August is National Immunization Awareness Month

July 25, 2022 – Ames, Iowa – The Nanovaccine Institute will celebrate National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) throughout the month of August. NIAM is an annual month-long observance to educate on the importance of vaccines for public health.

Vaccinations are the best protection against preventable diseases. Nanoparticle technologies have the potential to significantly improve health outcomes because a nanoparticle can deliver vaccines to otherwise nearly impenetrable locations within human tissue and establish longer immune system responses against disease. Nanovaccines can also play a role in greater healthcare access by not requiring needles, refrigerator storage, or temperature-sensitive shipping requirements.

“We are focused on solving large, complex, and global problems by developing this technology,” says Balaji Narasimhan, Director of the Nanovaccine Institute “This month serves as a welcome opportunity to inform the public on cutting edge research that can transform public health outcomes.”

The Nanovaccine Institute serves as a platform for collaborative research to produce safe, readily deployable nanotherapies for existing and emerging respiratory infections, antimicrobial resistance, neural disorders, and cancer. Active work includes the development of a universal flu vaccine, nanotherapeutics for cancer treatment, and tailored treatments for aging populations.

The Nanovaccine Institute is a consortium of 80 researchers at 24 universities, research institutes, national laboratories, and companies aimed to develop nanovaccines and nanotherapeutics to revolutionize how diseases are prevented and treated on a global scale. The consortium represents a transdisciplinary merger of expertise in immunology, nanotechnology, materials science, microbiology, neuroscience, cancer biology, gerontology, clinical science, and social science. Learn more at nanovaccine.iastate.edu.

Information Contact:

Hanna Bates, Research Administrator, Nanovaccine Institute. Email: hbates@iastate.edu. Phone: 515-294-2194