Robert Haddon
Bringing Nanotechnology to Medicine
Professor Robert Haddon and researchers in his laboratory are working at "the final frontier in miniaturization, at least on the surface of the planet."
The distinguished professor of chemistry and chemical & environmental engineering has shown that carbon nanotubes can be successfully used as scaffolds for new bone growth. The tubes are 25,000 times finer than a human hair, yet small, strong and carbon based — a perfect structure to act as scaffolds to hold up regenerating bone.
Nanotechnology is revolutionizing the way we do many things, and nanotubes hold promise for applications in the health care, semiconductor, aerospace and chemical industries, to name just a few.
UCR is a powerhouse of interdisciplinary research efforts in nanotechnology. The Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, directed by Haddon, reflects the mix of disciplines focused around problems that can be solved with the basic building blocks of matter. Nanotechnology encompasses all the scientific disciplines including chemistry, engineering, physics, biology, computing and medicine.
The campus is investing in a common home for such cross-disciplinary pursuits. The Materials Science and Engineering building, which broke ground recently, will provide nearly 77,000 square feet to accommodate research needs of two colleges, the Bourns College of Engineering and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
For his outstanding contributions to the science and application of new materials, Haddon received the 2008 James C. McGroddy Prize. The annual award is endowed by IBM and includes an invited talk at the American Physical Society's international conference.
