Cancer Nanotechnology Training Centers (CNTCs)

CNTCs are designed to establish innovative research education programs supporting the development of a multi-disciplinary nanotechnology workforce capable of pursuing cancer research. CNTCs target graduate student and post-doctoral researchers with backgrounds in medicine, biology, and other health sciences as well as in the physical sciences, chemistry, and engineering. The program of multi-disciplinary research education in cancer nanotechnology is primarily focused on mentored laboratory-based training through participation in dedicated training research projects.

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.
Scientific Focus: Apply nanotechnology in the training of pre- and post-doctoral fellows for early cancer detection/cancer prevention through identification of rare circulating tumor cells; use proteomics to detect nuclear matrix proteins and new biomarkers for screening of early stage tumors; and use nanowires and nanocantilever arrays for the early detection of precancerous and malignant lesions from biological fluids. Visit the Boston University CNTC website.

Integrative Cancer Nanoscience and Microsystems Training Center
University of New Mexico
Principal Investigators: Janet M. Oliver, Ph.D., and Abhaya Datye, Ph.D.
Scientific Focus: Accelerate recruitment of interdisciplinary graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and development of interdisciplinary teams that combines novel nanoprobes with in vitro fluorescence and EM to address altered membrane organization and vesicular trafficking in cancer cells; develops and applies nano- and microdevices for DNA sequencing and analysis of chromatin remodeling in cancer; generates novel probes and instruments for in vivo cancer detection; and focuses on cancer drug discovery and the synthesis of multifunctional nanoprobes for targeted drug delivery. Visit the New Mexico CNTC website.

Midwest Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center (M-CNTC)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Principal Investigators: Rashid Bashir, Ph.D., and Ann Nardulli, Ph.D.
Scientific Focus: Create a highly interdisciplinary environment for students and post-doctoral engineers, physical scientists and biologists in the areas of ex vivo diagnostic nanotechnology, in vivo imaging nanotechnology, therapeutic nanotechnology and mechanobiology. Visit the M-CNTC website.

The Johns Hopkins Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center
Johns Hopkins University
Principal Investigators: Denis Wirtz, Ph.D., and Anirban Maitra, M.D.
Scientific Focus: Develop training programs to train pre-doctoral fellows at the interface between nanotechnology and cancer medicine to develop novel nanoscale therapeutic and diagnostic tools for the detection, treatment, and cure of human cancer.

The University of Kentucky Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center
University of Kentucky
Principal Investigators: Bradley D. Anderson, Ph.D., and B. Mark Evers, M.D.
Scientific Focus: Develop cancer nanotechnology projects composed of multidisciplinary, focus-area teams with the goal of training future researchers, including minority and women in the field of cancer nanotechnology, in the areas of early detection and diagnosis in lung, colon and ovarian cancer; treatment of gastrointestinal tumors and metastases; lung cancer treatment; and glioma therapy. Visit the Kentucky CNTC website.

UCSD Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center
University of California San Diego
Principal Investigators: Robert F. Mattrey, M.D., and Andrew Kummel, Ph.D.
Scientific Focus: Provide training in cancer nanotechnology to pre-doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers and physicians with tailored tracks for physical scientists/engineers and biological/life scientists and a well-developed plan for minority recruitment and retention.