The interface between nanotechnology and medicine is a new frontier for scientific exploration and for the creation of new and improved diagnostic and therapeutic tools to detect, treat, cure, and prevent human diseases. We propose to create an integrated predoctoral and postdoctoral training program in nanotechnology for cancer research (NTCR) that is positioned at this interface. It is based on two parent R25 and T32 training grants in the same area. This program will establish a unique national resource with interdisciplinary and synergistic programs in fundamental research in cancer biology, industrial collaboration, and translational research in cancer medicine. This program fosters predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows who are trained across disciplines to lay foundations for technologies that enable an inside-view of cancer cell functions as opposed to the limited black-box input-output techniques currently used, introduce new modalities for molecular imaging, develop new high-throughput diagnostic tools, and engineer novel drug/antibody/siRNA viral and non-viral delivery systems to treat human cancers. NTCR fellows develop novel cancer diagnostics to evaluate each individual patient's prognosis and optimal treatment, based upon the patients' genetic and epigenetic markers and disease phenotype and therapeutics that are selected and optimized for each individual patient. NTCR trainees take one of two core courses depending on their background, as well as a lab course in cancer nanobiotechnology. They participate in a journal club and a dedicated annual symposium, as well as clinical conferences and tumor boards. The NTCR program will recruit outstanding trainees every year with MD and/or PhD degrees and diverse backgrounds in either biochemistry, physics, molecular/cellular/cancer biology, or an engineering/physics discipline for a steady state number of 2 postdoctoral and 6 predoctoral fellows. NTCR fellows take advantage of research and clinical resources at the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Ludwick Center for Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Center, and the In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center, as well as the unique educational resources and experimental facilities of the recently established Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT), which houses the center for cancer nanotechnology excellence (CCNE) and the physical sciences-oncology center (PSOC). Relevance to Public Health. The proposed predoctoral and postdoctoral training program will train fellows at the interface between nanotechnology and cancer medicine to develop novel nanoscale therapeutic, prognostic, and diagnostic tools for the detection, diagnosis, treatment and cure of human cancer.

Public Health Relevance

The interface between nanotechnology, cancer biology, and oncology is a new frontier for scientific exploration and for the creation of new and improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools to detect, diagnose, treat, cure, and prevent cancer. This grant will support an integrated interdisciplinary predoctoral and postdoctoral training program in nanotechnology for cancer medicine.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32CA153952-08
Application #
9341081
Study Section
Subcommittee I - Transistion to Independence (NCI)
Program Officer
Lim, Susan E
Project Start
2015-09-01
Project End
2020-08-31
Budget Start
2017-09-01
Budget End
2018-08-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Biomed Engr/Col Engr/Engr Sta
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
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