BRIDGING GAPS TO SAVE LIVES: UH HOSTS
NANOTECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
Alliance for NanoHealth Workshop Fosters Collaborations Among Regional
Researchers
HOUSTON, Feb. 17, 2005 – Bridging gaps between medicine,
biology, materials science, public policy and nanotechnology to
provide new clinical approaches for saving lives, the Alliance for
NanoHealth (ANH) is holding a workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Wednesday, Feb. 23, hosted by the University of Houston.
Congressman John Culberson (R-TX) will be the keynote speaker at
lunch, discussing the $6.4 million awarded to the ANH during the
FY05 Appropriations process. The Appropriations Committee designated
$1.6 million to construct and equip a full-service “clean
room” at UH that features a non-vibration floor, static-free
environment and special air filters to remove virtually all dust
particles. Rep. Culberson has played a major role, soliciting strong
congressional support, to promote and secure funding for the Alliance.
Dedicated to fully funding peer reviewed scientific and medical
research, he has been particularly focused on helping the ANH.
Located at the Hilton Americas in downtown Houston, this scientific
workshop plans to promote networking and new research opportunities
among researchers at regional institutions focused on research collaborations
and advancements in the areas of bioanalytics, nanotechnology and
bioinformatics. How nanohealth research may meet the needs of NASA
exploration missions will be a key theme addressed. Providing participants
the opportunity to interact with regional researchers involved in
life science investigations at the nano level and to understand
the current NASA Roadmap for exploration focused on research in
the area of autonomous health care, the workshop offers a unique
opportunity to discuss mission-based NASA life sciences research
with the regional researchers who are currently working on addressing
the challenges faced by extended human space exploration, as well
as those involved with nanotechnology research.
“A key outcome of this workshop is for the Alliance for NanoHealth,
NASA and private industry to build new collaborations associated
with local research institutions and economic development organizations,”
said Arthur C. Vailas, vice chancellor and vice president for UH
System and the UH Office of Research and Intellectual Property Management.
The registration table opens at 8:30 a.m., and the morning session
starts at 9:30 a.m. in the BOA – DE room. This first session
will offer presentations by NASA and the National Institute of Standards
and Technology, describing how those agencies might work with and
benefit from the Alliance for NanoHealth research efforts. The afternoon
session, starting at 1:30 p.m. in rooms 336, 340 and 343, will consist
of study groups followed by a panel discussion with the goal of
facilitating collaborative research among the Alliance partners,
as well as building momentum to pursue state and national visibility
and funding.
Comprised of world-class research institutions and innovative scientists
and clinicians from within the Texas Medical Center and greater
Houston community, the Alliance for NanoHealth member institutions
are Baylor College of Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Rice
University, University of Houston, The University of Texas Health
Science Center at Houston and The University of Texas Medical Branch.
The Alliance goal is the deployment of nanotechnology for the betterment
of human health. It involves research at the nanoscale level in
the fields of materials sciences, biological sciences, bioengineering,
and clinical research. Collaborative research projects within the
Alliance aim to address a multitude of medical issues, ranging from
better drugs and more powerful diagnostic techniques to portable
monitoring devices and smaller, more reliable implants, such as
miniature, nanoscale, pacemakers.
Online registration for the workshop is required by Feb. 20 at
http://www.nanohealthalliance.org/Desktop
Default.aspx? TabID=3394. For more information, contact Brenda
Boyko, workshop coordinator and project director of research initiatives
at UH, at 713-743-9259 or bsboyko@central.uh.edu.
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom
at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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