The smallest particle of scientific matter became a very big deal Tuesday, as University of Utah officials announced the establishment of the Nano Institute of Utah — promising to revolutionize everything from communications to health care.

Nanoscience experts in multiple disciplines — including chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, medicine and pharmacy — will join together on campus to develop a program best suited for the future.

The institute is expected to "drive research partnerships with academia, the private sector and government agencies," said director Marc Porter, adding that he intends for the comprehensive program to advance nanoscience and technology across the university, as well as the state of Utah.

"By establishing the institute, we begin bringing together the pieces and players to take nanoscience in Utah from the scientist's bench to commercialization and beyond, where innovation begins affecting peoples' lives," he said.

Utah's Office of Economic Development began discussing plans for the Nano Institute in 2005. A year later, the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative was established, designating millions of dollars toward a range of projects that have the greatest potential to contribute to the local economy. USTAR has been actively recruiting experts from all over the country to implement innovative research, which often forms companies based on the resulting technologies.

Creation of the institute is necessary in order to bring all the facets of nanotechnology together, university officials said. Faculty within the institute will focus on five specific areas, including nanomaterials (thin films and coatings), sciences dealing with behavior and interaction of fine particles, nanobiosensors (diagnostics and chemical detection), nanomedicine (drug delivery) and micro and nano systems integration and reliability.

"The institute should prove to be a magnet for industry-sponsored research and other collaborative efforts with leading life-science business," said Darwin Cheney, USTAR nanotechnology consultant. "It will be in a unique position to capitalize on state-of-the-art nanofabrication facilities the university is adding as part of the USTAR building project."

For more about the development of new technology and "knowledge economy" businesses in Utah, visit innovationutah.com.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com