There have been two recent developments in the legislature related to the legislation that includes DRIVE bridge research funding. HB5259, the bill filed by Governor Healey and subsequently amended by the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies to include funding only for public higher education ($200M), was reported favorably by Health Care Financing and referred to House Ways and Means for further action.

Separately, the Senate approved a supplemental appropriations bill (SB3041) that includes $100M in DRIVE finding. The House has already approved its own version of this bill (which does not include DRIVE funding) so a conference committee has been appointed to reconcile the differences. The conference committee (Sens. Rodrigues, Comerford and O’Connor and Reps. Michlewitz, Diggs and Sweezey) met once and leaders expressed a desire to act quickly on the bill. 

Also included in SB3041 is $10M for UMass Chan to pilot a scholarship program aimed at attracting more physicians to practice family medicine in underserved areas of the Commonwealth.

Updates on proposed DRIVE funding may be found on the OCGR SharePoint site.



YWCA of Central MA- DV Shelter Spring Cleaning

Tuesday, May 26 - 9am to 12pm



Join us in spring cleaning and organizing at the YWCA's confidential DV shelter. We will meet to sign waivers at 1 Salem Square and then make our way to the shelter. 

This event is eligible for use of Volunteer PTO.

Register and Obtain Supervisor Approval

by UMass Chan Medical School Communications

"Joseph Peng, a sophomore at Shrewsbury High School who received the Andrew Sheridan Young Neuroscientist Award, is heading to the 2026 USA National Brain Bee in California. Peng outlasted 33 other high school students in the 20th Annual Central Massachusetts Brain Bee at UMass Chan Medical School on March 7.

The 2026 champion, Peng was among 10 finalists after 15 rounds of questions during the competition’s oral elimination rounds. Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science student Parnitha Karapakula, Hopkinton High School student Hasika Chauhan and Peng were the top three finishers.  

Evelyn Zuckerburg (Acton-Boxborough Regional High School), Aadith Maganti and Pratham Pai (Shrewsbury High School); and Yoanna Gandy, Jakken Ty, Charlee Miller and Johanna Easo (Grafton High School) rounded out the top 10 finishers."