NanoKTN Confirms Programme for Nano4Life 2012

Over the past decade there has been significant interest in the promise that nanotechnology holds for international life sciences and more specifically, healthcare. The current interest in nanotechnology is driven by the many advances that this area of nano-science promises. Nano4Life 2012 aims to highlight new innovations, stimulate thoughts around where nanotechnology can help improve healthcare provision, and bring together the UK supply chain to interact and examine the convergence of nanotechnology and healthcare, and discuss current developments and capabilities.

Nano4Life 2012 will feature presentations from the four technical areas aligned to the NanoKTN’s Healthcare and Life Sciences theme’s focus groups, including Nanotechnology in the BioPharmaceuticals Industry, Nanotechnology in Regenerative Medicine, Nanotechnology in Medical Devices, and Clinical Adoption of Nanotechnology. Speakers include the Dean of Medicine at UCL, Atelix Ltd, Pharmidex, The Electrospinning Company, Sharp Laboratories of Europe, Medical & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), UCL’s School of Pharmacy, the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University of Glasgow, SR One and Eversheds.

Ben Hadwen, Sharp Research Laboratories Europe, will look at droplet microfluidics which is rapidly emerging as a powerful and versatile tool for a number of life science applications. Hadwen will discuss a new device concept for droplet microfluidics based on electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD), which is being developed by Sharp Laboratories of Europe. The product will provide benefits to diagnostic applications such as point of care blood testing diagnostics, infection detection and as a tool for laboratory based research scientists.

Professor Patrick Maxwell, Dean of Medicine at University College London will provide the keynote address on ‘Clinical Need’. This will highlight where there are gaps from a clinician’s perspective, so as to inform the development of the next generation of nanotechnology-enabled healthcare products.

A number of selected innovative companies offering nanotechnologies applicable to healthcare, will deliver technology pitches at Nano4Life 2012, using the opportunity to discuss their work with key target audiences, through a series of short presentations. Confirmed pitches will be given from Izon Sciences, Surface Measurement Systems, Ceram and The Royal Institution. By providing this opportunity, the NanoKTN aims to give organisations a platform for their ideas, to potentially develop collaborative links with other nanotechnology companies.

“Nano4Life aims to showcase the latest developments in nanotechnology in the science community and provide an environment to catalyse new collaborations. The NanoKTN aims to facilitate interactions between clinicians, academics and businesses to drive forward the advances in medical science and look for ways nanotechnology can bring about these changes,” says Dr Mike Fisher, Healthcare & Life Sciences Theme Manager at the NanoKTN.

Fisher continues, “A significant number of life science solutions already involve nanotechnology and by bringing together key professionals we hope to develop a sustainable UK industry and a solid supply chain, whilst exploring the ways in which nanotechnology can be developed and adopted.”

The NanoKTN also encourages all sectors of the supply chain to register for Nano4Life 2012 including research-based pharma, biotech and medical device companies, academics, research policy makers and anyone who is interested in learning about what nanotechnology has to offer the life sciences.