Cancer Researcher To Speak At Regional Science Fair

12:00AM / Thursday, March 01, 2007

Cancer researcher and Indiana University Professor Linda Malkas [Indiana University photo]

North Adams – Cancer researcher Linda Malkas, Ph.D., will be the keynote speaker at the annual Region I Science and Engineering Fair for high school students on Friday, March 9, at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in the Campus Center.

Life-Changing Research Underway

By analyzing a single drop of blood, Malkas, a professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Vera Bradley chair in oncology, is developing a test that may tell patients if cancer is in their future. Her search for biomarkers inside the human body may lead to a discovery of cancer in its earliest stages as she focuses on a new mechanism that detects differences in the genetic code of cancer patients.

If Malkas can prove the blood test works, it soon may be possible to tell if someone has cancer years before a tumor grows large enough to be seen.

Detecting Cancer Before It Begins

A biochemist, Malkas believes that, within five years, physicians will have blood tests for cancer in their offices, and is searching in particular for markers to determine if a woman will develop breast cancer.

She also is working on a five-year, international study funded by the U.S. Department of Defense that is investigating ways to individualize treatment for women with advanced breast cancer by using new drug therapies and testing individual responses to standard treatments for advanced breast cancer.

Four County Fair

More than 100 high school students from Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties will participate in the local event, with 40 winners going on to the state fair at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, May 3-5.

The Fair provides students the opportunity to explore and share an
aspect of science with peers from surrounding communities.

The event is free and open to the public from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Malkas will speak at 3 p.m. and the community is invited to attend.

Featured projects at the Fair will be presented in categories including biological sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, environmental sciences and engineering.

The Regional Science Fair planning committee consists of business representatives, community members and educators. It
is chaired by Monica Joslin, MCLA dean of academic affairs.

MCLA To Host Middle School Fair In May

On May 5, MCLA will host the Region I Science and Engineering Fair for middle school students, when the keynote speaker will be Jason Gough, a meteorologist for television channel 13. He will give a presentation on weather and the science of hurricanes.

For more information about the regional fair, (413) 662-5242. For more information about the Massachusetts Science Fair Program, go to [http://www.scifair.com ]www.scifair.com.