2011 Environmental Nanotechnology Gordon Research Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：纳米技术的快速发展和基于纳米材料的产品和工艺生产的增加带来了巨大的机遇和挑战。纳米技术使科学家能够创造出具有增强性能的新型纳米材料，用于生物医学，早期癌症检测，以及改善与环境相关的疾病的检测，预防和补救。使纳米材料如此有用的一些独特性质也可能导致它们对人类和环境有害。迄今为止，由于对其开发、操作和广泛应用相关风险的认识不足，纳米材料对人类健康和环境的潜在影响有限。一个为期五天的戈登研究会议，重点是环境纳米技术将在2011年举行，随后每隔一年。本次会议的具体目标是汇集来自世界各地的学术，工业和政府科学家，介绍和讨论当前关于纳米技术和工程纳米材料对人类健康，环境和社会的命运，运输和影响的研究结果。计划中的GRC计划包括影响该领域的广泛研究领域，从合成，表征和暴露，通过毒理学，计量学和风险评估，到这些材料在生物和环境基质中的运输，转化和最终命运。预计将有180名物理和社会科学家，工程师和毒理学家参加围绕最近研究结果的演讲和讨论。相对较小的参与者群体将是理想的，以促进积极的讨论和密切的思想交流，这是戈登研究会议的标志。会议将吸引25-35名初级学者（博士和博士后学生）参加。此外，来自科学界代表性不足群体的几位科学家将在会议中发挥关键作用。环境纳米技术研究会议的与会者将来自不仅是美国，但在地球仪，确保一个多样化的专家组，以促进刺激的讨论。本次会议的长期目标是更好地了解与工程纳米材料的环境和生物命运，运输，持久性，转化，暴露评估，可回收性和整体可持续性相关的挑战。 公共卫生相关性：本次会议汇集了在纳米技术和环境方面具有特殊兴趣的工程纳米材料的领先研究人员，用户和监管机构。当务之急是确定环境纳米技术，纳米医学和纳米毒理学领域的研究需求。美国国立卫生研究院特别感兴趣的可能性，纳米技术提出的生物医学领域和预防环境相关的疾病。该研究所还认识到提高对该技术的认识和理解的重要性，同时确保该技术的安全性和有效性。因此，NIH通过各种计划和与科学界的互动，支持纳米技术在人类健康方面的应用。例如，NIEHS正在探索纳米技术用于改善环境相关疾病的检测、预防和补救的可能性。国家癌症研究所正在其生物医学专业知识及其合作范围内系统地解决与纳米技术安全应用有关的问题，主要是通过其纳米技术表征实验室。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The rapid development of nanotechnology and the increasing production of nanomaterials-based products and processes present great opportunities and challenges. Nanotechnology allows scientists to create novel nanoscale materials with enhanced properties for applications in biomedicine, early cancer detection, and for improving the detection, prevention, and remediation of environmentally related illnesses. Some of the unique properties that make nanomaterials so useful may also cause them to be hazardous to humans and the environment. To date, the potential impacts of nanomaterials on human health and the environment have been limited due to insufficient understanding of the risks associated with its development, manipulation and wide-ranging applications. A five day Gordon Research Conference focused on environmental nanotechnology will be held in 2011 and subsequently every other year. The specific aim of this conference is to bring together academic, industrial, and government scientists from around the world to present and discuss current research findings on the fate, transport and impact of nanotechnology and engineered nanomaterials on human health, the environment, and society. The planned GRC program includes the wide range of research areas that impact this field, from the synthesis, characterization, and exposure, through toxicology, metrology, and risk assessment, to the transport, transformation and ultimate fate of these materials in biological and environmental matrices. It is anticipated that 180 physical and social scientists, engineers, and toxicologists, will participate in the presentations and discussions surrounding recent research results. The relatively small group of participants will be ideal to promote vigorous discussion and close interchange of ideas that are the hallmark of the Gordon Research Conferences. The conference will attract between 25-35 participants who are junior scholars (doctoral and postdoctoral students). In addition, several scientists from underrepresented groups in science will play key roles in the conference. Participants of the Environmental Nanotechnology Research Conference will come from not only the US but around the globe, ensuring a diverse and expert group to facilitate stimulating discussions. The long-term goal of this conference is to provide a better understanding of the challenges associated with the environmental and biological fate, transport, persistence, transformation, exposure assessment, recyclability, and the overall sustainability of engineered nanomaterials. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This conference brings together leading researchers, users and regulators of engineered nanomaterials with specific interests in nanotechnology and the environment. The immediate is to identify the research needs in the fields of environmental nanotechnology, nanomedicine and nanotoxicology. NIH is particularly interested in the possibilities that nanotechnology presents to the fields of biomedicine and prevention of environmentally-related illnesses. The institute also recognizes the importance of advancing knowledge and understanding of the technology, while also ensuring that the technology is safe and effective. NIH has thus supported the application of nanotechnology to human health through a variety of programs and interactions with the scientific community. For example, NIEHS is exploring the possibilities of nanotechnology for improving the detection, prevention, and remediation of environmentally related illnesses. The NCI is systematically addressing the issues relating to safe application of nanotechnology within the purview of its biomedical expertise and its collaborations, primarily through its Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory.