Nanobiotechnology might sound like something straight out of Star-Trek, but the Institute for NanoBioTechnology at Johns Hopkins University has brought together 213 researchers to create new knowledge and new technologies in this 21st century discipline.

And now, Md. Governor Martin O’Malley has appointed Peter Searson and Steve Desiderio, two researchers from The Johns Hopkins University, to serve on a special task force to study the benefits of nanobiotechnology.

Nanotechnology (see video below) involves the application of materials and devices at the scale of just a few atoms in diameter.  Nanobiotechnology attempts to apply these tiny technologies to medicine and basic science.

According to the governor’s office, the mission of the task force is “to study the benefits of nanobiotechnology including job creation, the development of lifesaving treatments, reductions in health care costs, the development of state-of-the-art electronics, medical equipment, chemical processes and other commercial products.”

The nanobiotechnology task force will be chaired by state Sen. Jennie M. Forehand and Del. Susan C. Lee. In addition to Searson and Desiderio, task force members include Nariman Farvadin, Peter Swaan, Esther H. Chang, Lisbeth Pettengill, Patrick Y. Lu and Lawrence Tamarkin.

Along with examining the scientific and medical benefits of nanobiotechnology, the task force members expect to look at the economic impact that the development of such technologies might have on the state of Maryland, including the creation of jobs.

(source: JHU)

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Video: JHU - Intro to Micro/Nanotechnology, Micro/Nanodevices and Micro/Nanofabrication Techniques