CIRM president Alan Trouson has been in Sydney, Australia at the International Nanomedicine Conference learning about how nanotechnology might benefit stem cell researchers trying to develop new disease therapies.

Nanotechnology is, essentially, the study of really small materials. In nanomedicine, those really small materials are put to use to treat patients. Tiny particles can ferry drugs or proteins to the place in the body where they are needed, for example.

Trounson was interviewed by ABC in Australia about the intersection of nanomedicine and stem cell biology. He said scientists could attach proteins to the tiny nanoparticles, and then use those to direct stem cells to mature into the type of cell that’s needed to treat the disease. He said:

“You take these very, very tiny particles. You can label them with proteins. You can actually direct cells with these nanoparticles. You can get them to move around and change their very nature.”

You can listen to the whole interview here.

Trounson also discussed his role in developing in vitro fertilization technology, which is now responsible for more than five million births.

Australia is one of the 20 countries, states and foundations that have signed collaborative funding agreements with CIRM. You can read more about our collaborative funding agreement program and see a list of CIRM grants that have leveraged partner funding on our website’s collaborative funding page.

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