Meet Us - NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research

Piotr Grodzinski, Ph.D.
Director
NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research

Dr. Piotr Grodzinski is a Director of Nanotechnology for Cancer programs at NCI. He coordinates program and research activities of the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer which has dedicated $144M over 5 years (2004–2009). These funds have supported the formation of interdisciplinary centers as well as individual research and training programs targeting nanotechnology solutions for improved prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer.

Dr. Grodzinski is a materials scientist by training, but found bio- and nanotechnology fascinating. In the mid-nineties, he left the world of semiconductor research and built a large microfluidics program at Motorola Corporate Research & Development in Arizona. The group made important contributions to the development of integrated microfluidics for genetic sample preparation with its work being featured in Chemical & Engineering News and Nature Reviews. After his tenure at Motorola, Dr. Grodzinski joined the Bioscience Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory where he served as a Group Leader and an interim Chief Scientist for the Department of Energy Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT).

Dr. Grodzinski received his Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles in 1992. He is an inventor on 15 patents and has authored over 100 technical publications and conference presentations.

Dr. Grodzinski has been an invited speaker and has served on the committees of numerous bio- and nano-Micro-Electromechanical Systems conferences.

Scott E. McNeil, Ph.D.
Director, Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory
National Cancer Institute

Dr. Scott E. McNeil serves as Director of the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory for NCI at Frederick where he coordinates pre-clinical characterization of nanomaterials intended for cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. Prior to joining NCI-Frederick (i.e. SAIC-Frederick), he served for three years as Senior Scientist in the Nanotech Initiatives Division at SAIC where he transitioned basic nanotechnology research to government and commercial markets. He advises industry and state and U.S. governments on the development of nanotechnology and is a member of several governmental and industrial working groups related to nanotechnology policy, standardization and commercialization. Dr. McNeil's professional career includes tenure as an Army Officer, with tours as Chief of Biochemistry at Tripler Army Medical Center, as a Combat Arms officer in the Gulf War. He is an invited speaker to numerous nanotechnology-related conferences and has six patents pending related to nanotechnology and biotechnology. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Portland State University and his doctorate in cell biology from Oregon Health Sciences University.

Nick Panaro, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory
National Cancer Institute

Dr. Nick Panaro joined the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) in January 2008. His responsibilities include the management of contracts for SAIC-Frederick and technical and scientific oversight of National Cancer Institute (NCI) programs including the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. He also serves as the liaison between NCL and the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer.

Prior to joining NCL, Dr. Panaro conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on the design and fabrication of micro-electromechanical systems for genetic analysis and development of nylon nanostructures for clinical assays. Dr. Panaro was also a postdoctoral fellow at NCI where his research focused on tumor angiogenesis. He holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Drexel University and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Rice University Biomedical Engineering Laboratory. He has extensive laboratory experience in microfluidics, cell and molecular biology, analytical techniques, and tissue engineering. Dr. Panaro has also worked as a patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office where his work focused on the evaluation of patent applications in the areas of biosensors and microarrays.

Dorothy F. Farrell, Ph.D.
Nanotechnology Development Projects Manager
NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research

In her role as a projects manager for the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, Dr. Dorothy Farrell oversees and manages nanotechnology development projects, implements new nanotechnology development initiatives, and evaluates the effectiveness of Alliance programs. She acts as a technical resource for Alliance members by promoting collaboration among researchers and assisting industry representatives in identifying opportunities for collaboration with the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Farrell received her doctorate in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University, where her thesis project focused on the synthesis and characterization of self-assembled arrays of magnetic nanoparticles. She then spent two years at University College London on a Royal Society USA Research Fellowship, where she worked on the preparation of nanoparticle-antibody conjugates for use in cancer therapy. She returned to the United States to work at the Naval Research Laboratory, as part of the National Research Council's Research Associate Program, developing a poly(ethylene glycol) based ligand to prepare biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles. Dr. Farrell received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Brooklyn College, City University of New York.

Sara S. Hook, Ph.D.
Nanotechnology Development Projects Manager
NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research

Dr. Sara S. Hook serves as a projects manager for the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer program within the Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives (CSSI) at the NCI. She provides scientific management and oversight of program research projects and operations and acts as a technical resource for technology development and implementation. Additionally, she serves on trans-NCI committees to assess cancer research progress, identify areas of opportunity, and foster collaboration within governmental agencies and with academic researchers and private organizations.

Dr. Hook has extensive research experience in the field of molecular cancer biology focusing on regulation of the histone deacetylases and their role in cell cycle checkpoint and apoptotic pathways to ensure genomic stability after radiation and chemotherapy. Prior to joining the NCI she did post-doctoral work at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Virginia. She holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the Duke University Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology where she elucidated the activation mechanism of the Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent kinases. She graduated from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, with a B.A. degree in biology. Dr. Hook has published numerous papers, has earned 10 scientific and academic awards, and has enjoyed mentoring elementary, high school, undergraduate, and graduate level students.

George Hinkal, Ph.D.
AAAS Fellow
NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research

Dr. George Hinkal is an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellow working as a projects manager for NCI's Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research. He is also developing projects to analyze the effectiveness of field specific graduate training relative to employment opportunities.

Prior to joining the OCNR, Dr. Hinkal's research interests focused on genetically modifying animal models of cancer and mammalian aging. His postdoctoral work at the Centre Léon Bérard in Lyon, France developed a proof of principle model showing how aberrant expression of embryonic transcription factors creates a tumor permissive environment. He received his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from Baylor College of Medicine where he elaborated on the hypothesis that gross aging phenotypes are the result of tumor suppressor function.

In addition to his benchwork, Dr. Hinkal has orchestrated a variety of programs to build interest in science with local schoolchildren and led student groups to advocate their cause and empower their voice.

Sandra Chapman, Ph.D.
AAAS Fellow
NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research

Dr. Sandra Chapman is an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellow working as a projects manager for NCI's Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research. In addition, she is also working on developing methodology towards evaluating the economics of nanotechnology-based therapeutics.

Sandra recently completed her graduate studies at Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, earning her Ph.D. in molecular medicine in July 2010. Her thesis research on the human papillomavirus life cycle was the product of a collaboration between laboratories at Pennsylvania State University and the National Institutes of Health. Her research resulted in publications and is currently under review for patent approval. While at the NIH she co-founded a science policy discussion group and blog to provide an opportunity for scientists to discuss a broad range of scientific issues of public concern. She received her bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.