Title: |
Fighting Cancer with Nanoparticle Medicines |
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Speaker: |
Dr. Mark E. Davis |
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Affiliation: |
California Institute of Technology |
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When: |
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 4:00:00 PM |
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Where: |
MS&E Building, Room G011 |
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Host: |
Brenda J. Mattox | |
Abstract For centures, cancer has been on of the most devastating diseases. Papyrus writings from 1600-1500 BC describe cancer and attempts at its treatment. Today, the molecular basis of cancer is being unraveled, and new therapeutics are being developed to take advantage of this new knowledge. One class of experimental therapeutics involves the use of nanoparticles. Given the long history of difficulties in developing cancer therapies, why is there excitement about nanoparticle medicine (nanomedicines) for fighting cancer? Is it warrented or is it hype? In this lecture, I will present the current understandings of why nanoparticle medicines have the potential to provide game-changing ways to treat cancer. I will illustrate the various features and potentials of nanoparticle medicines using two different nanoparticles that we have translated from laboratory curiosities to experimental therapeutics in human clinical trials. |
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Biography
Mark E. Davis is the Warren and Katharine Schlinger Professor of Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology and a member of the Experimental Therapeutics Program of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the City of Hope in Duarte, California. His research in materials synthesis has resulted in more than 375 scientific publications, two textbooks, and more than 50 patents. Dr. Davis is a founding editor of CaTTech and has been an associate editor of Chemistry of Materials and the AIChE Journal. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Colburn and Professional Progress Awards from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the Ipatieff, Langmuir, Murphree, and Gaden Prizes from the American Chemical Society (ACS). The first engineer to win the National Science Foundation (NSF) Alan T. Waterman Award, Dr. Davis was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1997 and the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. The majority of Dr. Davis's research involves materials synthesis in two general areas: namely, zeolites and other solids that can be used for molecular recognition and catalysis, and polymers for the delivery of a broad range of therapeutics. |
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Notes |
Reception will follow. |