On September 13, 2004, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced a major commitment to develop and apply nanotechnology to cancer research. To carry out this initiative, the NCI, formed the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, a comprehensive, integrated initiative encompassing researchers, clinicians, and public and private organizations, to develop and translate cancer-related nanotechnology research into clinical practice.
Focus for this research has included several areas, such as:
Molecular imaging and early detection
In vivo nanotechnology imaging systems
Reporters of efficacy
Multifunctional therapeutics
Prevention and control
Research enablers
Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (2010-2015)
Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence University of North Carolina Principal Investigators: Joseph DeSimone, Ph.D., and Joel Tepper, M.D.
Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence and Translation Stanford University Principal Investigators: Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D., and Shan Wang, Ph.D.
Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins University Principal Investigators: Peter Searson, Ph.D., and Martin Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.
Center for Translational Cancer Nanomedicine Northeastern University Principal Investigators: Vladimir Torchilin, Ph.D., D.Sc. and Nahum Goldberg, M.D.
Dartmouth Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence Dartmouth College Principal Investigators: Ian Baker, Ph.D., and Keith Paulsen, Ph.D.
MIT-Harvard Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence MIT and Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital Principal Investigators: Robert Langer, Ph.D., and Ralph Weissleder, M.D., Ph.D.
Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics Northwestern University Principal Investigators: Chad Mirkin, Ph.D. and Steven T. Rosen, M.D.
Nanosystems Biology Cancer Center (NSBCC) California Institute of Technology Principal Investigator: James Heath, Ph.D., Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D. and Michael Phelps, Ph.D.
Texas Center for Cancer Nanomedicine University of Texas Health Science Center Principal Investigators: David G. Gorenstein, Ph.D., Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D., Anil Sood, M.D., G. Lopez-Berestein, M.D. and Jennifer L. West, Ph.D.
Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (2005-2010)
Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence University of North Carolina Principal Investigator: Rudolph Juliano, Ph.D.
Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence Focused on Therapy Response Stanford University Principal Investigator: Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.
Center of Nanotechnology for Treatment, Understanding, and Monitoring of Cancer (NANO-TUMOR) University of California, San Diego Principal Investigator: Sadik Esener, Ph.D.
Emory-Georgia Tech Nanotechnology Center for Personalized and Predictive Oncology Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology Principal Investigators: Shuming Nie, Ph.D.
MIT-Harvard Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence MIT and Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital Principal Investigators: Robert Langer, Ph.D., and Ralph Weissleder, M.D., Ph.D.
Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics Northwestern University Principal Investigator: Chad Mirkin, Ph.D.
Nanosystems Biology Cancer Center (NSBCC) California Institute of Technology Principal Investigator: James Heath, Ph.D.
The Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence Washington University Principal Investigator: Samuel Wickline, M.D.
Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships (2010-2015)
Combinatorial-designed Nano-platforms to Overcome Tumor Resistance Northeastern University Principal Investigators: Mansoor Amiji, Ph.D., and Zhen-feng Duan, M.D., Ph.D.
High-Capacity Nanocarriers for Cancer Therapeutics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Principal Investigator: Alexander Kabanov, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Magnetoresistive Sensor Platform for Parallel Cancer Marker Detection University of Utah Principal Investigators: Marc Porter, Ph.D., and Sean J. Mulvihill, M.D.
Nanobioconjugate Based on Polymalic Acid for Brain Tumor Treatment Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Principal Investigator: Julia Ljubimova, M.D., Ph.D.
Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks for Imaging and Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer University of Chicago and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Principal Investigators: Wenbin Lin, Ph.D., and Jen Jen Yeh, M.D.
Peptide-Directed Protocells and Virus-like Particles: New Nanoparticle Platforms for Targeted Cellular Delivery of Multicomponent Cargo University of New Mexico Principal Investigators: Cheryl Willman, M.D., and C. Jeffrey Brinker, Ph.D.
Preclinical Platform for Theranostic Nanoparticles in Pancreatic Cancer Rice University Principal Investigators: Naomi Halas, Ph.D., D.Sc., Amit Joshi, Ph.D., and Sunil Krishnan, M.D.
RNA Nanotechnology in Cancer Therapy University of Kentucky Principal Investigators: Peixuan Guo, Ph.D., and John Rossi, Ph.D.
Targeting SKY Kinase in B-Lineage ALL with CD-19 Specific C-61 Nanoparticles Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Principal Investigator: Fatih Uckun, M.D., Ph.D.
Theranostic Nanoparticles for Targeted Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer Emory University Principal Investigators: Lily Yang, M.D., Ph.D., and Hui Mao, Ph.D.
Toxicity and Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticle Photothermal Therapy in Cancer Emory University Principal Investigators: Dong Shin, M.D., and Mostafa El-Sayed, Ph.D.
Tumor Targeted Nanobins for the Treatment of Metastatic Breast and Ovarian Cancer Northwestern University Principal Investigators: Thomas O'Halloran, Ph.D., and Vincent Cryns, M.D.
Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships (2005-2010)
Detecting Cancer Early with Targeted Nano-probes for Vascular Signatures University of California Principal Investigator: Douglas Hanahan, Ph.D.
DNA-linked Dendrimer Nanoparticle Systems for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment University of Michigan Principal Investigator: James Baker Jr., M.D.
Hybrid Nanoparticles in Imaging and Therapy of Prostate Cancer University of Missouri Principal Investigator: Kattesh Katti, Ph.D.
Integrated System for Cancer Biomarker Detection Massachusetts Institute of Technology Principal Investigator: Scott Manalis, Ph.D.
Metallofullerene Nanoplatform for Imaging and Treating Infiltrative Tumor Virginia Commonwealth University Principal Investigator: Panos Fatouros, Ph.D.
Multifunctional Nanoparticles in Diagnosis and Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer State University of New York Principal Investigator: Paras Prasad, Ph.D.
Nanotechnology Platform for Pediatric Brain Cancer Imaging and Therapy University of Washington Principal Investigator: Miqin Zhang, Ph.D.
Nanotechnology Platform for Targeting Solid Tumors The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Principal Investigator: Jan Schnitzer, M.D.
Nanotherapeutic Strategy for Multidrug Resistant Tumors Northeastern University Principal Investigator: Mansoor Amiji, Ph.D.
Near-Infrared Fluorescence Nanoparticles for Targeted Optical Imaging The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Principal Investigator: Chun Li, Ph.D.
Novel Cancer Nanotechnology Platforms for Photodynamic Therapy and Imaging Roswell Park Cancer Institute Principal Investigator: Ravindra K. Pandey, Ph.D.
Photodestruction of Ovarian Cancer: ErbB3 Targeted Aptamer-Nanoparticle Conjugate Massachusetts General Hospital Principal Investigator: Tayyaba Hasan, Ph.D.
Cancer Nanotechnology Training Centers (2010-2015)
Boston University Cross-Disciplinary Training in Nanotechnology for Cancer Boston University Principal Investigators: Bennett B. Goldberg, Ph.D., and Douglas Faller, M.D., Ph.D.
Integrative Cancer Nanoscience and Microsystems Training Center University of New Mexico Principal Investigators: Janet M. Oliver, Ph.D., and Abhaya Datye, Ph.D.
Midwest Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center (M-CNTC) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Principal Investigators: Rashid Bashir, Ph.D., and Ann Nardulli, Ph.D.
The Johns Hopkins Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center Johns Hopkins University Principal Investigators: Denis Wirtz, Ph.D., and Hai-Quan Mao, Ph.D.
The University of Kentucky Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center University of Kentucky Principal Investigators: Bradley D. Anderson, Ph.D., and B. Mark Evers, M.D.
UCSD Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center University of California, San Diego Principal Investigators: Robert F. Mattrey, M.D., and Andrew Kummel, Ph.D.
Pathway to Independence Awards in Cancer Nanotechnology Research (2010-2015)
Enzyme-Responsive Nanoemulsions as Tumor-Specific Ultrasound Contrast Agents University of Colorado, Boulder Principal Investigator: Andrew P. Goodwin, Ph.D.
Inhibition of Metastasis-Initiating Cells by Chimeric Polypeptide Nanoparticles University of Utah Principal Investigator: Mingnan Chen, Ph.D.
Nanoplatform Based, Combinational Therapy against Breast Cancer Stem Cells University of Georgia Principal Investigator: Jin Xie, Ph.D.
•Nanotechnology for Minimally Invasive Cancer Detection and Resection Wake Forest University Health Sciences Principal Investigator: Aaron M. Mohs, Ph.D.
Next-Generation Quantum Dots for Molecular and Cellular Imaging of Cancer University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Principal Investigator: Andrew M. Smith, Ph.D.
Theranostic Nanomedicine for Breast Cancer Prevention and Image-Guided Therapy University of Massachusetts, Lowell Principal Investigator: Prakash R. Rai, Ph.D.
Tumor Targeting and Diagnostic Applications of Glycosylated Nanotubes Wake Forest University School of Medicine Principal Investigator: Ravi N. Singh, Ph.D.
Multidisciplinary Research Training and Team Development (2005-2010)
Multidisciplinary Research Training and Team Development Fellowship Awards were granted to the following postdoctoral trainees:
Design of Affinity Capture Agents for Akt1 Using in situ Click Chemistry California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA Trainee: Steven W. Millward, Ph.D.
Geldanamycin-Mediated Uptake of Nanoparticle Probes Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana Trainee: Giselle M. Knudsen, Ph.D.
Liposomal Delivery of High LET Emitters to Cell Nuclei Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland Trainee: Yah-El Har-El, Ph.D.
Nanolabels of Active Proteases for Cancer Detection University of California, San Francisco, California Trainee: Mark D. Lim, Ph.D.
Nanoparticle-Bioconjugates as Cancer-Treating Agents Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Trainee: Sofi Bin-Salamon, Ph.D.
Nanoprobes and Integrated Nanodevices for Cancer Detection and Treatment University of Colorado Health Services, Superior, CO Trainee: Wounjhang Park, Ph.D.
Nanoscale Mechanisms of Hsp90 and Its Co-chaperones Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut Trainee: Ivo P. Doudevski, Ph.D.
Short-Interfering RNA-Gold Nanoparticle Bioconjugates: A New Cancer Therapy Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois Trainee: Adam B. Braunschweig, Ph.D.
Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Based Tumor Vaccines, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research New York, New York Trainee: Rena J. May, Ph.D.
Targeted Delivery Via Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions Liquidia, Inc., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina Trainee: Ashley L. Galloway, Ph.D.
Targeted Photoactivated Nanopartcicles for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Trainee: Daniel Neuman, Ph.D.
NCI-NSF Training Grants were awarded in 2005 to establish training programs for U.S. science and engineering doctoral students through the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program (IGERT). The awarded programs were:
Building Leadership for the Nanotechnology Workforce of Tomorrow University of Washington Principal Investigator: Marjorie Olmstead, Ph.D.
Integrative Nanoscience and Microsystems, University of New Mexico Principal Investigator: Diana Huffaker, Ph.D.
Nanomedical Science and Technology Northeastern University Principal Investigator: Srinivas Sridhar, Ph.D.
NanoPharmaceutical Engineering and Science Rutgers University Principal Investigator: Fernando Muzzio, Ph.D.
Posted: August 8, 2017
This content is provided by the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov)
