NNUN

The NNUN is a community of users, possessing a wide variety of technical backgrounds and interests, which cultivates a vibrant, interactive environment for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Recognizing the need to foster growth in interdisciplinary fields, the NNUN has chosen to focus on the interface between biology and engineering. Microfabrication techniques, long established in the manufacture of microelectronic devices, are now defining a new paradigm in analytical and biological research. Miniaturization reduces the amount of reagents required and decreases analysis times. This is particularly advantageous when limited quantities of sample are available or increased resolution or throughput are desired. Clinical diagnostics and high-throughput screening of genes and drug candidates are prime areas of rapid growth in this field. Miniaturized processes are also amenable to integration, so that several processes can be linked to create multifunctional or in-line analysis systems, such as biosensors. Moreover, miniaturization facilitates control of the experimental environment at the microscale range, allowing exquisite manipulation and detection of biological processes at the cellular and subcellular level.

At the NNUN, microfabrication technologies have found application in a wide range of analytical, biological, and biomedical research projects. Some of the technologies involve sophisticated microelectronics. Most, however, are elegantly simple, thus revealing the extent to which tools of trade in one discipline can leverage advancements in another. Our Biology Domain Experts serve as technical liaisons between the biological and engineering research communities, coordinating resources for new users and maintaining a clearinghouse of information on biotechnology research. We invite you to check out our web site and contact us with any comments or questions about the NNUN Biotechnology program.

National Nanofabrication Users Network
	The NNUN is a community of users, possessing a wide variety of technical backgrounds and interests, which cultivates a vibrant, interactive environment for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Recognizing the need to foster growth in interdisciplinary fields, the NNUN has chosen to focus on the interface between biology and engineering. Microfabrication techniques, long established in the manufacture of microelectronic devices, are now defining a new paradigm in analytical and biological research. Miniaturization reduces the amount of reagents required and decreases analysis times. This is particularly advantageous when limited quantities of sample are available or increased resolution or throughput are desired. Clinical diagnostics and high-throughput screening of genes and drug candidates are prime areas of rapid growth in this field. Miniaturized processes are also amenable to integration, so that several processes can be linked to create multifunctional or in-line analysis systems, such as biosensors. Moreover, miniaturization facilitates control of the experimental environment at the microscale range, allowing exquisite manipulation and detection of biological processes at the cellular and subcellular level. At the NNUN, microfabrication technologies have found application in a wide range of analytical, biological, and biomedical research projects. Some of the technologies involve sophisticated microelectronics. Most, however, are elegantly simple, thus revealing the extent to which tools of trade in one discipline can leverage advancements in another. Our Biology Domain Experts serve as technical liaisons between the biological and engineering research communities, coordinating resources for new users and maintaining a clearinghouse of information on biotechnology research. We invite you to check out our web site and contact us with any comments or questions about the NNUN Biotechnology program.