TASSA NanoBioTechnology Task Force established

During the TASSA Board meeting held on March 24, 2007, a decision was made to form a Nanobiotechnology (NBT) Task Force within TASSA. Prof. Selim Unlu from Boston University kindly accepted to lead this effort. Prof. Unlu prepared a proposal defining the task force and explaining its roles and activities. The proposal was subsequently approved by the Board and the TASSA NBT Task Force was officially formed in June 2007.

The information below documents briefly the mission and goals of the NBT Task Force.

Suleyman

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TASK FORCE on NanoBioTechnology

Preface Science and Technology rapidly evolve and often new enabling technologies bring new definitions along. Researchers redefine their work under a new lexicon as new fields emerge. Nanobiotechnology is an emerging technology accompanied with a significant excitement not only in research community but also in industry. There are a number of Turkish academicians and researchers in the USA working in areas directly related to nanobiotechnology. Researchers in Turkey are also embracing nanobiotechnology. Consistent with TASSA's vision to build a sustainable science bridge between the U.S. and Turkey, NBT Task Force will focus on this emerging field to facilitate the flow of people (scientists and scholars), knowledge, and technology and help link science and technology institutions in the two countries.

Definition of the Field Nanobiotechnology is the branch of nanotechnology with biological and biochemical applications or uses. Nanotechnology swept into the headlines and became a household name in the 21st Century starting with the National Nanotechnology Initiative in the USA. The word nanotechnology derives from nanometer; which is one-thousandth of a micrometer (micron), or the approximate size of a single molecule. Nanobiotechnology joins the breakthroughs in nanotechnology to those in molecular biology and sets itself apart from traditional disciplines under nanotechnology. Molecular biologists help nanotechnologists understand and access the nanostructures and nanomachines designed by 4 billion years of engineering (evolution) – cell machinery and biological molecules. Traditional nanotechnology researchers are in physical sciences and engineering, whereas biotechnologists are for example geneticists and molecular biologists. It is crucial to reach across the traditional boundaries, develop a common language, and build a new research culture under a new umbrella. Exploiting the extraordinary properties of biological molecules and cell processes, nanotechnologists can accomplish many goals that are difficult or impossible to achieve by other means. Some applications include (i) disease diagnostics (ii) therapeutics (iii) biosensors (iv) drug discovery and (v) genetically engineered and bio-inspired materials.

Status in Turkey Turkish academic institutions have already embraced nanotechnology and biotechnology with commensurate investments in facilities and human resources. Nanobiotechnology is also recognized as an emerging technology of 21st century, included in the strategic plan of TUBITAK and considered an essential area for national competitiveness. As a direct result of TASSA-TUBITAK workshops a Nanobiotechnology task force has been established with Prof. Vasif Hasirci (ODTU) and Prof. Candan Tamerler (ITU) as co-directors along with participants from various US and Turkish universities. The members of the group from Turkish Institutions have met several times and decided to start a Nanobiotechnology (NBT) Network benefiting from the network funding mechanism recently instituted by TUBITAK. They have also noted the importance of collaborations and consulting with Turkish scientists in the USA.

Mission Statement The mission of the TASSA NBT Task Force is to coordinate the efforts of Turkish Scientists involved in Nanobiotechnology research in the USA and to link science and technology institutions in the two countries for the flow of people (scientists and scholars), knowledge, and technology. One important role of the task force is to act as an advisory body for the formation of NBT Network in Turkey towards the ultimate goal of a global network.

Current Members of the Task Force
Prof. Selim nl, Boston University, chair
Prof. Pinar Menguc, University of Kentucky
Prof. Mehmet Sarikaya, University of Washington
Prof. Hr Kser, Yale University
Prof. Mehmet Toner, Harvard Medical School

Goals (short to medium term)

• Develop a database of Turkish Scientists and Scholars working in research areas related to Nanobiotechnology in the USA.
  • Database includes a searchable description of the research topics,
  • Highlights existing connections to Turkish Institutions
  • Lists Turkish students in each group
  • Describes major research infrastructure
• Bring new scientist/scholar members into TASSA organization
• Help start new collaborations between US and Turkish Institutions
  • Identify and highlight existing research collaborations with Turkish Scientists in the USA with Turkish institutions.
  • Explore funding mechanisms for international collaboration and inform the TASSA community
  • Present findings and opportunities at workshops where US and Turkish Scientists participate
  • Develop novel educational platforms/models to train and educate new generation of global scientists in this competitive field.
  • Develop models for start-up companies, particularly in transitional research, with elements in both countries benefiting from complementary expertise, facilities and regulations.
  • Prepare reports and recommendations for interested groups which will in turn enhance the visibility of the task force and TASSA.
• Coordinate communication of US scientists with the nanobiotechnology network in Turkey (in early stage as of 2007) and participate in long term planning towards an international network.
  • Coordinate presentations by the proposed Turkish Nanobiotechnology Network.

Reporting The Task Force will provide brief written reports to TASSA quarterly with a detailed report presentation delivered at the TASSA annual meetings. Reporting task is the chair’s responsibility. Tasks for members will be identified to achieve the goals as identified above. Membership of the task force will be renewed every year. A yearly evaluation of the activities will be performed by TASSA leadership.

Budget For long term projects and workshops to be organized by the Task Force, funds will be sought from external sources such as NSF and TUBITAK as well as private institutions. Initial seed funding by TASSA will provide partial support for the travel of the task force members/students to meetings in US and Turkey (members will cover no less than 50% of their travel cost), development of web resources and database, and mail, printing, and miscellaneous secretarial help.

Turkey-USA Shared Vision and Strategic Partnership

Dear TASSA Community,

The document titled "Shared Vision and Structured Dialogue to Advance the Turkish-American Strategic Partnership" is officially posted on the Web sites of the U.S. Department of State and the Ministery of Foreign Affairs of Turkey (in Turkish) on July 5th, 2006, see the document at the  US Department of State and Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

TASSA claims significant credit for the inclusion of phrases such as "... enhanced bilateral relations with particular emphasis on ... science and technology ... " and "... actively promote bilateral exchanges among ... scientists and engineers, academicians and think-tanks, and educators and students...." in this document. Such references resulted from direct TASSA efforts with relevant authorities, both in the U.S. and in Turkey, to take this opportunity to expand the partnership by also including science and technology and their related areas in this document.

While realizing that providing content to such framework statements is key to TASSA's mission, it is a major accomplishment to elevate science and technology as an official agenda item with a high priority between both countries. It is also crucial to pave the pathway for bureaucracy and clear potential handicaps for the successful implementation of future collaborative programs. TASSA Executive Committee