A Focus on Nanobiology

The Conference is a combination of keynotes, panels, posters, program information sessions, discussions of research trends, and principal investigator meetings with NSF program directors.

The presentations will cover research trends, foundational breakthroughs with broad relevance, overviews of progress and new research, education, and innovation areas with a focus on nanobiology, nanobiomanufacturing, and nano-biomedicine. Keynote presentations are followed by discussion panels.

  • Day 1: Nanobiotechnology and Nanobiomanufacturing
    Nanoscale science and engineering at NSF, Quantum biology and quantum sensing, Synthetic biology, Nanobio architecture, Cell based nanomanufacturing, and Distributed nanomanufacturing systems.
  • Day 2: Nanobiomedicine and Infrastructure
    Regenerative medicine, Targeted drug delivery, Nanoscale phenomena in plant and agricultural systems, Education and infrastructure for nanobio world.
  • Poster sessions with a focus on research and education projects, centers, and partnerships will be held on both days. The conference site is Westin Alexandria Hotel near the NSF building.
  • Live stream of the conference will be available during the event.
  • Watch Highlights of the 2023 conference.

Agenda updated December 15, 2023.

Day 1: Thursday, December 7, 2023

Nanobiotechnology and Nanobiomanufacturing

Note: all times are Eastern Time Zone

9 amPoster Session
Session Co-Chairs: Dan Herr, bio, University of North Carolina-Greensboro; Nora Savage, bio, NSF/CBET
10:30NSF welcome and overviewSusan Margulies, bio, NSF; NSF Welcome
10:40Mike Roco, abstract/bio, NSF
Nanotechnology for Global Emerging Science and Technology System
11:00Session 1. Quantum Biology and Quantum Sensing
NSF co-chairs: Ale Lukaszew, bio, NSF ENG/ECCS;
Paul A. Lane, bio, NSF DMR
Academic Co-chair: Frances Ligler, bio, Texas A&M University
Keynote Speaker – Vladislav (Vlad) Yakovlev, abstract/bio, Texas A&M University
Towards Quantum Bio-Sensing and Bio-Imaging

Panelists Q&A Roundtable following presentations
12:00Session 2. Synthetic Biology: Biomolecular Computation, Design, and Evolution
NSF co-chair: David Rockcliffe, bio, NSF BIO/MCB
Academic co-chair: Mary Dunlop, bio, Boston University
Keynote Speaker – Andy Ellington, abstract/bio, University of Texas
Is a blind watchmaker the same as a blind neural net?

Panelists: Q&A Roundtable following presentations
1 pmLunch Break
1:30Session 3. Nanobio architecture (multi-scale assembly / bio-inspired assembly)
NSF co-chair: Alex Simonian, bio, NSF ENG/CBET
Academic co-chairs: Daniel Roxbury, bio, University of Rhode Island

Keynote Speaker - LaShanda Korley, abstract/bio, University of Delaware
Utilizing concepts of mechanics, transport, and assembly in Nature – towards responsive materials
Keynote Speaker - Salil Desai, abstract/bio, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Hybrid Nanoscale Bio-Additive Manufacturing For Tissue Regeneration

Q&A Roundtable following presentations
2:30Session 4. Cell based nanomanufacturing
NSF co-chair: Steven Peretti, bio, NSF ENG/CBET
Academic Co-Chair: Rebecca Taylor, bio, Carnegie Mellon University
Keynote Speaker – Laura Segatori, abstract/bio, Rice University
Functional interaction of nanomaterials with cellular clearance and stress response pathways

Panelists: Q&A Roundtable following presentations
3:30Break 15'
3:45Session 5. Distributed BIOmanufacturing systems
NSF co-chair: Andy Wells, bio, NSF ENG/CMMI
Academic Co-Chair: Shaochen Chen, bio, University of California San Diego
Keynote Speaker – Lijie Grace Zhang, abstract/bio, The George Washington University
4D Bioprinting Smart and Nanomaterials for Complex Tissue Regeneration

Panelists: Q&A Roundtable following presentations
4:45Day 1 Wrap-up
5:00Adjourn

Day 2: Friday, December 8, 2023

Nanobiomedicine and Infrastructure

Note: all times are Eastern Time Zone

9 am
Pre-Day 2 Poster Session
Session Co-Chairs: Dan Herr, bio, University of North Carolina-Greensboro; Nora Savage, bio, NSF/CBET
11:00Session 6. Regenerative medicine
NSF co-chair: Stephanie George, bio, NSF ENG/CBET
Academic Co-Chair and Panelist – Gabriela Romero-Uribe, abstract/bio, University of Texas - San Antonio
Keynote Speaker – Sarah Stabenfeldt, abstract/bio, Arizona State University
Leveraging biomaterial systems to address traumatic brain injury via regenerative medicine, nanotherapeutics, and biomarker discovery

Panelists: Q&A Roundtable following presentations
12:00Session 7. Future of nanomedicine: Realizing the potential of targeted drug delivery
NSF Co-Chair: Randy Duran, NSF EEC/ERC
Academic Co-Chair: Anita Shukla, bio, Brown University
Keynote Speaker – Liangfang Zhang, abstract/bio, University of California - San Diego
Overview of Nanoparticle-based Targeted Drug Delivery

Panelists: Q&A Roundtable following presentations
1 pmLunch Break
2:00Session 8. Nanoscale phenomena in plants/agricultural systems
NSF co-chair: Gerald Schoenknecht, bio, NSF BIO/IOS/PGRP
Academic co-chair: Tessa Burch-Smith, bio, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Keynote Speaker – Michael Knoblauch, abstract/bio, Washington State University
Plasmodesmata – nanopores in Plant Tissues

Panelists: Q&A Roundtable following presentations
3:15Break 15'
3:30Session 9. Integrating Education and Research in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine
NSF Co-Chair: Abiodun (Abby) Ilumoka, bio, NSF EHR
Academic Co-Chair: Victor Muñoz, bio, University of California - Merced

Panelists: Q&A Roundtable following presentations
4:50Conference wrap-up
5:00Adjourn