A Nanomedicine Center:Molecular Membrane Physiology(RMI)

在此，我们建议设计一个分子膜生理学纳米医学中心。该中心将开发和应用纳米科学工具来研究和操纵蛋白质和脂质纳米机器，这些纳米机器可以精确地调节细胞与环境之间的信息和物质流动。这些纳米机器的缺陷导致了许多疾病，包括囊性纤维化、糖尿病和心血管疾病。此外，膜蛋白是约2/3的临床相关药物的靶点，因此为治疗干预提供了巨大的机会。建议将分子膜生理学作为中心主题的主要原因是该领域的问题是相互关联的，并且许多强大的纳米尺度技术非常适合研究膜环境中的细胞纳米机械。我们建议该中心专注于开发和应用纳米科学工具来理解和操作：1)囊泡运输，胞吐和内吞作用

Here we propose to design a Nanomedicine Center for Molecular Membrane Physiology. This Center will develop and apply nanoscience tools to study and manipulate the protein and lipid nanomachines that precisely regulate the flow of information and material between the cell and its environment. Defects in these nanomachines are responsible for a host of diseases including cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. In addition, membrane proteins are the targets of about 2/3 of clinically relevant drugs and thus represent a tremendous opportunity for therapeutic intervention. The principle reasons for suggesting Molecular Membrane Physiology as a Center theme are that problems in this area are interrelated and a number of powerful nanoscale techniques are uniquely suited to study cellular nanomachinery in a membrane environment. We propose that the Center focus on developing and applying nanoscience tools to understand and manipulate: 1) vesicular transport, exocytosis and endocytosis, 2) the gating of ion channels, and 3) membrane receptor-mediated signaling. The Specific Aim of this proposal is to create a Concept Development Plan for the Nanomedicine Center. This process will be directed by "facilitators" who are nanotechnology-savvy experts in the 3 subthemes who will help focus discussions on the major problems of their field. They will assemble a Panel of Scientific and Technical Experts and lead discussions at a Membrane Nanomediciene Workshop to be held in December, 2004. Emerging nanoscience technology applicabe to questions in the 3 subthemes will be brought forward. Workshop participants will prioritize promising nanoscience approaches according to their potential impact on membrane nanomedicine. The Panel will also make recommendations for the organization of both the specific Membrane Nanomedicine Center and the entire NIH Nanomedicine Center Initiative with input provided from a survey of nationally prominent Center directors and Center Investigators.