Editorial: Welcome to the international journey to improving human health || FREE PAPER ||

Thomas J Webster

Division of Engineering, Brown University, and Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI, USA

It is with great excitement that I welcome you to the International Journal of Nanomedicine (IJN). This new journal has been launched to bring you the latest, exciting, up-to-date research conducted at the intersection of nanotechnology and medicine. As you will see in this issue alone, researchers from around the world are actively pursuing numerous efforts to improve human health through nanotechnology; it is truly an international effort! A recent survey found that governmental nanotechnology programs were funding research worldwide up to an estimated US$5 billion (€3 billion) in 2004 alone (Wagner V and Zweck A 2005 September 30, pers comm). Three countries in particular, the US, Germany, and Japan, have recently given clear commitments to nanomedicine by establishing focused nanomedicine research funding programs. These trends will only increase as the global interest in nanomedicine is only in its infancy. In fact, the projected nanotechnology business market to enhance medical products is expected to be about US$25 billion (or €15 billion) in 2012 (Wagner V and Zweck A 2005 September 30, pers comm).