Media Advisory: First Graduating Class from Collaborative U.S./European Program to Receive Master’s Degrees Today

WHAT:         Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, the University at Buffalo (UB) and two European universities

Six U.S. students who, in addition to their coursework and research at the Roswell Park Graduate Division of UB, spent a year abroad, with one semester at the University of Luxembourg and one at the University of Amsterdam, will earn dual degrees — a Master of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Science from Roswell Park/UB and a Master of Science degree in Systems Biology from the University of Luxembourg. The program provides training and education in systems biology, an emerging field of biomedical research.

Speakers at the award ceremony will include: Candace Johnson, PhD, Roswell Park Deputy Director; Richard Hershberger, PhD, MBA, Roswell Park Chief Academic Officer; John T. Ho, PhD, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School at UB; Stephen Dunnett, PhD, Vice Provost for International Education at UB; and Paul Heuschling, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication at the University of Luxembourg.

WHEN:          Monday, May 7, 2012 – 2:30pm to 3:45pm; presentation of degrees approximately 3pm

WHERE:        Zebro Conference Room, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Center for Genetics & Pharmacology, 645 Virginia St., Buffalo, NY. Metered street parking for media and guests available on Virginia and Elm streets.

— IMPORTANT: Media arriving late should contact Alicia Becker at 716-912-0006 in order to gain access to building.

NOTES:         The six students earning dual master’s degrees Monday are the first among 48 students — 24 from the United States and 24 from the European Union — who will earn dual master’s degrees over the next four years as part of this collaborative program. The program is funded in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the European Union.

The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.