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Previous NCI Alliance Grantees

On September 13, 2004, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced a major commitment to develop and apply nanotechnology to cancer research. To carry out this initiative, the NCI formed the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, a comprehensive, integrated initiative encompassing researchers, clinicians, and public and private organizations, to develop and translate cancer-related nanotechnology research into clinical practice.

Focus for this research has included several areas, such as:

  • Molecular imaging and early detection
  • In vivo nanotechnology imaging systems
  • Reporters of efficacy
  • Multifunctional therapeutics
  • Prevention and control
  • Research enablers

The multi-disciplinary Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNE) teams have been the main developmental engine of the Alliance program at its early stage. CCNEs were multi-project centers that established a multi-disciplinary creative research environment linking innovations at the nanoscale with prospective applications in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. The CCNE program was operated over 15 years (2005-2020) with three iterations of 5-year funding periods.

Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (2015-2020)

  • Nucleic Acid-Based Nanoconstructs for the Treatment of Cancer
    Northwestern University
    Principal Investigators: Chad Mirkin, Ph.D., Leonidas Platanias, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Nanosystems Biology Cancer Center
    California Institute of Technology
    Principal Investigators: James Heath, Ph.D., Michael Phelps, Ph.D.
  • Center for Multiple Myeloma Nanotherapy
    Washington University
    Principal Investigators: Samuel Achilefu, Ph.D., Gregory Lanza, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Nano Approaches to Modulate Host Cell Response for Cancer Therapy
    University of North Carolina
    Principal Investigators: Leaf Huang, Ph.D., Joel Tepper, M.D.
  • Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence for Translational Diagnostics (CCNE-TD)
    Stanford University
    Principal Investigators: Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph. D., Shan Wang, Ph.D.
    MSKCC-Cornell Center for Translation of Cancer Nanomedicine
    Memorial Sloan Kettering
    Principal Investigators: Michelle Bradbury, M.D., Ph.D., Ulrich Wiesner, Ph. D.

Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (2010-2015)

  • Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence
    University of North Carolina
    Principal Investigators: Joseph DeSimone, Ph.D., and Joel Tepper, M.D.
  • Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence and Translation
    Stanford University
    Principal Investigators: Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D., and Shan Wang, Ph.D.
    Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Johns Hopkins
    Johns Hopkins University
    Principal Investigators: Peter Searson, Ph.D., and Martin Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Center for Translational Cancer Nanomedicine
    Northeastern University
    Principal Investigators: Vladimir Torchilin, Ph.D., D.Sc. and Nahum Goldberg, M.D.
  • Dartmouth Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence
    Dartmouth College
    Principal Investigators: Ian Baker, Ph.D., and Keith Paulsen, Ph.D.
  • MIT-Harvard Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence
    MIT and Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital
    Principal Investigators: Robert Langer, Ph.D., and Ralph Weissleder, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics
    Northwestern University
    Principal Investigators: Chad Mirkin, Ph.D. and Steven T. Rosen, M.D.
  • Nanosystems Biology Cancer Center (NSBCC)
    California Institute of Technology
    Principal Investigator: James Heath, Ph.D., Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D. and Michael Phelps, Ph.D.
  • Texas Center for Cancer Nanomedicine
    University of Texas Health Science Center
    Principal Investigators: David G. Gorenstein, Ph.D., Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D., Anil Sood, M.D., G. Lopez-Berestein, M.D. and Jennifer L. West, Ph.D.

Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (2005-2010)

  • Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence
    University of North Carolina
    Principal Investigator: Rudolph Juliano, Ph.D.
  • Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence Focused on Therapy Response
    Stanford University
    Principal Investigator: Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Center of Nanotechnology for Treatment, Understanding, and Monitoring of Cancer (NANO-TUMOR)
    University of California, San Diego
    Principal Investigator: Sadik Esener, Ph.D.
  • Emory-Georgia Tech Nanotechnology Center for Personalized and Predictive Oncology
    Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology
    Principal Investigator: Shuming Nie, Ph.D.
  • MIT-Harvard Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence
    MIT and Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital
    Principal Investigators: Robert Langer, Ph.D., and Ralph Weissleder, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics
    Northwestern University
    Principal Investigator: Chad Mirkin, Ph.D.
  • Nanosystems Biology Cancer Center (NSBCC)
    California Institute of Technology
    Principal Investigator: James Heath, Ph.D.
  • The Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence
    Washington University
    Principal Investigator: Samuel Wickline, M.D.

Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships (2010-2015)

  • Combinatorial-designed Nano-platforms to Overcome Tumor Resistance
    Northeastern University
    Principal Investigators: Mansoor Amiji, Ph.D., and Zhen-feng Duan, M.D., Ph.D.
  • High-Capacity Nanocarriers for Cancer Therapeutics
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Principal Investigator: Alexander Kabanov, Ph.D., D.Sc.
  • Magnetoresistive Sensor Platform for Parallel Cancer Marker Detection
    University of Utah
    Principal Investigators: Marc Porter, Ph.D., and Sean J. Mulvihill, M.D.
  • Nanobioconjugate Based on Polymalic Acid for Brain Tumor Treatment
    Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Principal Investigator: Julia Ljubimova, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks for Imaging and Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer
    University of Chicago and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Principal Investigators: Wenbin Lin, Ph.D., and Jen Jen Yeh, M.D.
  • Peptide-Directed Protocells and Virus-like Particles: New Nanoparticle Platforms for Targeted Cellular Delivery of Multicomponent Cargo
    University of New Mexico
    Principal Investigators: Cheryl Willman, M.D., and C. Jeffrey Brinker, Ph.D.
  • Preclinical Platform for Theranostic Nanoparticles in Pancreatic Cancer
    Rice University
    Principal Investigators: Naomi Halas, Ph.D., D.Sc., Amit Joshi, Ph.D., and Sunil Krishnan, M.D.
  • RNA Nanotechnology in Cancer Therapy
    University of Kentucky
    Principal Investigators: Peixuan Guo, Ph.D., and John Rossi, Ph.D.
  • Targeting SKY Kinase in B-Lineage ALL with CD-19 Specific C-61 Nanoparticles
    Children's Hospital Los Angeles
    Principal Investigator: Fatih Uckun, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Theranostic Nanoparticles for Targeted Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
    Emory University
    Principal Investigators: Lily Yang, M.D., Ph.D., and Hui Mao, Ph.D.
  • Toxicity and Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticle Photothermal Therapy in Cancer
    Emory University
    Principal Investigators: Dong Shin, M.D., and Mostafa El-Sayed, Ph.D.
  • Tumor Targeted Nanobins for the Treatment of Metastatic Breast and Ovarian Cancer
    Northwestern University
    Principal Investigators: Thomas O'Halloran, Ph.D., and Vincent Cryns, M.D.

Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships (2005-2010)

  • Detecting Cancer Early with Targeted Nano-probes for Vascular Signatures
    University of California
    Principal Investigator: Douglas Hanahan, Ph.D.
  • DNA-linked Dendrimer Nanoparticle Systems for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
    University of Michigan
    Principal Investigator: James Baker Jr., M.D.
  • Hybrid Nanoparticles in Imaging and Therapy of Prostate Cancer
    University of Missouri
    Principal Investigator: Kattesh Katti, Ph.D.
  • Integrated System for Cancer Biomarker Detection
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Principal Investigator: Scott Manalis, Ph.D.
  • Metallofullerene Nanoplatform for Imaging and Treating Infiltrative Tumor
    Virginia Commonwealth University
    Principal Investigator: Panos Fatouros, Ph.D.
  • Multifunctional Nanoparticles in Diagnosis and Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer
    State University of New York
    Principal Investigator: Paras Prasad, Ph.D.
  • Nanotechnology Platform for Pediatric Brain Cancer Imaging and Therapy
    University of Washington
    Principal Investigator: Miqin Zhang, Ph.D.
  • Nanotechnology Platform for Targeting Solid Tumors
    The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
    Principal Investigator: Jan Schnitzer, M.D.
  • Nanotherapeutic Strategy for Multidrug Resistant Tumors
    Northeastern University
    Principal Investigator: Mansoor Amiji, Ph.D.
  • Near-Infrared Fluorescence Nanoparticles for Targeted Optical Imaging
    The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
    Principal Investigator: Chun Li, Ph.D.
  • Novel Cancer Nanotechnology Platforms for Photodynamic Therapy and Imaging
    Roswell Park Cancer Institute
    Principal Investigator: Ravindra K. Pandey, Ph.D.
  • Photodestruction of Ovarian Cancer: ErbB3 Targeted Aptamer-Nanoparticle Conjugate
    Massachusetts General Hospital
    Principal Investigator: Tayyaba Hasan, Ph.D.

Cancer Nanotechnology Training Centers (2010-2015)

  • Boston University Cross-Disciplinary Training in Nanotechnology for Cancer
    Boston University
    Principal Investigators: Bennett B. Goldberg, Ph.D., and Douglas Faller, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Integrative Cancer Nanoscience and Microsystems Training Center
    University of New Mexico
    Principal Investigators: Janet M. Oliver, Ph.D., and Abhaya Datye, Ph.D.
  • Midwest Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center (M-CNTC)
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    Principal Investigators: Rashid Bashir, Ph.D., and Ann Nardulli, Ph.D.
  • The Johns Hopkins Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center
    Johns Hopkins University
    Principal Investigators: Denis Wirtz, Ph.D., and Hai-Quan Mao, Ph.D.
  • The University of Kentucky Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center
    University of Kentucky
    Principal Investigators: Bradley D. Anderson, Ph.D., and B. Mark Evers, M.D.
  • UCSD Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center
    University of California, San Diego
    Principal Investigators: Robert F. Mattrey, M.D., and Andrew Kummel, Ph.D.

Pathway to Independence Awards in Cancer Nanotechnology Research (2010-2015)

  • Enzyme-Responsive Nanoemulsions as Tumor-Specific Ultrasound Contrast Agents
    University of Colorado, Boulder
    Principal Investigator: Andrew P. Goodwin, Ph.D.
  • Inhibition of Metastasis-Initiating Cells by Chimeric Polypeptide Nanoparticles
    University of Utah
    Principal Investigator: Mingnan Chen, Ph.D.
  • Nanoplatform Based, Combinational Therapy against Breast Cancer Stem Cells
    University of Georgia
    Principal Investigator: Jin Xie, Ph.D.
  • Nanotechnology for Minimally Invasive Cancer Detection and Resection
    Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Principal Investigator: Aaron M. Mohs, Ph.D.
  • Next-Generation Quantum Dots for Molecular and Cellular Imaging of Cancer
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Principal Investigator: Andrew M. Smith, Ph.D.
  • Theranostic Nanomedicine for Breast Cancer Prevention and Image-Guided Therapy
    University of Massachusetts, Lowell
    Principal Investigator: Prakash R. Rai, Ph.D.
  • Tumor Targeting and Diagnostic Applications of Glycosylated Nanotubes
    Wake Forest University School of Medicine
    Principal Investigator: Ravi N. Singh, Ph.D.

Multidisciplinary Research Training and Team Development (2005-2010)

Multidisciplinary Research Training and Team Development Fellowship Awards were granted to the following postdoctoral trainees:

  • Design of Affinity Capture Agents for Akt1 Using in situ Click Chemistry
    California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
    Trainee: Steven W. Millward, Ph.D.
  • Geldanamycin-Mediated Uptake of Nanoparticle Probes
    Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
    Trainee: Giselle M. Knudsen, Ph.D.
    Liposomal Delivery of High LET Emitters to Cell Nuclei
    Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
    Trainee: Yah-El Har-El, Ph.D.
  • Nanolabels of Active Proteases for Cancer Detection
    University of California, San Francisco, California
    Trainee: Mark D. Lim, Ph.D.
  • Nanoparticle-Bioconjugates as Cancer-Treating Agents
    Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
    Trainee: Sofi Bin-Salamon, Ph.D.
  • Nanoprobes and Integrated Nanodevices for Cancer Detection and Treatment
    University of Colorado Health Services, Superior, CO
    Trainee: Wounjhang Park, Ph.D.
  • Nanoscale Mechanisms of Hsp90 and Its Co-chaperones
    Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
    Trainee: Ivo P. Doudevski, Ph.D.
  • Short-Interfering RNA-Gold Nanoparticle Bioconjugates: A New Cancer Therapy
    Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
    Trainee: Adam B. Braunschweig, Ph.D.
  • Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Based Tumor Vaccines, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
    New York, New York
    Trainee: Rena J. May, Ph.D.
  • Targeted Delivery Via Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions
    Liquidia, Inc., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
    Trainee: Ashley L. Galloway, Ph.D.
  • Targeted Photoactivated Nanopartcicles for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer
    Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
    Trainee: Daniel Neuman, Ph.D.

NCI-NSF Training Grants were awarded in 2005 to establish training programs for U.S. science and engineering doctoral students through the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program (IGERT). The awarded programs were:

  • Building Leadership for the Nanotechnology Workforce of Tomorrow
    University of Washington
    Principal Investigator: Marjorie Olmstead, Ph.D.
  • Integrative Nanoscience and Microsystems
    University of New Mexico
    Principal Investigator: Diana Huffaker, Ph.D.
  • Nanomedical Science and Technology
    Northeastern University
    Principal Investigator: Srinivas Sridhar, Ph.D.
  • NanoPharmaceutical Engineering and Science
    Rutgers University
    Principal Investigator: Fernando Muzzio, Ph.D.

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