Rochester Scientists Join International Nanotechnology Group

Gunter Oberdorster, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Alison Elder, Ph.D., were selected to join an international team of scientists to establish tools and protocols for toxicological testing of nanomaterials. The International Alliance for NanoEHS Harmonization (IANH) was unveiled earlier this month at Nanotox, one of the world's largest biennial nanotoxicological research meetings.

Nanomedicine was highlighted as a priority Signature Program area because these tiny devices bear potential to make major improvements in many medical areas, including cancer, heart disease, and stroke. But as with any advance, it’s important to address concerns about how the technology might affect human health and safety – another tenet of the strategic plan.

Oberdorster is a professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine, and an expert in the study of the adverse health effects of exposure to the smallest airborne and occupational particles. He is investigating how the unique properties of engineered nanoparticles might impact health. Elder, an assistant professor of Environmental Medicine, is studying markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in tissue as a result of exposure to nanomaterials.

The newly appointed IANH team is supported by several organizations including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.