Our Science – CCRNP Website

CCR Nanobiology Program

Research

The Nanobiology Program pursues an integrated, multidisciplinary program of basic and applied studies aimed at the design of nanodevices to combat cancer, AIDS, and other viral diseases. The steps (formulated by the Nanomedicine Roadmap Initiative) to achieve the goals include:

- Characterization of the physical and chemical properties of molecules and nanomachinery in cells;

- Understanding the engineering principles used in living cells to "build" molecules, molecular complexes, organelles, cells, and tissues;

- Use of this knowledge of properties and design principles to develop new technologies, and engineer devices and hybrid structures for preventing and curing disease.

The activities of the Principle Investigators in the Program fall into several broad areas that include membrane structure and function; protein interactions; structural bioinformatics; structural glycobiology; molecular information theory and computational RNA Structure. The investigators are working together to gain an understanding how macromolecules form functional assemblies and networks, and how they enter cells and tissues. In addition the Program encompasses CCR PI adjunct investigators who collaborate with CCRNP and bring their expertise to bear in order to enhance the Nanobiology Program's efforts in the areas of chemistry, high resolution imaging, radiation biology and oncogenomics. The program also forms partnerships with the NCI's broader Nanotechnology Program, other CCR basic research laboratories and clinical branches, as well as with the broader extramural community, to enhance the interface of physics and computational sciences with biology.


Adjunct Investigators

Joseph J. Barchi Jr., Ph.D., Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry

Jacek Capala, Ph.D., Radiation Oncology Branch

Javed Khan, M.D., Pediatric Oncology Branch

Sriram Subramaniam, Ph.D., Laboratory of Cell Biology