Mark E. Davis

Mark E. Davis

Warren and Katharine Schlinger Professor of Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, USA
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Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Member, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Experimental Therapeutics Program; Member, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA
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Fighting Cancer with Nanoparticle Medicines: How Size Can Matter

For centuries, cancer has been one of the most devastating diseases. Papyrus writings from 1600-1500 BC describe cancer and attempts at its treatment. Today, the molecular basis of cancer is being unraveled, and therapeutics are being developed to take advantage of this increasing knowledge. One new class of experimental therapeutics involves the use of nanoparticles, where the control of size dramatically determines performance. Given the long history of difficulties in developing cancer therapies, are nanoparticle medicines (nanomedicines) worth the hype? I discuss the current understandings of why engineered nanoparticle medicines (that are highly multifunctional chemical systems) have the potential to provide “game changing” ways to treat cancer. I then illustrate the various features and potentials of nanoparticle medicines using two different nanoparticles that we have translated from laboratory curiosities into experimental therapeutics in human clinical trials. I conclude with our new approach to bring therapy safely into the brain using nanoparticles
  • 2019  International Zeolite Association – Donald Breck Award for the Most Significant Contribution to Molecular Sieve Science (first person to win the award twice)
  • 2015  Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
  • 2014  2014 Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research
  • 2014  ACS – Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis
  • 2011  Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
  • 2010  University of Kentucky – Hall of Distinguished Alumni
  • 2009  American Chemical Society – Elmer Gaden Award
  • 2009  Honorary Doctor of Engineering, University of Kentucky
  • 2008  AIChE – 100th Anniversary: named one of the “One Hundred Engineers of the Modern Era”
  • 2008  Elected into the Spanish Royal Academy of Engineering (Real Academia de Ingenieria)
  • 2006  National Academy of Sciences
  • 2005  American Chemical Society – E.V. Murphree Award