Resources
Objectives
The field of nanomedicine is rapidly expanding and may soon bring us long-hoped for improvements in areas such as cancer detection and treatment. Researchers from different fields bring together their expertise to develop novel and sometimes revolutionary approaches to the detection and treatment of disease. All new approaches must go through rigorous safety and efficacy testing procedures in vitro, in animal models, and in clinical trials before being approved.
Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology to medicine.
Nanotechnology is the science of the small and the engineering and applications of very small structures.
Nanomedicine researchers develop tiny materials, tools and devices that can work with extreme precision at the nanoscale, the scale of the molecules and cells that make up our bodies.
Nanotechnology has created many materials and devices with unique and distinctive features - providing a new "toolbox" to try to address many medical needs.
Experts from a variety of backgrounds and in a range of different science and engineering disciplines are coming together to address these challenges.
Research involves creativity, discipline, teamwork and inspiration; it is often rewarding in personal as well as professional ways.
What cancer is, and how it grows and metastasizes.
All new techniques must go through years of testing to ensure that they will work and that they will be safe.
Credits
Developed with support from 3 sources: the NIH NCRR SEPA program; the NISE Network (NSF ESI 0532536); and the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (NSF 0425826). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF, NIH or CHN.