Is NCI taking steps to ensure that all nanodevices are safe for the individual and the environment?
Concerns have been voiced that nanotechnology, specifically biomedical nanotechnology, may be advancing too fast, and regulatory agencies are not able to adequately address potential safety concerns. The NCI recognizes the importance of advancing our knowledge and understanding of the technology, while also ensuring that the technology is safe and effective. The success of efforts in the field is contingent upon scientific excellence in research and development that is both ethical and safe for the body and the environment. The NCI is systematically addressing these issues within the purview of its biomedical expertise and its collaborations, primarily through the newly developed Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory. The NCI has partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help develop criteria to define all the key physical and biological characteristics of nanodevices intended for use in cancer-related nanotechnology research. Furthermore, the NCI
