Summit examines vast applications of nanomedicine

Nanomedicine and Molecular Imaging Summit offers an event for members of science, government, medicine to understand nanotechnology in order to harness its potential

Albuquerque's blue skies and majestic mountains provided a scenic backdrop for a summit that explores one of the most promising technologies on the horizon––nanomedicine, or the medical application of molecular nanotechnology––a still-developing science dedicated to constructing microscopic probes and biomechanical devices. SNM's Nanomedicine and Molecular Imaging Summit brings together academic, government and industry experts from across a spectrum of disciplines to explore a topic that may have great application for diagnosing and treating disease in the future.

"What makes the prospect of nanomedicine so exciting is that we're only just beginning to explore it," said Julie Sutcliffe, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of California, Davis, and SNM's Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence Summit program chair. "But before we can really embrace this technology, we need to fully understand its strengths and limitations."

Because current research has only scratched the surface, nanomedicine's potential has yet to be fully realized. The summit will provide an opportunity for scientific minds to explore ways in which molecular imaging and therapy currently use nanotechnology and how these same methods can facilitate advancements in the understanding and proper management of nanomaterials.

Many Mysteries to Solve

There are many mysteries surrounding nanomedicine that still need to be solved––including how nanomaterials are absorbed and distributed through the body, whether they will have adverse biological reactions, where they end up once they leave the body and how they impact the environment.