The importance of the European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine

The European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine is a non-profit institution aiming at advancing medicine to the benefit of individuals and society through the application of nanoscience. Aiming at prevention, diagnosis, and therapy through nanomedicine as well as at exploration of its implications, the Foundation reaches its goals through support of clinically focused research and of interaction and information flow between clinicians, researchers, the public, and all stakeholders. The recognition of the large future impact of nanoscience on medicine and the observed rapid advance of medical applications of nanoscience have been the main reasons for the creation of the Foundation.

Nanotechnology for Medicine

Nanotechnology is generally considered as the key technology of the 21st century. It is an interdisciplinary scientific field focusing on methods, materials, and tools on the nanometer scale, i.e. one millionth of a millimeter. The application of this science to medicine seeks to benefit patients by providing prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment for prevalent, for disabling, and for currently incurable medical conditions.

Establishing the CLINAM-Lab and Plan INTRALAB-N

In its study on Nanomedicine the European Science Foundation shows that Europe currently takes the lead „in ultra-modern technology“ in the field of Nanomedicine. In order to maintain this advanced position, in Europe there is high need for labs and research spaces as a fundamental condition to facilitate innovation across Europe, assisting to be a knowledge driven economy in the global market. The European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine has its own CLINAM-Lab, where Prof. Patrick Hunziker and his lab team do research in the focus-fields of Nanomedicine. CLINAM plans to realize in the future the project of the International Translational Laboratory for Nanomedicine(INTRALAB-N) in Basel, where this institute seeks to offer cooperation on international level for research and translation. Such an incubator could accelerate the development of Nanomedicine to the benefit of the patient.

Basel is the location of many chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The town offers excellent scientific facilities with the Department of Research of the Basel University Hospital, the University Basel with its Biozentrum and private research places such as the Friedrich Miescher Institute. Basel is worldwide renown for its Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI) for Nanoscale Science. The project shall be in joint cooperation with five Universities in Europe.

Strong Network

An important task is the establishment of the CLINAM-Foundation Network. Its purpose is the proactive worldwide support of development of Nanomedicine for all clinical experts in research and development of Nanomedicine including bridgework between the clinicians, academic research and the industrial and tool developing clusters. The network interacts with the existing nanomedical structures, seeking to propagate nanomedical knowledge with the International Society for Nanomedicine with members from all continents. The CLINAM-Network is a valuable non-competing add-on for the various other initiatives in the field of Nanomedicine. CLINAM became in the last 13 years the largest melting pot for all stakeholders in Clinical Nanomedicine.

The European & Global Summit for Clinical Nanomedicine, Targeted Delivery and Precision Medicine with since 5 years more than 500 participants from more than 35 countries is the neutral platform where cooperation projects, application-concepts for funding by the EU, start-up concepts and consortia are created. The presence of the Regulatory Authorities from all Continents each at each Summit is a high value since all stakeholders have the opportunity to discuss the needs and hurdles in the translation of Nanomedicine and the debate creates trust between all related parties. Contacts become easier.

Basel as Location of the Foundation

.Basel is the location of many chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The town offers excellent scientific facilities with the Department of Research of the Basel University Hospital, the University Basel with its Biozentrum and private research places such as the Friedrich Miescher Institute. Basel is worldwide renowned for its Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI) developed from the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) for Nanoscale Science.  Also the recent NCCR of the University of Basel is  related to Nanotechnology. The goals set by the “NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering” is to make use of advances in chemistry, molecular cell biology and genetics, physics, bioinformatics and engineering to assemble functional molecular modules into complex systems.

The Structure of the European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine

The European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine is a lean organization and seeks to keep the administration at an utmost minimum. Presently at the CLINAM Lab five members work in Science. At the foundation three people invest into the development of the Summit and the regular administration and are EU and other project for the field of dissemination.  In addition to this there are freelance members and members from the Board of Trustees who support the development of CLINAM with valuable input into the Programme of the Summit.

The Team

The Foundation is governed by its Board of Trustees.

• Dr. Alexander Gutmans (law) (President)
• Dr. med. h.c. Beat Löffler, MA (management and Summits) (CEO)
• Prof. Dr. Patrick Hunziker (cardiovascular medicine/ Nanomedicine) (CSO)
• Prof. Dr. Gerrit Storm (pharmacology)
• Susy Hunziker, lic. Phil. (banking)
• Prof. Dr. Stefan Marsch (intensive care medicine)
  
  

The Founders

Dr. med. h.c. Beat Löffler, MA is the CEO of the foundation and responsible for all organizational and administrative matters. He shapes the annual Summit for Clinical Nanomedicine and Targeted Medicine and is responsible for the programme and contents. He continuously shapes and enlarges the international Network for the Nanomedicine Community. Dr. Löffler is member of the advisory board of the CLINAM Journal PRNANO and is Secretary General of the European Society for Nanomedicine. He is the Founder together with Patrick Hunziker of the European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine.

Prof. Dr. med. Patrick Hunziker is the CSO of the Foundation and responsible for all scientific matters. He is leader of the CLINAM Research Lab and supervises the scientific quality of the annual Summit for Clinical Nanomedicine and Targeted Medicine. Prof. Dr. med Patrick Hunziker is Deputy Chief of the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital Basel and President of the International Society for Nanomedicine. He is the Founder together with Beat Löffler of the European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine.