2019-10-28: Franco-American Leadership Tour Speaker

The Franco-American Lectureship Prize is a joint endeavor between ACS and the French Chemical Society (SCF), awarded on a rotating basis to an American or French chemist. This year, the French recipient was selected by the ACS Committee on International Activities, with the SCF selecting an American chemist next year. As part of her prize, Cunin is conducting a lecture tour at ACS local sections and universities in the U.S. We invite you to join us for pizza followed by this interesting lecture.

Abstract: The application of nanotechnologies into medicine promises to offer solutions when applied to health challenges such as cancer. In particular the development of local therapies will reduce side effects associated with systemic administration of chemotherapy drugs, and will allow preservation or limited resection of organs with small size tumors. Local therapy is also indicated to overcome the intrinsic biological resistance of certain incurable malignancies, leading to failure of conventional treatment approaches. Our research projects aim to develop biodegradable multifunctional anti-cancer materials based on mesoporous silicon to be used for the local treatment of cancer. Porous silicon nanostructures are bioresorbable in vivo. In addition they can be excited by near infrared excitation light offering possibilities for phototherapies, and for light triggered treatment. The development of photoactive porous silicon nanostructures functionalized with organic ligands for applications in imaging, drug delivery and photo-activated therapies, as well as for tissue engineering will be presented.

Biography: Frédérique Cunin, Ph.D., is the winner of the 2019 Franco-American Lectureship Prize. The prize honors chemists and chemical engineers who have
contributed significantly to research cooperation between the United States and France.

Cunin is a materials science researcher at the Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier in Montpellier, France, where she focuses on the development and fundamental properties of porous silicon particles. In particular, her research has applications in nanomedicine, targeted anti-cancer therapies, gene-based therapies and tissue engineering. Cunin has long-established ties to the U.S. research community, including spending time as a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Michael Sailor, Ph.D. of the University of California, San Diego. She has worked extensively to build bridges between French and American chemistry practitioners and has served as an organizer for several cross-cultural research conferences. Notably, Cunin served as a co-principal investigator on a joint National Science Foundation/Centre national de la recherche scientifique grant, Materials World Network: Cooperative Activity in Materials Research Between US Investigators and their Counterparts Abroad.

Directions and Parking: Please see the campus map for directions and parking information: https://pasadena.edu/about/campus-maps.php.

RSVP: This event and the pizza are free but we do need a head count for pizza. Please RSVP by October 24th to Nancy in the Section Office at office@scalacs.org.