In September 2005, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) implemented a $144 million initiative by awarding eight center type (U54) cooperative agreements to universities across the United States to create Centers for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNE's). One of the awards was made to UCSD and its Moores Cancer Center on behalf of a six-institution consortium known as the NanoTumor Center. The grant mandates each center to be multi-institutional and interdisciplinary, bringing together the best and brightest from engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology and health sciences to help fight cancer taking advantage of the unique capabilities offered by nanotechnology. Cancer Nanotechnology can radically change the way we diagnose, treat and prevent cancer.

NanoBioNexus' role within the NanoTumor Center is to co-lead the Center's Educational Core. The overall objective of the Educational Core is to facilitate community outreach and education for applications of nanotechnology and oncology. Community outreach and education will be achieved through: 1) Education in nanotechnology and cancer for students, faculty and staff of participating institutions; 2) Enhanced communication among students, faculty and staff within and between member institutions through group educational opportunities and net based portals; 3) Education and awareness in nanotechnology applications in cancer for community health care providers in oncology.

To achieve the objectives identified above, the following specific aims are included: 1) Identification, collection, organization and communication of courses at member institutions in nanotechnology and oncology; 2) Creation of seminar series to focus on nanotechnology and oncology; 3) Development, implementation, webcast and archive of forums and workshops to facilitate discussions and exchange of ideas; 4) Outreach to community health care providers in oncology through on-site seminars, webcasts, and internet portal; 5) Institute workshops at national meetings with presentations by all the CCNE's.