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Characterization of Nanomaterials for Medical and Health Applications
A Workshop jointly sponsored by ASTM, NCI, NIST and FDA.

Thursday, May 19, 2005
Hilton Reno Resort
Reno, Nevada

ASTM, NCI, NIST and U.S. FDA are co-sponsoring this workshop to facilitate the development and use of nanomaterials for medical and health applications. The workshop will provide a forum for the development of standards for the characterization of nanomaterials and its behavior in biological systems. This standards development effort may also lay the groundwork for ascertaining and monitoring the environmental, health, and safety ramifications of nanotechnology for other applications.

Questions the workshop will address

The workshop will provide a structured venue to address critical issues relevant to transitioning nanotechnology into clinical applications. The primary focus of the workshop will be on government programs currently in place to characterize nanomaterial for medical and health applications - especially the NCI's Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) and its collaboration with the U.S. FDA, and NIST. The workshop will address the need for consensus standards for physical, in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate the efficacy, safety and toxicity of nanomaterial intended for medical applications - thereby enhancing the use and commercialization of nanotechnology in this field.

Discussion of potential solutions

Workshop presentations and discussions will focus on characterization of nanomaterials intended for use in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. A specific goal is to elicit direct, detailed input from industry, academia and government agencies to identify areas in the nano-bio realm that would benefit from further standards development and discuss potential solutions.

Who should attend

This workshop will be of particular interest to researchers in industry, academia and government, producers of nanomaterial, regulatory agencies, and equipment vendors, technicians and engineers involved in medical and health applications.