In 2005, The National Cancer Institute implemented major components of its $144.3 million 5-year initiative for nanotechnology in cancer research. First-year awards totaling $26.3 million were expected to help establish 7 Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNEs). Each of the CCNE awardees is associated with 1 or more NCI-designated cancer centers, affiliated with schools of engineering and physical sciences, and partnered with not-for-profit organizations and/or private sector firms, with the specific intent of advancing the technologies being developed. In addition NCI funded awards totaling $35 million over five years to establish 12 Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships. The National Cancer Institute and the National Science Foundation launched a collaboration to establish integrative training environments for U.S. science and engineering doctoral students to focus on interdisciplinary nanoscience and technology research with applications to cancer. Through this partnership, $12.8 million in grants are being awarded to four institutions over the next 5 years. These advances are part of the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, launched in September 2004 as a comprehensive, integrated initiative to develop and translate cancer-related nanotechnology research into clinical practice.