Todd D. Giorgio, chair of the biomedical engineering department, participated a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 10 in the Capitol Visitors Center. The policy seminar was sponsored by the Coalition for National Security Research (CNSR) on the topic of ‘New Perspectives on Defense Basic Research: Health/Biomedical Research.’
The Department of Defense research portfolio is extraordinarily diverse, supporting programs across the physical, biological and life sciences, as well as graduate and STEM education initiatives. This seminar featured cutting-edge health research supported by DoD that could revolutionize not only military medicine, but also treatments for citizens across the globe.
Giorgio explained to participants how his multidisciplinary team is employing nanotechnology to combat metastatic breast cancer. His project, now in tests with animal models, identifies cancer cells through an enzyme they release. Molecules bind to the cells and deliver chemotherapy.
Joining Giorgio as presenters were Chris Woods, associate professor of Medicine and Pathology at Duke University and Chief of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Durham VA Medical Center; and Robert Heinssen, director, National Institute of Mental Health’s Division of Services and Intervention Research, and Study Director, Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (ArmySTARRS)
CNSR is a broadly based coalition united by a commitment to a stronger defense science and technology base. Its members include scientific, engineering, and mathematical societies, academic institutions, and industrial associations.
The policy seminar was highlighted in Capitol Shorts, an ASEE newsletter.