announces the first

U.S. Measurement System (USMS) Workshop on
Measurement and Standards Needs in NanoBiotechnology
January 19th, 2006
Jesse Jones Graduate School of Management, McNair Hall in the Shell Auditorium
Rice University - Houston, Texas

What is the USMS?

This workshop will identify the most critical measurement and standards needs in this important new area of the USMS presently being assessed by NIST.

The workshop topics will include the following:

A) Medical/Clinical/Pharmaceutical (drug delivery, targeted therapeutic agents, nanomaterials devices drug discovery)

B) Medical Imaging (nanobased contrast agents, other imaging modalities)

C) Manufacturing (nanoparticles handling, manufacturing, safety, scale-up)

D) Basic science (structure & dynamics of biomolecules, sensing at the single molecule level)

E) Physical Characterization (dimension, composition, purity, surface chemistry, instrumentation)

At Issue: The future of metrology and standards in nanobiotechnology.

The following questions are to be addressed in lectures and break-out sessions:

Technological Innovation is at Stake: What specific technological change is anticipated, considered, or attempted; by whom; in what field; by what firms; in which sector; and to what ends?

Economic Significance of Innovation: What will it cost if innovation is inhibited? What are the returns on investment if innovations are achieved?

What Limits Innovation: What are the specific technical barriers to the innovations?

Where are the Barriers:  Policy, R&D, Production, Marketing, or End Use?

Are Measurement Problems Part of Technical Barriers?

Potential Solutions to Problem.

Who are Potential Providers of Solutions: Universities, Industry, Government Laboratories?

What Role is there for NIST:  What NIST-appropriate work might be feasible (NIST alone, NIST-partner collaboration, or none)?

FEE:  50.00 USD when you register