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James R. Baker, Jr., MD
Professor of Medicine, Pathology & Biomedical Engineering
University of Michigan

Talk Title: DNA-linked Dendrimer Nanoparticle Systems for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract
Dendritic polymer architecture allows for the development of new therapeutics that directly target cancer cells and largely bypass healthy cells. Clusters of these polymers can be combined into more complex structures with several different subunits, each with its own function, be it targeting, imaging or therapeutics. This technology can be expanded by developing single-function dendrimer modules linked by complimentary oligonucleotides. Thus, producing multifunctional therapeutics that can be customized to a specific patient's needs.

Biographical Sketch
Dr. Baker joined the faculty of the University of Michigan in 1989 and is currently a Professor of Medicine and Division Chief of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in the Department of Internal Medicine, Professor of Pathology and Director of the Histocompatibility Laboratory in the Department of Pathology, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the School of Engineering at the University of Michigan. In July, 1998 Dr. Baker was appointed Director of the U-M's newly organized Center for Biologic Nanotechnology and in 2001 was inaugurated as the first recipient of the Ruth Dow Doan Endowed Professorship in Biologic Nanotechnology. Following the success of the Center for Biologic Nanotechnology, in April 2005, U-M's Board of Regents formed the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences (M-NIMBS) and appointed Dr. Baker as its first Director. Under his leadership, M-NIMBS will merge academic expertise and institutional resources across the university to develop and market applications for nanotechnology in medicine, the biological sciences and the environment.

Dr. Baker's research includes the application of nanomaterials to cellular engineering, drug delivery and gene transfer, and is supported by over $35 million dollars in federal grants and contracts. These studies have produced new vector systems for gene transfer using dendritic polymers with potential to revolutionize pharmaceutical therapy. Dr. Baker’s work with synthetic lipid and polymeric nanostructures has resulted in the development of a new class of antimicrobial agents with activity against bacteria, spores, fungi and viruses. These projects led to two start-up biotechnology companies, NanoBio Corporation and Avidimer Therapeutics, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan where Dr. Baker serves as the Chief Scientific Officer of both corporations.

Dr. Baker is recognized as both a national and international leader in the fields of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Biologic Nanotechnology and has attained significant recognition and awards for his work including the 2001 U-M Dean's Innovation Award, given to faculty members whose innovations radically improved or transformed clinic outcomes, educational processes, or research processes. Dr. Baker serves on the editorial boards of three noteworthy journals and is one of three editors of the National Nanotechnology Initiatives’ Research Directives. Dr. Baker has chaired numerous study sections for the National Institutes of Health and serves on many internal and external advisory boards and committees including the Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group (N-TAG) of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) for the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the advisory to a sub-committee of the Defense Intelligence Agency and in 2006 begins a 5 year appointment as a Director of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI).

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