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19 November: Discovery in “Green Chemistry” May Provide Unique Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy
Research often takes unanticipated turns.  Following every interesting lead can produce a chaotic research program that yields no concrete results.   But passing up those leads can miss significant opportunities.  What should guide such decisions?

NSF’s Science and Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes (CERSP) directed by Prof. Joseph DeSimone of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill uses a robust strategic planning process to guide research.  CERSP’s vision, established in 2000, is to enable a revolution in sustainable technology through cutting-edge, integrated physical science/engineering; social science; and educational programs based on CO₂-related technologies.

After several years of fundamental research it appeared that CO₂-based technologies had the potential to revolutionize the microelectronics industry, which in 2003 was pursuing 157nm photolithography-based processes.  However, when industry leader Intel abandoned 157nm technology, much of the work at CERSP appeared to be in jeopardy.  Led by Prof. DeSimone, other applications for CERSP photolithographic technology were sought within the constraints of CERSP’s strategic plan—and PRINT was born.  Protection from toxins also applies to medicine!

PRINT (Particle Replication In Non-wetting Templates) technology can be used for nanoparticle fabrication.  This process, called “soft” or “non-wetting” imprint lithography, involves first the creation of the desired shape in a silicon template using electron beam lithography. A mold is made of this template using novel liquid fluoropolymers that can be polymerized into a Teflon-like solid. The mold can then be filled with any desired polymerizable material.  After polymerization, the contents of the mold are expelled.  PRINT’s unique technology provides for hitherto inaccessible sizes, shapes and chemistries.  It is the cornerstone of a $25 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. The Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCCNE), a collaborative effort between UNC-Chapel Hill and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, was established.  The major goal of CCCNE is to design and fabricate novel and innovative, multifunctional nanodevices and then test their in vivo performance using sophisticated mouse models of human cancer ultimately leading to clinical trails. CCCNE features interactions among leading physical and biological scientists to harness innovations in nanotechnology for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.  Due largely to these successes, CCCNE will receive $50 million annually in funding from the State of North Carolina 

“Smart” nanoparticles produced via PRINT will be used to develop techniques for cancer therapy and imaging.   Nanoparticles fabricated of biodegradable materials using PRINT technology are surface-passivated to promote long lifetimes in circulation.  PRINT particles will serve as carriers of conventional antitumor drugs, antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides, and X-ray or MRI contrast agents. The nanoparticles will be rendered “smart”, by conjugating their surfaces with peptides or nucleic acid aptamers directed at receptors found on tumor cells or on tumor vasculature.

A major facet of this research is development of a “Nanoparticle Foundry”.  This “foundry” should not only be a key component of CCCNE but should also become a national resource for the design, fabrication, and testing of a variety of nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

PRINT Process:  A) An 8 inch silicon wafer patterned with approximately 400 billion posts that are 160 nm in diameter; B) A fluorinated mold of the silicon master template shown in A; C) 160 nm particles made using PRINT and transferred to a medical adhesive layer for harvesting; D)  An SEM of a silicon wafer master template of 3 micron posts (to mimic red blood cells); E) A fluorinated mold of the master template shown in D; F)  A fluorinated mold containing cationic hydrogel particles. 

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10 November: Entrepreneurship Certificate
Applications are being accepted through Dec. 12 for the new Graduate Certificate Program in Entrepreneurship: both the introductory course alone or the full nine-credit-hour sequence.

The program begins in January for graduate students, post-docs and full-time faculty and staff in the liberal arts and sciences who wish to complement their studies with an exploration of how entrepreneurship is changing their fields and how to conceive, plan and execute new commercial and nonprofit ventures.

The certificate is offered in three tracks: artistic, life sciences and public health entrepreneurship.

Visit www.unc.edu/cei/grad for details and to apply.

This is a new program of the Carolina Entrepreneurial Initiative, co-sponsored by The Graduate School and Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.

For more information, contact Susan Drake at the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Susan_Drake@unc.edu, (919) 962-3219.

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08 October: Highlights of 2007 NSF Site Review
On October 2nd CERSP hosted its annual site review at Chapel Hill, NC. 65 Posters, 10 student and eight faculty presentations are available in the group meeting section of this website.  For scenes of the meeting click here.

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07 October: ACS Highlights Polymer Devices in the Body
In its recent 234th national meeting in Boston, ACS held a workshop for both researchers and K-12 teachers on this topic. Click here to read a summary from C&E News, September 24, 2007, Volume 85, Number 39, pp. 99-102.

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05 September: Tutorial in Biology and Nanotechnology in Cancer Research
The NCI Alliance is offering a free tutorial in biology and nanotechnology in cancer research to be conducted on October 16, 2007. For details and registration forms click here.

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01 September:  NRC Research Associate Program
The National Research Council of the National Academies sponsors a number of awards for postdoctoral and senior researchers at federal laboratories. These awards provide generous stipends ($41,000 - $70,000 per year for recent Ph.D. recipients and higher for additional experience), and the opportunity to do independent research in some of the best-equipped and staffed laboratories in the country.

We ask your assistance in informing doctoral students and faculty in your department of these opportunities by copying this message to each one. Detailed program information, including instructions on how to apply online and a list of participating laboratories, is available on the NRC Research Associateship Programs Web site at: http://pull.xmr3.com/p/4687-304D/39857994/http-www.nationalacademies.org-rap.html

Questions should be directed to the NRC at 202-334-2760 (tel.) or rap@nas.edu .

There are four review cycles annually. Upcoming deadlines for submitting applications are:

Applicants should begin a dialog with prospective Advisers at the lab as early as possible, before their anticipated application deadline.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely yours,
H. Ray Gamble
Director of the Fellowship Programs
National Research Council
The National Academies
500 5th Street NW, Keck 568
Washington, DC 20001

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30 August: PRINT Greatly Enhances MRI Imaging
In a paper presented at the IS3R symposium in Munich (see Aug 23 entry) PRINT is shown to enhance contrast significantly vs. standard imaging enhancement agents. For details click here.

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23 August: DeSimone Delivers Lecture at IS3R Symposium in Munich
Munich, Germany - August 23, 2007 - Professor Joseph DeSimone, William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at UNC, has will lecture and moderate a panel on Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology at the International Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology (IS3R) symposium in Munich, Germany.

The lecture, "Nanosystems Biology, Nanotechnology, and Opportunities for Imaging" will be given to an international audience of leading industry experts, academic researchers, and scientists. Other speakers at the event will include Jean-Luc Vanderheyden, Global Molecular Imaging Leader for GE Healthcare; and James Thrall, Chief of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Though the symposium will focus on broad issues related to advancing radiology, Dr. DeSimone's remarks will focus on the use of precisely engineered nanoparticles for combined molecular imaging and therapeutic purposes - a key area of research in his laboratories at UNC.

Utilizing proprietary PRINT technology, Professor DeSimone and his team of researchers have developed novel therapeutics that combine therapeutic agents with imaging agents inside precisely engineered nanoparticles. This breakthrough is the first step towards clinically relevant, real-time monitoring of a drug as it is distributed upon administration.

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17 August: N.C. Lawmakers Commit $50M Annually to UNC Cancer Center
By GARY D. ROBERTSON : Associated Press Writer
Aug 15, 2007 : 5:53 pm ET
RALEIGH, N.C. -- They are names that inspire hope. Johns Hopkins. Sloan-Kettering. M.D. Anderson. To that list of world-renowned cancer care hospitals, North Carolina lawmakers are committed to adding one more: Lineberger.

Before leaving Raleigh for the year, the Legislature committed the state to investing $50 million annually -- in perpetuity -- in the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The money is aimed at recruiting and retaining talented researchers, buying state-of-the-art equipment and expanding human clinical trials. Lawmakers also want to redouble prevention and screening efforts, in hopes of reducing the 41,000 people in North Carolina diagnosed annually with cancer and saving the 17,000 who die from the disease.

"It is one of the most difficult journeys you can ever fight," said Melissa Blackwell, a 40-year-old divorced mother of two from Mebane and a Lineberger patient. She learned in June that her breast cancer had returned and now faces a mastectomy.

"This money will help us fight a little longer, a little wiser, a little harder," she said.

As North Carolina continues its evolution from a state born on tobacco and textiles to one growing on computer chips and biotechnology at its famed Research Triangle Park, state leaders believe there is also economic security in medical research and the jobs it can create.

But rather than hand out grants all over the state -- which is the plan in Texas, where voters will consider a $3 billion bond proposal this fall to support cancer research and prevention -- North Carolina is funneling its investment solely to Lineberger. Supporters compare the $50 million annual payment to having a $1 billion endowment.

"Not only will it help build an economy, it's going to save lives and make a difference in the lives of North Carolinians and across the nation," said Democratic state Sen. Walter Dalton, one of the chief proponents of the cancer fund. "I think this is the brightest gem of them all."

Lawmakers set aside $25 million this year for the cancer center, establishing plans to double the funding by 2009 by raising the tax on smokeless tobacco and cigars and tapping into the state's share of the national tobacco settlement.

North Carolina "should be praised for being so visionary," said Dr. Nancy Davidson, director of the breast cancer program at Johns Hopkins and the president of a national association of clinical oncologists.

The money comes at a time when lawmakers elsewhere have focused on the promise of stem cells to help their states hit a medical or biotechnology jackpot. In 2004, California voters approved spending $3 billion on stem cell research, while Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled a $1 billion plan focused on stem cells last month. Four other states already have smaller funding plans for stem cells.

Meanwhile, federal funding of cancer research has failed to keep pace with inflation. In 2006, the National Cancer Institute spent $4.7 billion in research at its own labs and in public or private universities and businesses, a figure essentially unchanged since 2004.

UNC Chapel Hill received $46 million from the institute last year, ranking it 15th among university and research institutions. By comparison, the University of California system ranked first with $177.4 million.

"A lot of cancer centers around the country are feeling the pinch," said Kirsten Boyd Goldberg, publisher of The Cancer Letter, a Washington-based newsletter on research, grants and other cancer-related trends. "The state money would certainly be welcome."

While some legislators questioned the overall growth of spending in North Carolina's budget, which soared nearly 10 percent compared to a year ago, there were few complaints about the cancer spending. Lawmakers already agreed to borrow $180 million in 2004 to build a new cancer hospital at UNC Chapel Hill. It is scheduled for completion in 2009.

One out of three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, a statistic state lawmakers know all too well.

Sen. Jeanne Lucas, the first black woman elected to the state Senate, died in March, four years after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Sandy Basnight, the wife of Senate leader Marc Basnight, was treated for leukemia earlier this year before she died in June.

Marc Basnight, who has been reticent about his wife's illness in recent years, is a passionate supporter of making North Carolina one of the nation's leaders in cancer treatment.

"The saving of lives is worth much more than words can describe," Basnight said.

From www.heraldsun.com.

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16 August: CERSP Graduate Receives Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research
Dr. Jason Rolland, Senior Scientist and Co-founder of Liquidia Technologies and a 2005 doctoral graduate of UNC, is the recipient of the prestigious 2007 National Starch & Chemical Company Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Science and Engineering. Dr. Rolland will receive the award at the American Chemical Society meeting on August 19th in Boston, MA. The Award recognizes a current or recent graduate student with the most outstanding Ph.D. thesis in polymer science and engineering accepted by a U.S. or Canadian university. Nominees for the Award are judged on the basis of their personal contributions to the research, the quality and level of innovation demonstrated, and the impact on the field of synthetic polymers or bipolymers.

Dr. Rolland's thesis, which he wrote under the direction of Professor Joseph DeSimone, examined novel applications of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) materials. According to Rolland's research, PFPEs have wide ranging applications that  include antifouling coatings, microfluidics, mold-based lithography for nano-patterned films, and nanoparticle fabrication.

"Since the 1960s PFPEs have been used for niche applications such as lubricants and greases," explains Professor DeSimone. "Jason's thesis explores exciting opportunities to expand the use of PFPEs to areas which exploit their unique properties and opens the door to applications yet to be discovered. He has added a new chapter to the field of fluoropolymer research and is fully deserving of this award."

Recognizing the market need for precisely engineered nanoparticles and films, Rolland and colleagues from UNC founded Liquidia Technologies in 2004 to exploit the unique properties of PFPEs for applications ranging from delivery systems for biological therapeutics to nano-structured optical films. Liquidia is currently advancing products in the materials and life science sectors through internal development efforts and partnerships with Fortune 500 companies.

Robert Henn, CTO of Liquidia, notes, "The fundamental discoveries that Jason made during his studies at UNC have been immensely valuable as we continue to develop a robust nanotechnology platform for particles and films. Jason's leadership and enthusiasm for new discoveries continues to advance new projects and exciting opportunities at Liquidia."

Sponsored by National Starch & Chemical Col, Rolland will receive a cash prize, plaque and travel expenses for the ACS meeting for winning the Award.

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15 August: Green Chemistry at Upcoming ACS Meeting
For those who are attending the ACS National Meeting in Boston, August 19-23, 2007, we have compiled a list of Green Chemistry related symposia at the conference. You can access this symposia grid, with days and locations, at http://acswebcontent.acs.org/GCI/gcatboston.pdf.

Also, stop by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute booth (#637b) in the Exposition to learn more about the Institute's activities, upcoming events, and wide range of resources available to you, such as educational materials, workshops, business cases, databases, awards, grant programs, and the ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable. Find out how you can support the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2007 (H.R. 2850). While you're at the booth, talk with staff members and pick up a free lanyard and button, made from recycled materials, of course!

For other Green Chemistry updates, events, and news, visit the ACS Green Chemistry Institute.

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10 August: Carbonell Named Fellow of the ACS Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Division
Dr. Ruben Carbonell, Frank Hawkins Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University, has been named Fellow of the Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (I&EC) Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS). He will receive the I&EC Fellow award at the spring 2008 national ACS meeting. A symposium also will be held in his honor at the same meeting.

Since 1999, Carbonell has directed the William R. Kenan, Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science. He established the highly successful Kenan Fellows for Curriculum and Leadership Program, which has become a national model for university K-12 outreach. Also, since 1999, he has co-directed the NSF Science and Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes, which was created by a National Science Foundation grant that was the largest ever received by the UNC system at the time of the award.

Carbonell's research has resulted in more than 190 publications, 22 patents and more than $22 million in research funding. He has advised more than 70 master's and doctoral students and 33 postdoctoral students and visiting faculty. His recent work in bioseparations led to the identification of a specific ligand for the prion protein responsible for mad cow disease in humans. This ligand is being used to remove prion protein from blood products.

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02 August: General Assembly establishes University Cancer Research Fund at UNC
The North Carolina General Assembly created the state's first University Cancer Research Fund with the passage of the new state budget. The fund, established to accelerate the battle against cancer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Medicine and its Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, will receive $25 million in 2007-2008 and is slated to increase to $50 million per year beginning in 2009.

The Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM) will be an important component to the research effort associated with the University Cancer Research Fund at UNC. Researchers within the IAM are currently working on the development of: smart nanoparticles for cancer therapy and imaging, carbon nanotube x-ray devices for in vivo cancer detection and treatment, chemically patterned nanoscale surfaces for capturing tumor cells, nanofluidic devices for rapid analysis of tumor cell signaling and migration. All of these may be invaluable tools to aid clinicians in their fight against the ravages of cancer and other systemic illnesses. IAM focuses on Nanoscience and Technology and is an interdisciplinary endeavor, coordinating research efforts across a number of academic departments including chemistry, physics, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, and applied mathematics with internationally recognized faculty in polymer science, nanomaterials, sensor development and nanobiosciences. The interdisciplinary nature and unique combination of faculty with a broad range of expertise allows the IAM to address significant and unmet research needs. One of the technologies of the type to be subject of IAM was developed by Professor DeSimone and his students under NSF STC. It is known as PRINT (Particle Replication in Non-wetting Templates). PRINT technology offers the ability (1) to fabricate polymeric nanoparticles with uniform size, (2) to deliver cargo(s) containing a mixture of imaging and/or therapeutic agents and (3) to decorate particle surfaces with targeting ligands specific for the disease state. This technology provides a novel class of agents capable of imaging inflammation related to Crohn's disease and osteoarthritis, tumor growth and location, and plaques associated with cardiovascular disease. Further, these nanoparticles can also be used to deliver a therapeutic specifically to the desired location in the body, significantly reducing systemic exposure to potentially toxic drugs.

Click here to read the full UNC press release on this legislation.

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30 July: Semiconductor Research Corporation awarded the National Medal of Technology
EAB member, Bill Holton, together with three other senior staff from SRC, accepted the award last Friday. SRC was recognized for building the world's largest and most successful university research force to support the rapid growth and advance of the semiconductor industry; for proving the concept of collaborative research as the first high-tech research consortium; and for creating the concept and methodology that evolved into the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. The award was presented in the East Room of the White House by the President.

For a full summary of the ceremony click here.

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20 July: Rossky Named AAAS Fellow
We just learned that Peter Rossky, professor of chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the College of Natural Sciences, was elected a 2006 fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fellows are chosen annually by their peers to recognize their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. Rossky was selected for distinguished and creative contributions to theoretical understanding of the structure and dynamics of molecular liquids and solutions. This year's fellows were announced in the organization's prestigious journal Science on Nov. 24.

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16 July: NCA&T Announces Conference
The Third National Conference on Environmental Science and Technology will be held September 12-14, 2007 in the Alumni Foundation Events Center at North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC.

www.ncat.edu/~wmi/conference/conf.html

The purpose of the conference is to provide a forum for USDOE, USEPA, NSF, NOAA, other Federal Agencies, Industrial Technology Users and Colleges/Universities to address pollution prevention problems, solutions and research needs.

Topic Areas
Bioremediation
Fate and Transport of Contaminants
Pollution Prevention/Solvents and Processes
Innovative Environmental
Technologies and Sensors
Global Climate Change

Key session of interest to CERSP is being led by one of our PIs:

POLLUTION PREVENTION/SOLVENTS AND PROCESSES
Vinayak Kabadi, PhD
Chemical Engineering
McNair Hall
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina 27411
Phone (336) 334-7564 Fax (336) 334-7904
Email: kabadi@ncat.edu

CERSP personnel are encouraged to participate.

Important Note
Full peer reviewed paper will be published by Battelle Press (www.battelle.org/bookstore). A copy of the proceedings will be distributed to all authors.

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12 July: Dow Announces Symposium to Enhance Diversity

The Dow Chemical Company has organized a career symposium titled Building Engineering and Science Talent (BEST) to introduce African American, Hispanic, Native American and other under-represented minority doctoral and postdoctoral students in the United States to the wide range of rewarding careers in industrial research, and in particular, the many opportunities with one of the world's largest and leading chemical companies, The Dow Chemical Company.

This conference is a manifestation of our commitment to a diverse work force.

The inaugural BEST Symposium is quickly approaching and will be held in Midland, Michigan on September 25-26, 2007. With this letter, we are soliciting your collaboration to inform qualified graduate students (within 18 months of degree completion) and post-docs about this event, and encourage them to apply at the following web address: http://www.dow.com/best/index.htm .

All requirements are provided on the website, and applications must be completed online by August 6, 2007. Preferred degree areas include all branches of chemistry, polymer science, chemical engineering, materials science, physics, and closely related fields.

All travel expenses, meals and hotel accommodations for those selected to participate in the BEST Symposium will be paid for by The Dow Chemical Company. However, participation neither obligates the student to apply for employment, nor guarantees future consideration for employment by The Dow Chemical Company. Anyone seeking additional information on BEST at Dow, please contact:

Alveda J. Williams, Ph.D.
2007 BEST Symposium Chair
The Dow Chemical Company
2301 N. Brazosport Blvd. B-1470
Freeport, TX 77541
Tel: (979)-238-1383
BEST@dow.com 

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05 July: Senate Proposes $50 Million Lineberger Commitment
New state Senate backing of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center could propel the center into the top tier of cancer research centers in the U.S.

The Senate's version of the state budget would pump $50 million annually into the center's budget. The proposal requires the support of the full N.C. General Assembly.

"What's been proposed would present UNC with an extraordinary opportunity," said Dr. Shelley Earp '70 (MD), director of the Lineberger center. "We already have one of the country's leading university-based centers, but this would really project us into the first rank. This would provide us with the opportunity to go out and recruit some people ... that would enable us to really make a difference in the state."

According to Dr. Etta Pisano, vice dean for academic affairs in the UNC medical school, it is coming at an ideal time. "North Carolina's population is aging, which means we're going to have more cancer," she said. The proposal would "create a flow of money that will allow us to invest in the best people, the best resources."

The money primarily would come from taxpayers and would be devoted to cancer research at UNC Hospitals. The number of people treated a year could rise to 5,000 from the current 3,000, officials say.

The center already is undergoing a major change. In 2004, the General Assembly approved $180 million to construct a clinical cancer hospital on the campus. It is now under construction and expected to open in late 2009.

"It's going to allow us to enhance the research that we do here," Earp said. "It will allow us to take these new ways of early detection and prevention and treatment and get them out across the state."

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25 May: Energy Fellowship Announced
The UNC Institute for the Environment and the UNC Institute for Advanced Materials, Nanoscience and Technology announce a new fellowship supporting energy research. The deadline for application is May 31. For details, click here.

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05 May:  Carbonell will Receive Presigious Holladay Medal
Ruben Carbonell will receive the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence at the Honors Convocation next week. This is the highest honor NC State bestows on its faculty. Please join us in congratulating Ruben on this outstanding recognition of his many years of dedication to the Department, the College and the University!

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13 April: EAB Posters Now Online
Click here to access posters.

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11 April: UNC Videoconference Room Change
Please be advised that due to renovations, UNC members will begin using Phillips 328 instead of Peabody 08 for videoconferences from May 3rd to August 16th.  May 3rd will have a start time of 3:15 instead of 3:00 due to final exams.

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10 April: Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Research Symposium
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Research Symposium will be held on Friday April 13th, 2007 at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in RTP.

1: This is your last chance to register and be counted in the catering #; the final number goes out first thing Monday.

2: There will be plenty of blank nametags for those who come but were not able to register.

3: The keynote speaker will be Eugene P. Orringer, MD and his talk is entitled NIH Funding 2007: Implications for Today's Young People.

4: The presentation schedule will be available online next Tuesday so you can plan your day accordingly if you will not be attending the entire day.

5: You may get an email from me next week announcing a change in start/finish time as we may adjust the schedule around the current # of presenters.

Details, including directions, are available on the website: http://clubs.ncsu.edu/bmegsa/symposium07/ 

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02 April: SBIR/STTR National Conference Coming to RTP
Date: April 30 - May 3
Place: Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center, Research Triangle Park, NC

Registration is now open for the Spring 2007 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) National Conference, hosted by the NC Small Business and Technology Development Center. Participants will learn about the SBIR/STTR Program, including how to apply for and what it takes to win, some of the $2 billion in U.S. Government R&D investments. The four-day conference will give participants the opportunity to meet and network with representatives from 11 participating federal agencies.

For more information, and to register: http://www.sbtdc.org/events/sbir/2007/about.htm.

For a printable flyer: http://research.unc.edu/grantsource/documents/SBIR_STTR_Conf_Flyer.pdf

Success Stories:
Norcarex Bio Corporation (NBC) initiated a new SBIR Phase I project in May on the feasibility of an innate immunity-based test to monitor the health of channel catfish. As in higher animals, innate immunity serves as the first line of defense against infectious agents but in general plays a much more important role in aquatic animals. These defense molecules (peptides and proteins) exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against animal and human pathogens and have properties that are ideal for a host of applications.

NBC is a start-up, technology-development company dedicated to the exploitation of these innate defense molecules. These and other defense molecules have been the focus of Professor Edward J. Noga's pioneering research and discoveries at North Carolina State University (NCSU). NBC's foundation is built on the basic research conducted by him and his students during the past decade.

NBC is focusing its efforts primarily on aquatic animal health (diagnostics) to develop simple, rapid, field/farm tests based on innate immunity that will accurately assess the health status (i.e., stress) of economically significant aquatic species.

For the rest of this success story, and to see more: http://www.sbtdc.org/technology/sbir/success_stories.asp

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23 March: Graduate Student Polymer Conference
Click here for details of an upcoming conference in Knoxville, TN in June 2007.

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13 March: CERSP Scientists Prominent in UNC Publication
The Spring 2007 issue of Carolina Arts & Sciences features Prof. Valerie Ashby's beaming face on its cover celebrating our move to new facilities in Caudill Laboratories and Chapman Hall. An article (and photos) describing the new facilities and their expected impact on Carolina research is included pp 8-14 of the publication. Articles on pp 2-3 describe the outstanding year chemists at UNC have had, including Prof. Joseph DeSimone's recent awards, such as his election into the College of Fellows for the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. On p. 22 Prof. Edward Samulski describes his "year of living dangerously" as one of only five Jefferson Scholar working on classified scientific projects in the Department of State. Click here to read the articles.

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05 March: PRINT Attracts Venture Capital
PRINT particle molding technology developed in part from CERSP research has attracted $16 million in venture capital. For details, click here.

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12 February: Rideout Wins Kauffman Foundation Fellowship
Elaine Rideout, a member of the CERSP social science team at North Carolina State University, has won one of 15 Kauffman Foundation Fellowships awarded nationwide. The title of her proposal, "Evaluating Entrepreneurial Education Impacts: Mediators of Successful High-Tech Entrepreneurial Education Initiatives", reflects our move towards understanding how educational factors, such as our Center, can impact entrepreneurial development. For details, including a list of winners, click here.

08 February: CERSP Researchers Front Page News
Prof. Ruben Carbonell and Prof. Denis Gray were featured on page one of the February 2 issue of the NC State University Bulletin. Carbonell's work on mad cow disease is featured as is Gray's research on team science. Click here to read the full article:
http://www.ncsu.edu/BulletinOnline/2007/pages/feb2bulletin.pdf

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07 February: Prof. George Whitesides to Speak
Renowned Harvard University professor George M. Whitesides will speak on the UNC campus as the Rohm and Haas Lecturer and in conjunction with the CERSP External Advisory Board meeting on April 5-6, 2007.

[Details will be posted on this website later].

To visit Prof. Whitesides' website to view the remarkable scope of his work click here:
http://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/ 
To read some of Prof. Whitesides views on nanotechnology click here:
http://www.sciencewatch.com/july-aug2002/sw_july-aug2002_page3.htm.

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06 February: CERSP Universities Again Highly Rated

CERSP universities ranked high in a recent NSF survey of industry funded research in US universities (2005, the latest year rankings):

For details click here.

Also, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers did an independent survey of corporate and university patent portfolios worldwide and ranked them according to "pipeline power" based on potential as well as numbers.

For details click here.

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01 February: News Release on Mad Cow Disease
In December 2006 we reported a paper by Carbonell, et al, describing a new technique which offers hope to significantly reduce the hazard of mad cow disease to humans. The attached report provides additional detail.

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29 January: California Bans PERC
California regulators on Jan 25 enacted the nation's first statewide ban on the most common chemical used by dry cleaners, perchloroethylene or PERC, pleasing environmentalists. By 2023, no more dry-cleaning machines that use the toxic solvent PERC, a potential carcinogen, will be permitted in the state. To read the entire article click here.

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 26 January: Green Tech Entrepreneurial Academy
See the attached brochure. Fellowships are available on a competitive basis. The STC will pay expenses if you are awarded a fellowship.

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24 January: Upcoming Green Chemistry Meetings

NSF Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute on Sustainability & Green Chemistry
Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City
May 29 – June 10, 2007
Application Deadline: Feb 16, 2007
http://chemistry.org/greenchemistry/summer.html

11^th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference
Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, USA
June 25-28, 2007
CALL FOR PAPERS
Abstract submissions due by Feb 28, 2007
www.GCandE.org
Online registration opens Feb 1, 2007

3^rd International Conference on Green & Sustainable Chemistry
Delft, The Netherlands; July 1-5, 2007
Oral abstract submissions due by Jan 15, 2007
Poster abstract submissions due by Mar 15, 2007
Registration now open: http://www.greenchem2007.tudelft.nl/ 

Summer Research (REU) Opportunities in Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates
THEME: Sustainable management through environmental engineering and science
WHO: Environmental engineering or science students expecting to graduate between December 2007 and May 2009
WHEN: Ten weeks, May 29 - August 4, 2007
WHERE: Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York
HOW: Apply by March 1, 2007
WHAT: Conduct environmental research with faculty and graduate student mentors. Research projects are available in the following areas:

BENEFITS: free room and $75/week for food, a stipend of $3,600, some travel expenses, a stimulating research environment and great summer outdoors activities
ACHIEVEMENTS: Research results from participants in the REU program have been presented at national conferences and won prizes at national paper competitions.
DETAILS: For complete information on this summer’s research program, detailed description of application requirements and a summary of past research experiences please visit our web site http://www.clarkson.edu/reu/  or contact the Co-Investigators directly:
Stefan J. Grimberg, grimberg@clarkson.edu; Tel (315) 268-6490
Tom A. Langen, tlangen@clarkson.edu; Tel (315) 268-7933
Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY 13699-5710

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23 January: Four CERSP Universities in Kiplinger Top 25

Kiplinger Newsletter rated UNC-Chapel Hill the number one value among public universities for the sixth consecutive year. Also highly rated were NC State (#12), Georgia Tech (#13)

and UT-Austin (#24).

Best Values in Public Colleges

These schools offer top-notch academics at affordable prices.
By Jane Bennett Clark

From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, February 2007 In Kiplinger's exclusive rankings, we give you the top 100 public schools that, in our judgment, combine outstanding value with a first-class education.

SEE THE 100 BEST VALUES IN PUBLIC COLLEGES

For instance, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, number one in our rankings for the sixth straight time, Tar Heel students pay $13,584 or less and get small classes, a top-notch faculty and a supportive environment that enables 84% of students to earn a degree within six years.

That winning formula attracts top students from both in and out of state.

Says chancellor James Moeser, "Our overall excellence is driving it -- and a national basketball championship in 2005 didn't hurt."

Financial Aid

When you add in financial aid and tax benefits, a public-school education looks even better. An in-state student with average aid pays only $2,799 a year in tuition and fees -- about the price of a 50-inch plasma TV. And the total annual bill is just $10,000.

For many in-state students, the concept of paying any tuition at all is as quaint as, say, using a land-line telephone. Almost half the states offer some type of merit aid to high-achieving residents. "They want to improve the quality of their institutions and keep those students in state," says Baum.

Florida's Bright Futures program pays up to 100% of tuition for Florida residents who meet the academic criteria. At the University of Georgia, virtually all in-state students receive a merit-based HOPE scholarship, which covers tuition and fees.

Erin Dunn of Tavernier, Fla., had her heart set on studying out of state, but her parents ruled otherwise. "They wouldn't let me pass up the Bright Futures scholarship," says Dunn. Now thriving as a senior at the University of Florida, "I can't even tell you how much tuition is," Dunn says.

Some educators question the policy of putting merit scholarships on par with (or ahead of) need-based assistance. At UNC-Chapel Hill, which meets 100% of costs for freshmen whose families qualify, "we have never shifted funds from need- to merit-based scholarships," says Moeser. That said, "we're aggressively building our arsenal of merit-based scholarships to be more competitive."

The Rankings

Dunn didn't sacrifice quality in attending UF. Her soon-to-be alma mater ranks second on our 2007 honor roll of public colleges, thanks to the caliber of the student body as well as a show-stopping yearly tuition -- $3,206 -- that represents one of the lowest sticker prices in the nation. Most in-state students qualify for the Bright Futures award.

As for other states, residents of Mr. Jefferson's commonwealth can consider themselves twice blessed. Both the College of William and Mary (number three on our list) and the University of Virginia (number four) draw top students who return in large numbers after freshman year and post impressive four-and six-year graduation rates. Both schools offer generous aid to in-state applicants with need.

Also check out Binghamton University (SUNY) and SUNY Geneseo. Both New York State schools top our rankings for offering high-quality education to out-of-state residents at a relatively low total cost -- about $21,000 annually. The average financial-aid package cuts that amount by several thousand dollars.

Compared with last year's rankings, some institutions leapfrogged into the top 20 and others dropped to lower positions. For instance, Georgia Institute of Technology moved up 17 places, to number 13, by improving retention and graduation rates and beefing up financial aid.

Schools that top Kiplinger's 100 Best Values in Public Colleges are noteworthy for their combination of top-flight academics and affordable costs. Our emphasis on academic strength is reflected in our scoring, academic quality measurements carry more weight than costs (almost two-thirds of the total). We also used academic-quality scores and average debt at graduation figures to break ties.

The rankings are based on data that more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities provided to Peterson's, a Nelnet company. We supplemented Peterson's data with our own reporting.

We narrowed the list to about 120 schools based on several measures of academic quality, including:

Then we ranked each school based on cost and financial aid. We looked at:

To determine out-of-state rankings, we ran the academic-quality and cost numbers again using total out-of-state costs and average costs after aid.

We were looking for schools that were academically strong as well as affordable, so in our scoring, academic quality carries more weight than costs (almost two-thirds of the total). We used academic-quality scores and average debt at graduation to break ties.

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11 January: DeSimone Elected Fellow, Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
UNC chemist Dr. Joseph DeSimone has been elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. The College of Fellows' 1,000 members are considered trailblazers and outstanding bioengineers - leading the way in advancement of new technologies that improve medical care and produce higher-quality food for people throughout the world.

DeSimone pioneered environmentally friendly processes for manufacturing and dry cleaning, researched the use of fuel cells for portable power and explored the use of nanotechnology for cancer detection and drug delivery. He is inventor of record for more than 100 patents; the majority are assigned to UNC.

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06 January: Rolison to Speak at UNC
On Jan 29 at 4 PM in the Sonja Haynes Stone Center, Dr. Debra Rolison (a UNC-CH Chemistry Alumnus) will present a seminar entitled: "Transforming the Culture of Academic Science: Removing Barriers One Student at a Ttime"

Dr. Rolison is here at the invitation of Dean Lynda Dykstra as part of the PhD Completion Project. She has been described as an nationally recognized research expert and an outspoken critic of academic science.

See the attached flyer for more information.

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04 January: Chem Soc Rev Recognizes CERSP Paper
During the month of December, Chem Soc Rev reports that the paper, “Imparting size, shape, and composition control of materials for nanomedicine,” was in the top 10 highest-accessed CSR reviews.  To view the Top 10 downloaded articles, please see Chem Soc Rev website:

http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/cs/top10.asp

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