Public release date: 19-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Myles Gough myles.gough@unsw.edu.au 61-029-385-1933 University of New South Wales

With advances in nanotechnology, the future of medicine is taking shape on the nano-scale and making possible healthcare solutions once confined to the realm of science fiction.

From microscopic robots that could soon be swimming around our bloodstream repairing cells and diagnosing diseases, to drugs with improved therapeutic properties that can selectively target affected regions of the body with cellular precision without damaging surrounding tissue.

The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine at the University of New South Wales is at the forefront of this exciting new discipline and will host the third International Nanomedicine Conference from 2 4 July in Sydney.

The conference will bring together world-leading academics and clinicians to highlight important research into targeted drug delivery systems, diagnostics and imaging, and regenerative medicine, all enabled by nanomedicine.

One nanometre is equivalent to one-billionth of a metre and is roughly 60,000 times thinner than a human hair, or the size of a single strand of DNA.

By exploiting the novel biological, chemical and physical properties of materials at this scale, researchers can build devices and systems that improve disease detection and develop more effective therapies.

The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine at UNSW, which crosses medicine, science and engineering, is investigating strategies to better diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Keynote speakers include:

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International Nanomedicine Conference bound for Sydney: July 2-4, 2012