Scientists set 'Five Grand Challenges' for nanotechnology risk research
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Fourteen top international scientists in the field of nanotechnology have identified Five Grand Challenges for nanotechnology risk research that must be met if the technology is to reach its full potential. Their findings are the subject of a major paper published in the November 16th issue of the journal Nature.
The paper's lead author is Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies Chief Science Advisor Andrew Maynard. Co-authors (list attached) are among the world's foremost nanotechnology risk and applications researchers from universities, government, and industry in the United States and Europe.
Three of the paper's authors--Dr. Maynard, Dr. Martin A. Philbert of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and Dr. Sally Tinkle of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences--will discuss their recommendations at a program and live webcast on Thursday, November 16th at 9:00 a.m. in the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (www.wilsoncenter.org/directions).
Dr. Maynard formerly served at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he was instrumental in developing NIOSH's nanotechnology research program. He also was a member of the U.S. government's Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council, and co-chaired the Nanotechnology Health and Environmental Implications (NEHI) working group of NSET.
Dr. Philbert is professor of toxicology and senior associate dean for research, School of Public Health, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). His research includes the development of nanotechnology for intracellular measurement of biochemicals and ions, and for the early detection of brain tumors.
Dr. Tinkle is assistant to the deputy director at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). She developed the NIEHS extramural nanotoxicology portfolio, chairs the NIH Nano Task Force Health Implications working group, and participates in the NSET and NEHI.
###
The article, "Safe Handling of Nanotechnology," is embargoed until November 15th at 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.
What: Scientists Set Five Grand Challenges for Nanotechnology Risk Research
Who: Dr. Andrew Maynard, Chief Science Advisor, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson Center Dr. Martin A. Philbert, Professor of Toxicology and Senior Associate Dean for Research, University of Michigan School of Public Health Dr. Sally S. Tinkle, Assistant to the Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health David Rejeski, Director, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
When: Thursday, November 16th, 2006, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Where: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 5th Floor Conference Room. 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies was launched in 2005 by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts. It is dedicated to helping business, governments, and the public anticipate and manage the possible health and environmental implications of nanotechnology.
Dr. Andrew D. Maynard Chief Science Advisor, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Washington, DC, USA
Dr. Robert J. Aitken FiON Director of Strategic Consulting Nanotechnology Programme Director Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) Edinburgh, UK
Professor Dr. Tilman Butz Nuclear Solid State Physics University of Leipzig Leipzig, GERMANY
Prof. Vicki Colvin Executive Director, Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology Rice University Houston, TX, USA
Prof. Ken Donaldson Professor of Respiratory Toxicology MRC/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research ELEGI Colt Laboratory Queen's Medical Research Institute Edinburgh, UK
Prof. Gunter Oberdorster University of Rochester Environmental Medicine Rochester, NY, USA
Prof. Martin A. Philbert Professor of Toxicology - Senior Associate Dean for Research University of Michigan School of Public Health Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Prof. John Ryan Director, Bionanotechnology Interdisciplinary Research Centre University of Oxford Oxford, UK
Prof. Anthony Seaton CBE FMedSci Emeritus Professor, Aberdeen University Hon Senior Consultant, Institute of Occupational Medicine Edinburgh, UK
Prof. Vicki Stone Napier University Edinburgh, UK
Dr. Sally S. Tinkle Office of the Deputy Director National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Institutes of Health Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Dr. Lang Tran Senior Scientist Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) Edinburgh, UK
Dr. Nigel J. Walker Environmental Toxicology Program National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Institutes of Health Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Dr. David B. Warheit Research Fellow DuPont Haskell Laboratory for Health and Environmental Sciences Newark, DE, USA
*Opinions and views expressed in the article are of those of the authors. Institutions are listed for identification purposes only.
