Colloquium Date: Monday, September 21, 2009
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A bi-weekly event to present and discuss issues related to developments, applications and commercialization of nanotechnology.
“The application of nanotechnology in cancer therapy.”
Mark Diggs
Founder, CEO, & Chairman
LITMUS, LLC
(VIDEO CONFERENCED from Houston, TX)
Abstract:
Since the advent application of nuclear energy in the field of medicine in the
1940's, scientists have known that when Boron atoms are exposed to a neutron source
an alpha particle and a Lithium atom is generated. For decades, scientists have
attempted to develop an effective therapy for treatment of cancer based upon this
phenomenon. Although there have been some marginal successes at the experimental
"bench level" scale, to date no one has found a method that can place a sufficiently
large number of Boron atoms in close enough proximity to tumors to produce an
practical and effective therapy.
In collaboration with scientists at the National Center for Toxicological Research
and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Nanotechnology Center of Excellence,
LITMUS has licensed the rights for a novel way to address this issue using Boron
Nitride nanotubes that can be used to develop a practical therapy for cancer,
potentially even in the late stages.
A technical overview of the in vitro experiments conducted by NCTR, UALR, and LITMUS
at the Oakridge National Laboratories will be presented that will show the results
of their experiments, demonstrate the significant potential of this approach, and
the next steps planned to enable this approach to become a viable cancer therapy.
Bio:
Mark Diggs
Mr. Diggs earned a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics and a Masters Degree in Computer
Science and is a seasoned and successful serial entrepreneur that focuses on creating
and working with early stage technology companies. An example of his success is
Software Innovators. In 1989, Diggs founded a three-person software development
company in Little Rock, Arkansas named Software Innovators, Inc. By 1997 the firm
consisted of 90+ professionals with operations in Little Rock, Boston, New Orleans,
and Gulfport, Mississippi. In April of 1998, combing six other software companies
with Software Innovators, Diggs created a public company (NASDAQ) named BrightStar
Information Technology Group, Inc. In January of 1999, Diggs left BrightStar to
seek out new challenges with early stage companies. Since that time Diggs has served
as Chairman and CEO of a Maryland-based Ontology Works, Inc., and now Chairman and
CEO of LITMUS, LLC.
In addition to his 35 years of experience in project management, systems development,
and business development, he worked on Year 2000 projects for the State of Arkansas,
the USDA, GTE Supply, and the countries of Qatar, China, Uruguay, and Argentina as
well as others. In 1998 Governor Huckabee appointed him private sector representative
on the Leadership Team for the State of Arkansas' Year 2000 Project Office. Because
of the success of that project, the Governor called upon Diggs again to serve as the
project Executive for the Governor's Technology Initiative.
Diggs was named 1993 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Association of Arkansas Entrepreneurs;
served as a member of the Arkansas Executive Forum, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
Small Business Council; state delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small
Business; served on the Arkansas State Legislature's Technical Advisory Subcommittee;
the Arkansas' Department of Information Systems Advisory Board; served as a member
on the State Workforce Education; served as Chairman of the University of Arkansas
Medical Science Foundation Advisory Consortium; a co-founder the Knowledge-Based
Companies of Arkansas; and served as the State Legislature's representative and
Chairman of the Information Technology Oversight Committee.
Diggs was also an adjunct faculty head and professor for Webster University's Master
Degree program for Computer Resources Management. Diggs is co-author of "The Keys to
Growth in the New Economy: Investing in Discovery, Engineering, and Entrepreneurship",
and a co-inventor of a patent pending novel application of nanotechnology in cancer
therapy: "In Vivo Ultrasonic Fracturing of antibody-directed Nanoparticulates and
nano-containers to disrupt cell membranes or release Cancer and Other Therapeutic
agents". Diggs is a US Army Veteran that included serving as an Artillery Officer,
including a year in Vietnam, is a member of VFW, DAV, Military Order of the Purple
Heart, VVA, and American Legion.
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