Nanotechnology and Society Research Group

1
Nanotechnology and Society Research Group
NIRT Nanotechnology in the Public Interest
Regulatory Challenges, Capacity, and Policy
Recommendations
NSEC Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing
Thrust 4 - Regulatory Assessment
C. Bosso, J. Isaacs, W.D. Kay, R. Sandler, A.
Busnaina

• Overarching Projects
• NIRT Environmental Regulation Under
  Uncertainty (Bosso, lead PI) addresses the
  question of how government can ensure effective
  and responsive environmental protection under
  conditions of rapid techn ological change,
  attendant lack of clarity on effects, information
  asymmetries, and, by extension, the greater
  direct role for business in regulatory outcome.
• NIRT-- FDA Capacity (Bosso and Sandler) This
  project focuses on the challenges facing the U.S.
  Food and Drug Administration as it expects to
  grapple with an array of new nano-enabled
  technologies, in particular human therapeutics,
  enhancements, sensors, drug delivery systems,
  and, even, cosmetics
• 3. NIRT--Capacity Building Project (Kay, lead
  PI) Case studies of previous instances where new
  technologies or their impacts required government
  to adapt with new or revised organizational
  features
• 4. CHN/NIRT--Patent Policy (Kay, lead PI) assess
  intellectual property issues as they relate to
  patent reform and rapid commercialization of
  nanotechnologies
• 5. CHN/NIRT--Ethical and Justice Issues (Sandler,
  lead PI) evaluate applications of nanotechnology
  on their likelihood to promote or compromise
  environmental values, such as ecological
  integrity, biodiversity, environmental justice
• 6. CHN--Application of Life-Cycle Analysis
  (Isaacs, lead PI) create methodologies to
  determine the economic feasibility of
  manufacturing in light of potential environmental
  consequences for scale-up of technologies.

• Focus on Massachusetts
• 1. CHN--Fostering the Massachusetts
  Nanotechnology Sector (Bosso, lead PI)
  Massachusetts leads in nanotechnology because of
  its ability to attract major federal funding, its
  vibrant entrepreneurial and venture capital
  sectors, and rich technology presence.
• To maintain its position, Massachusetts must
• Explore feasibility of a state nanotechnology RD
  fund aimed at sectors not covered by the MA life
  sciences initiative.
• Assess workforce needs and existing education
  opportunities in nanotechnology related fields
  and, support development of relevant training
  programs
• Encourage formation of a nanotechnology
  stakeholder network to facilitate commercially
  productive communication and exchange.
• 2. CHN/NIRT--MA Biotech Rules Lessons for
  Nanotechnology (Bosso) Massachusetts recently
  streamlined its regulatory regime to address the
  needs of its biotechnology sector. This study
  explores the process for revision, key actors,
  results, and potential relevance for
  nanotechnology.
• 3. CHN/NIRT--MA response to environmental
  emergency The case of perchlorate contamination
  on Cape Cod.
• 4. CHN/NIRT--Siting the Boston University
  Bio-lab A case study of the controversy over
  siting a Level 4 contagious diseases laboratory
  in a predominately low income/minority area.
• 5. CHN/NIRT--Monitoring City of Cambridge
  rule-making on nanoparticles Real-time
  observation as Cambridge adapts its rDNA
  reporting rules to nanoparticle research
• 6. CHN/NIRT--The Massachusetts experience with
  toxics Case study of the MA toxics use and
  reduction system
• 7. CHN--Adapting EHS Procedures (Isaacs, lead
  PI) Research on methods to measure and control
  nanoparticles exposure in CHN laboratories
  establish best practices.

National Science Foundation Funding is
gratefully acknowledged for NIRT SES-0609078 and
NSEC Center for High-Rate Nanomanufacturing
EEC-0425826