The first Inter-University Nanotechnology Measurement Championships were held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Sept. 21, 2011. From the Sept. 20, 2011 news item on Nanowerk,

Hans van der Voorn, Executive Chairman of Izon Science [event host] says, “The nanotech champs is a fun combination of sport and science that will pitch the top Universities against each other. The researcher who is the quickest to accurately measure a complex set of nanoparticles will receive a cup and associated bragging rights. This measurement could not have even been done two years ago so the ability to have a race demonstrates the rapid adoption of new technology in science.”

Contestants included:

• Dr. Jim Felton, from the laboratory of Professors Bruce and Barbara Furie, Harvard University, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Felton is using Izon’s instrument for studying the role that blood microparticles may have in the formation of blood clots or “thrombi”. The Furie group is a world leader in hematology research, focused on advancing diagnosis and treatment of bleeding and thrombotic disorders.
• Iraj Aalaei, a graduate student from the laboratory of Prof. Dhimiter Bello, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing. The group is using Izon’s instruments in nanotoxicology research with interest in the biological significance of exposure, exposure routes, measurement issues and metrics, the relationship between the physical properties of nanoparticles with health outcomes.
• Dr. Meredith Mintzer, a Postdoctoral Fellow from the laboratory of Prof. Mark Grinstaff, Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering. Dr Mintzer is using Izon’s instruments in research into drug delivery systems. The Grinstaff group pursues highly interdisciplinary research in the areas of biomedical engineering and macromolecular chemistry with the goal of elucidating the underlying fundamental chemistry and engineering principles of drug delivery systems.
• Dr. Steven Biller, a Postdoctoral Associate from the laboratory of Prof. Penny Chisholm, MIT, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Marine biologist Dr. Biller is currently researching marine cyanobaterium Prochlorococcus, the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic organism on the planet. While each Prochlorococcus cell is less than 1µm in diameter, the total oceanic population is responsible for a significant fraction of global oxygen production.

I’ll put you out of your suspense, Dr. Meredith Mintzer won the race. From the Sept. 23, 2011 news item on Nanowerk,

Dr. Mintzer uses Izon’s instruments in her research into drug delivery systems. The Grinstaff group pursues highly interdisciplinary research in the areas of biomedical engineering and macromolecular chemistry with the goal of elucidating the underlying fundamental chemistry and engineering principles of drug delivery systems.

This was a classic public relations (PR) ploy: create a contest to drum up interest in your product or, in this case, the launch of your new US headquarters. From the Sept. 23, 2011 news item,

The Inter-University Nanoparticle Measurement Championships was held at an opening function for Izon Science’s new office and laboratory in Cambridge, MA which will serve as the company’s new US headquarters.

I wish they had followed through on the initial premise that this was a sporting event and had reported on the kinds of details traditionally associated with them. Unfortunately, the Sept. 23 news item doesn’t offer any colour commentary or details about the race, e.g., the contestant’s times, any interesting tidbits about the race itself, etc.

For anyone deeply curious about Izon, here’s what the Sept. 20, 2011 news item has to offer,

Izon Science is the developer of the qNano and qViro instruments with unique size-tunable nanopores. The instruments offer significant improvements in accuracy and precision over previously available techniques and are helping to advance research in a number of fields including drug delivery, hematology, biomedical diagnostics, and vaccine development. Instruments have been sold in 23 countries.