Nanomedicine Initiative

The Nanomedicine Initiative represents a collaborative effort between the Colleges at USF Health and other Colleges at USF such as Engineering, Marine Sciences, and Arts and Sciences to develop interdisciplinary research programs. Nanomedicine is an example of such a program where faculties from these Colleges will interact to produce programs of excellence. The goals of the Initiative are to:

• advance knowledge in the understanding of human diseases and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches using nanotechnology;
• train doctoral and post-doctoral students in conducting quality research related to nanotechnology, nanomedicine, and basic molecular cell biology, physiology, genetics and medicine;
• provide services based on academic excellence and the ethic of community responsibility; and
• build an interdisciplinary team of researchers that focuses on the further development of nanomedicine at the USF.

The burgeoning field of nanotechnology and nanoscience, which aims to create, understand, and use nano- to micro-scale structures, devices, and systems having novel properties and functions, is expected to bring a myriad of opportunities and possibilities for advancing biomedicine. Experts have identified a number of priority areas, which include:

• the development of new tools and new methods such as biosensors for early and rapid diagnosis;
• development of new materials in tissue engineering;
• a "marriage" of biological and inorganic systems;
• nanoscale assemblies and their functions; and
• nano systems for gene therapy and other methods of protein/drug delivery.

Further, nanotechnology research is expected to lead to a better understanding of in vivo intracellular interactions, intracellular transport and biomolecular dynamics, which would stimulate the development of radically new technologies that might provide novel strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of diseases.

Contact Information