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  For Immediate Release  
  Contact: Phil Bloomer  
 

Phone: (217) 403-4690  Or
Rich Kubetz (UI)
Phone: (217) 244-7716

 
June 21, 2006
 
REP. JOHNSON ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION GRANT FOR UI
 
 
 

Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson today announced the award of $2 million for the University of Illinois College of Engineering’s Nanomedical Technologies initiative.

“I am extremely proud to announce this award for such a promising research endeavor occurring right in our back yard,” said Rep. Johnson, R-Urbana. “This work by our U. of  I. scientists is leading to advances in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, to new ways to design drugs and detect biohazards and to new ways of thinking about extending the whole field of nanoelectronics to the realm of biology. These UI scientists are leaders in their field and it is a pleasure to work for this funding on their behalf.”

Funding for the award was contained in the House Defense Appropriation bill and Rep. Johnson said he is optimistic the Senate will follow suit.

The work will occur in the newly renovated Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory. The third floor of the Lab will be dedicated to Bionanotechnology, where activies will involve research into the use of nanotechnology to understand and solve critical problems in cancer and infectious diseases.

“This is exciting and very welcome news,” said U. of I. Chancellor Richard Herman. “I extend my deepest appreciation to Congressman Johnson for securing $2 million in the appropriation bill to advance programmatic research and obtain state of the art equipment for our Nanomedical Technology Program. This support will allow Dr. Adesida and his team to play a leading role for the state and the nation in this important field of research.”

Ilesanmi Adesida, dean of the College of Engineering and director of the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST), said, “We wish to express our thanks to Congressman Johnson for his leadership in bringing these resources to the College, to further the cause of medical research and education leveraging nanotechnology.”

Dean Adesida noted that the funding will help the College stay competitive, while conducting multidisciplinary and novel research in biology and medicine.  The ensuing projects at the CNST will focus on engineering solutions to cancer, infectious diseases and battlefield injuries, while the translational nature of these projects will create opportunities for regional economic development.       

 

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