News

Altair Nanotechnologies and WMU Receive $1M Grant

March 18, 2003 by Jeff Shepard

Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (Reno, NV) and Western Michigan University (WMU) have been notified of grant funding for their joint development of nanosensors for detecting chemical and biological weapons and an agent for the breakdown and concentration of radioactive nuclides. The approximately $1 million grant, for which WMU applied, was approved through President Bush's signing of the fiscal 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill and should be available by the end of April 2003.

Altair Nanotechnologies and WMU will utilize the funds equally. According to Associate Professor of Chemistry and Director of WMU's Nanotechnology Research and Computation Center Subra Muralidharan, WMU and Altair plan to obtain additional grants worth $1 million or more per year.

"The monies will fund two related programs: nanosensor development for the detection of chemical, nuclear and biological weapons should have significant use for national defense applications and homeland security programs, while the remediation agent uniquely addresses the on-site reduction of radioactive waste," said Altair President Rudi Moerck. "Our partnering agreement with WMU, a renowned leader in nanobioenvironmental chemistry research and the founding entity of the Nanotechnology Research and Computation Center, presents an ideal venue to showcase our proprietary nanomaterial technologies. In addition to partnering with WMU, we plan to work with the University of Nevada, Reno, for testing and analysis assistance pertaining to the development program."