome, which is found in all human cells and helps the immune system recognize foreign proteins. Proper proteasome function is vital for cells to survive, and stopping proteasome function can kill cancer cells. Mr. Biswas worked to better understand the basic mechanisms causing proteasomal dysfunction, to allow for the improvement of cancer treatments for future patients.

            “This grant has given me the opportunity to work for a lab that is truly at the forefront of scientific research,” Mr. Biswas said. “The research is challenging but extremely gratifying - it’s a great way for me to combine my passions for science and helping others.” Mr. Biswas recently graduated from Brandeis University, where he majored in neuroscience, chemistry and biology. He will start an MD/PhD program at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York in the fall.

            The Fuller Fellowships are part of the American Cancer Society's current investment of more than $63 million in cancer research in New England. The Society is now funding 153 grants at 31 hospitals and institutions in all six New England states. Thanks to the vision of the Fuller Family Foundation in 1967, the American Cancer Society in Massachusetts was able to launch the Alvan T., Viola D. Fuller - American Cancer Society Junior Research Fellowships. Over the last 46 years, generations of gifted undergraduate science students from New England have had the opportunity to spend ten weeks working and training with experienced cancer investigators in some of the finest laboratories in the state.

            The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As a result, more than 14 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.