Scientists Set 'Five Grand Challenges' For Nanotechnology Risk Research

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--discussed 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 (wilsoncenter/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.







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.



List of Paper's Authors and Institutions*



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 Stonev
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.


Contact: Sharon McCarter


Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies