Jul 15 2009
NanoTecNexus (NTN) formerly NanoBioNexus, a leading nanotech education organization and the University of California, San Diego NanoTumor Center (NTC) have received the 2009 Bronze Telly Award for the production of a video on approaches to fighting cancer using nanotechnology. The 30th Annual Telly Awards honors outstanding local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the web. The video entitled "Fighting Cancer with Nanotechnology" was produced in collaboration with Mindeliver Media, a San Diego-based media company specializing in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and science industries.
The NanoTumor Center, a public-private consortium funded by the National Cancer Institute Alliance for Nanotechnology and led by UCSD, is dedicated to the fight against cancer. Its primary focus is on potential uses of nanotechnology in detecting, imaging and treating cancer through a "smart" multifunctional platform capable of targeting tumors and delivering payloads of therapeutics. One of its core missions is also education.
"Education in the new field of cancer nanotechnology for the scientific and clinical communities as well as the general public is an integral part of our center," said NTC Director Sadik Esener, PhD, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering. "The public needs to be aware of and informed about progress in cancer research in key fields such as nanotechnology," noted Dennis Carson, MD, director of the Moores UCSD Cancer Center, an NTC member. "These types of educational projects are vital to its continued support and success."
The Telly Awards receives over 13,000 entries annually from all 50 states and countries around the world and showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, interactive agencies, and corporate video departments in the world. "We are proud to have this recognition for our educational efforts," said Adriana Vela, Founder and CEO of NanoTecNexus. "I credit a strong vision from the NanoTumor Center, support from the NCI Alliance, and a high caliber production team for the success of this project." The video can be viewed at NanoTumor Center and NanoTecNexus websites as well as YouTube and other public sites.
The Telly Award follows several highly successful outreach projects held in March and April in collaboration with and in support of the inaugural San Diego Science Festival, a month-long celebration that promoted the sciences to students and the public. More than 200,000 people attended, far exceeding the first year"s goal. NTN and the NanoTumor Center offered programs such as the Nanotech Mashup event, a NanoArt Exhibit, and Nanopalooza, an interactive booth at the Festival"s Expo held at San Diego"s Balboa Park. More than 50,000 people attended the Expo.
The Nanotech Mashup event featured a talk by Josh Wolfe, co-Founder and Managing Partner of Lux Capital and the Nanopalooza booth featured fun activities, games, and displays focused on educating visitors about nanotechnology. The NanoArt exhibit, hosted by Mission Valley Library, offered nano-landscapes by Cris Orfescu who brings science and technology to the creation of unique works of art. Each program offered something for everyone and supported the educational and outreach mission of the NanoTumor Center and NanoTecNexus.
Future partnerships with the NanoTumor Center include an upcoming International Symposium focusing on "Automated Virus Detection and Analysis for Applications from Oncology to Bio-Weapon," scheduled for July 28th, 2009 in San Diego, CA. The symposium gathers experts from France, Mexico and the United States to discuss pioneering approaches employing high-resolution DMA (Differential Mobility Analyzer), a physical method that can be applied to the detection of many virus species, particles, and ions found in the environment or cancer in humans and at-risk populations. For event details and registration visit www.nanotecnexus.org .
NanoTumor Center - Fighting Cancer with Nanotechnology