The Wellcome Trust in London will host the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network's (NanoKTN) first Nano 4 Life event, on 11 February.
This one-day conference and exhibition will explore areas in life sciences where nanotechnology offers the greatest opportunity to advance healthcare provision and improve product discovery and development.
Bionanotechnology is expected to enhance understanding of biology and how biological systems work.
Nanotechnology is helping resolve some of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries' most significant challenges.
It has already enabled new formulations for commercially available drugs and has helped the development of drugs currently in the research and development pipeline or in the regulatory approval stage.
Dr Mike Fisher, theme manager at the NanoKTN, said: 'In the future, nanotechnology will enhance the drug discovery process through miniaturisation, automation, speed and reliability of assays.
'The cost of developing a drug is increasing, which is causing significant pressures within the industry.
'The use of nanotechnology can help bring product discovery and development costs down by improving efficiency and decreasing the risk of product failure.
'It is essential for researchers, medical companies and policy-makers to be brought together and discuss issues and developments if we want the UK to be at the forefront of healthcare technology.' Keynote speakers will include Dr Thomas Keller, from Glaxosmithkline; Dr Rachel McKendry from the London Centre for Nanotechnology; and Professor Ljeoma Uchegbu, chair in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience in the School of Pharmacy at the University of London.
Nano 4 Life will be organised in partnership with The Wellcome Trust, which spends more than GBP600m each year supporting and promoting research to improve the health of humans and animals.
Research-based pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, academics, research policy makers and anyone interested in learning about what nanotechnology has to offer the life sciences are being encouraged to register for the Nano 4 Life conference.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and an exhibition showcase will take place throughout the day.
