Research Resources: Funded Research
Funding for Nanoscience
The National Science Foundation is the lead in the multi-agency National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). NSF's '07 investment in NNI is $373 million, an increase of $29 million. Of that total, $65 million will fund Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRTs). These awards encourage team approaches to address nanoscale research and education themes, where a collaborative blend of expertise is needed to make significant contributions, according to NSF.
To search all NSF sponsored awards, including Penn State NIRT awards: http://nsf.gov/awardsearch/
Penn State has received eleven prestigious National Science Foundation NIRT awards through 2006. In addition, the Penn State MRSEC (Materials Research Science and Engineering Center) received a second round of funding in 2005 that will continue through 2009.
National Cancer Institute Funds Nanotechnology for Cancer Research
For several years, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has supported exploratory work integrating nanotechnology into cancer research. The NCI is moving the science of nanotechnology into the clinic to change the way we diagnose, treat and prevent cancer.
Today, nanodevices are used in detecting cancer at its earliest stages, pinpointing its location within the body, delivering anticancer drugs specifically to malignant cells, and determining if these drugs are killing malignant cells. As research continues and nanodevices are evaluated for safety and efficacy, nanotechnology will result in significant advances in early detection, molecular imaging, assessment and therapeutic efficacy, targeted and multifunctional therapeutics, and the prevention and control of cancer.
Over the next five years, the NCI will fund $144.3 million in research and development through the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer. This Alliance will direct research efforts and facilitate partnerships across the scientific and research communities and the public and private sectors. These efforts capitalize on the multidisciplinary nature of nanotechnology development and will hasten its application to the elimination of suffering and death due to cancer.
Read more of this NCI Technology Backgrounder:
http://nano.cancer.gov/resource_center/tech_backgrounder.asp
NCI Funding Opportunities:
http://nano.cancer.gov/resource_center/funding.asp
National Nanotechnology Initiative Funding Facts:
http://www.nano.gov/html/about/funding.html
NNI Funding Opportunities:
http://www.nano.gov/html/funding/home_funding.html