Multiple Myeloma Nanotechnology Treatment Research Projects
Three projects anchor the Washington University Center for Multiple Myeloma Nanotherapy (CMMN). They are:
- Project One: optimizing the delivery of novel prodrugs via nanotechnology to improve safety and efficacy in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment. It is directed by Gregory Lanza, MD, professor of medicine and biomedical engineering, and by Michael Tomasson, MD, professor of medicine.
- Project Two: investigating novel, light-based therapies powered by nano-photosensitive drugs. It is directed by Samuel Achilefu, PhD, professor of radiology.
- Project Three: improving the understanding of the biological impact of nanotechnology in MM. It is directed by John DiPersio, MD, professor of medicine, pathology and immunology.
Nanotherapy uses materials on a very small scale. “Nano” means “one-billionth.” It is often used to describe a unit of measurement. For example, one nanometer is 1/100,000,000,000 of a meter. One meter is 39.37 inches long. A human hair is about 60,000 nanometers in diameter whereas a DNA molecule is between 2-12 nanometers wide.
The long-term goal of our CMMN is to provide curative outcomes for multiple myeloma by developing novel nanotherapeutic methods.
