Cambridge, United Kingdom - August 7, 2006 - What more could a university student ask for than three months away from the stress of homework, exams, and dorm-life? How about three months of exploration in another country?! That's just what biochemistry senior Maria Trissal did her final summer before graduation. Under the auspices of the Biomedical Research Abroad Vistas! Open (BRAVO!) program at the University of Arizona, she spent three exciting months conducting research at the University of Cambridge.

She was given the opportunity to work under the mentorship of Dr. Kevin Brindle, Professor of Biochemistry, whose research focuses on non-invasive methods of assessing tumor response to therapy. Having spent the last two years participating in cancer related research at the University of Arizona, Ms. Trissal was thrilled to be given the opportunity to work in this booming area of science at such a distinguished university. Being among the top universities in the world, the University of Cambridge consists of over forty individual colleges. It has given rise to some of the most distinguished figures in scientific history including Hans Krebs, James Watson, and Francis Crick.

England provided a plethora of exciting new experiences for this Arizona native. "You wouldn't expect things to be so different from America, but the weather, the people, the food, the architecture...they're all uniquely British!" In addition to learning an array of laboratory techniques and networking among international scientists at the University, she spent the summer visiting well known places such as the Tower of London, Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. "There was a story behind every building and bridge. I spent one night in the pub where Watson first announced he had discovered the structure of DNA. Where else but England can you sit down for a drink and be surrounded by such rich history?"

Although she enjoyed all the sightseeing England had to offer, the most enjoyable experience for this undergraduate was the unique Cambridge environment. In addition to learning how to punt and row on the river running through town, she spent many afternoons just soaking up the local atmosphere. "Cambridge is small and quaint and that's what makes it so special," she boasts, " You could buy a book and strawberries at the city center market and then just sit on the grass by the river and read all afternoon without worrying about safety or feeling out of place. You definitely can't do that in Tucson!"

Maria was among a group of students chosen for the opportunity to experience life and research away from America. China, Australia, Germany, France, and Poland are all countries that this year's cohort of BRAVO! Students were given the opportunity to experience and explore. For more information on the BRAVO! Program and application details please contact: Carol Bender, Program Director, email: bender@email.arizona.edu or refer to the following website: http://ubrp.arizona.edu/bravo/default.cfm.

Maria Trissal, UBRP alum, Dr. Robert Gillies' lab, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics