A one-of-a-kind academic partnership dedicated to providing interdisciplinary education in nanomedicine, with an emphasis on broadening diversity and participation…

Mission

The Nanomedicine Academy of Minority Serving Institutions is a collaborative model of higher education that provides state-of-the-art knowledge to under-served minority populations.

This multi-institutional partnership is actively training scientists and engineers how to apply nanoscience and nanotechnology to problems in medicine, translate discoveries from the bench to bedside, negotiate ethical and socio-economic challenges of nanomedicine accessibility, and eliminate disparities in the healthcare workforce.

The Nanomedicine Academy is dedicated to attracting students from racially and ethnically diverse populations, creating a interdisciplinary learning environment suitable for a diverse student body, and piloting new strategies for student learning & collaboration. Our unique model of partnership allows us to not only recruit and educate students from diverse backgrounds, but to bring geographically distant students together in new ways so that they can learn and benefit from each others’ diversity.

 

Outcomes

We have created 5 graduate courses in nanomedicine that are taught simultaneously to students at 5 partner institutions and established a cross-institutional online network that enables students to learn from expert instructors as well as peers throughout the nation.  Today, our courses are attended by over 90 students per semester spanning 18 different STEM disciplines.

Graduate students at our partner institutions enroll in courses through their home registrar and receive course credit toward their graduate degree program. Participation in the Academy provides students with enhanced access to specialized knowledge, hands-on training in essential tools and techniques, and opportunities for collaboration with students across institutions.

This pilot program builds upon education and training initiatives pioneered at Northeastern University, including the IGERT Nanomedicine Program and the CaNCURE Cancer Nanomedicine Co-op Program, with support from the National Science Foundation, DovePress, and Northeastern University.