The Michigan Daily - Tuesday May 3, 2005 - 3A
New nanotechnology laboratory to be built
By Julia F. Heming
Daily Staff Reporter
University Regents unanimously approved a
proposal for a new nanotechnology institute last
week, giving support to a scientific field that may
have the ability to combat cancer cells while leav-
ing healthy cells unharmed.
The current Center for Biologic Nanotechnology
at the University has several research projects that
will continue under the new institute. One of these
projects is the development of a nanodevice that
could recognize cancer cells, diagnose the cause of
a cancer, deliver drugs to the cells report the drug
levels in the cells, and report the death of a cancer
cell, according to the website.
Nanotechnology uses microscopic devices
that are capable of isolating and gathering infor-
mation about equally small cells in the human
body. Creating devices at the same scale as bio-
logical components such as DNA gives nano-
technology scientists unique capabilities, James
Baker Jr., the new institute's director said. Unlike
treatments such as chemotherapy, which attacks
all rapidly-dividing cells in the body, treatment
with nanotechnology would be harmless to non-
cancerous cells.
But the new technologies will still have risks.
Computer models of cancer can often be very dif-
ferent from the actual disease, and the poisonous
nature of cancer drugs can present problems.
Baker said the new technologies are safer than
what is currently used to combat cancer.
"We're mitigating a lot of that risk by using
this to develop drugs that have already been
shown to be useful," he said.
The biologists have been able to construct these
anti-cancer treatments, but the difficulty lies in
mass-producing them to be available for health-
care. The collaboration of scientists from engineer-
ing fields will assist in this process, Baker said.
He added that the University is an ideal location
for the institute because of its close proximity to
the top-10 engineering and medical schools.
"We are using this fusion of different expertise
to accelerate the developmental cycle," Baker said.
"We are hoping to get clinical trials in a year."
The funding for the institute comes from a
myriad of private institutions, as well as from fed-
eral agencies such as the National Cancer Institute.
Proceeds from University investments will also
contribute $15 million.
The institute will also provide a resource for
education in the field.
"We are looking into developing an undergradu-
ate course and a cross disciplinary graduate certifi-
cate," Baker said.
MOTT The new ho
in 2011, thoug
Continued from page 1 struction and
toward the project. In addition, pro- have yet to be
fessional and Michigan hockey play- The one-mil
ers played each other twice to raise will be divided
$60,000 for the new hospital. square feet s
Regent David Brandon (R-Ann space, 225,00(
Arbor) has led the fundraising cam- space and 90,
paign, along with his wife Jan Bran- and expansion.
don, football coach Lloyd Carr and the hospital ha
his wife, Laurie.
Brandon said he «
felt compelled to Obviously I have a
help raise support
for a new facil- real strong personal
ity because of the connection with
work they had
done for his fam- Mott and I believe
ily 25 years ago,
when his twin strongly in having
sons were born
prematurely with a world-class
blood complica-
tions and were pediatric hospital
treated at Mott.
"As far as I'm in our community."
concerned, the
* people of Mott - David Brandon
,saved the lives of University Regent
my sons," Bran-
don said. "Obvi-
ously I have a real strong personal clinic facilities
connection with Mott and I believe HKS Archit
strongly in having a world-class pedi- to design the n
atric hospital in our community."
spital is hoped to open
h a start-date for con-
the schematic designs
decided, Hopson said.
lion square foot facility
[in three ways: 775,000
et aside for inpatient
0 for clinic and office
000 for future growth
. The final bed count of
s not been determined,
but it is expected to
be larger than the
240 available in Mott
currently.
Construction for
the replacement
hospital is planned
to take place on the
Terrace Site, a park-
ing lot near the Taub-
man Health Center.
The current Mott
facility will remain
open and function
as normal through-
out the construction.
Once the new facil-
COKE
Continued from page 2
workers' freedom of association and
their collective bargaining attempts,
and did not prohibit harassment and
abuse of their workers.
LSA junior Jessica Fricke was the
only student who spoke in defense
of Coca-Cola at the hearing.
Fricke said that factory managers
are not complicit in violence against
unionists and Coca-Cola does not
have the security resources to pro-
tect its workers from violent attacks.
Despite these limitations, Fricke
said Coca-Cola "has taken many
steps to protect its employees,"
including providing cell phones for
emergencies and armored transport
through dangerous areas.
Bates denied that employees had
access to cell phones or armored
cars, based on communications
between SOLE and Colombian
employees of Coca-Cola.
The Coke Coalition also chal-
lenged Coca-Cola on its environ-
mental record in India.
Among the allegations
ronmental destruction w
member and LSA sophon
isah Ula's claim that C
sold in India contains 30 tc
the amount of pesticides
Europe and America.
"What makes a person
more able to withstand the
icals," Ula asked.
The Coca-Cola repre:
denied Ula's accusation.
"We follow one (standa
the world," said Harry O
Cola's director of Glob
Resources, via conferer
"The products meet allI
well as international stand
Tests conducted by India
Ministry in 2003 found
pesticide levels in Coca-
drinks, though somewha
than European Union sta
some samples, were still w
limits, The New York Tim
2004 study by an Indian
Commercialization of the technology will also
be a goal of the institute, as faculty at the Ross
School of Business and those at the institute for
nanotechnology plan to work together.
"Unless there's a commercial entity that does
the development process, most university research
never reaches every day life. We want to change
that so that people have access to it and it benefits
them," Baker said.
Other projects currently researched at the
Center include censors that monitor the effects
of radiation on astronauts and a water treatment
process, which could purify contaminated water.
Baker said these projects would continue at the
new institute.
University Regent Olivia Maynard expressed
her enthusiasm with the cutting-edge research.
"We hove to go into the new horizon and I think
that's very exciting," she said.
liamentary committee confirmed
of envi- an earlier report that found unac-
as SOLE ceptably high levels of pesticides
nore Naf- in Coca-Cola sodas, the Hindu of
oca-Cola India reported.
34 times One of the chief concerns cited
found in by the committee was India's lack
of regulation for carbonated bever-
in India ages.
ese chem- Following the release of the com-
mittee's findings, Coca-Cola said it
sentatives would comply with any standards
set by the Indian government.
rd) across The DRB is composed of two
tt, Coca- students, two faculty members,
al Water two staff members and the Assis-
nce call. tant Director of Purchasing Dennis
Indian as Poszywak.
lards." Some DRB members expressed
a's Health concern that the participation of
that the the student board members in the
Cola soft Coke Campaign may compromise
at higher their objectivity, but Stafford said
ndards in they would be allowed to vote. The
ithin safe DRB will be accepting comments
nes. But a on the Coca-Cola issue until May 9
joint par- at vendordrb@umich.edu.
ity is completed, the
Health System will
use the old building
for faculty offices,
and family space.
ects has been approved
ew hospital.
PIRGIM
Continued from page 2
for access to the docment and was denied.
Newer members of MSA who were
undecided on the PIRGIM issue were the
primary recipients of the document, in a
hope to sway them into not voting to fund a
PIRGIM chapter, a source said.
Leung felt that MSA members were
not granted knowledge to all of the
downfalls of funding a PIRGIM chapter
at the University.
"I thought it was critical for the MSA
Representatives to have an educatec
understanding of both sides before vot-
ing," Leung said.
Leung listed, "Lack of MSA Jurisdic-
tion in Proposal," "Partisan Members anc
Bias," "Partisan Issues Nationally," anc
a "Lack of Financial Accountability ir
Proposal" as reasons why MSA represen-
tatives should vote no against funding a
student PIRGIM chapter.
Wagner was pleased with Leung's anti-
PIRGIM work.
"It may have won over the people or
the fence; it offered some compelling
evidence.
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