An article, "Dotting the Eyes" published in the June 16, 2011 issue of The Economist, noted something that many of us who spend a good part of their day looking into Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens, such as the monitor for the pc that I’m writing this on or the one you’re reading it on, have … Continue Reading
The new 2011 edition of Nanotechnology Law published by West/Thomson/Reuters is now out. I update the book every year and the new edition has lots of new stuff. They make excellent Christmas and Birthday gifts, and are a general cure for insomnia. All proceeds go to my underprivileged daughters’ college fund. Everyone should have one … Continue Reading
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science and Space will be holding a hearing at 10AM on Thursday July 14, "The National Nanotechnology Investment: Manufacturing, Commercialization and Job Creation", As the Commerce Committee considers a reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, the hearing will examine the potential of nanotechnology, federal initiatives to coordinate … Continue Reading
Readers may be interested in learning about a new subscription website devoted to nanoscale carbon — CNT Report. CNT Report is dedicated to bringing its readers the most recent news concerning important issues affecting nanoscale carbon research, development, and commercialization. CNT Report closely covers all forms of nanoscale carbon in development on the global stage, … Continue Reading
On June 17, 2011, the Senate Committee on Armed Services announced that S. 1253, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2012 had been passed unanimously and had been reported out of Committee and sent on to the Senate for debate. S. 1253 provided $200 million in funding for the "Rapid Innovation Program" established by PL 111-383, the … Continue Reading
On June 17, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that it was seeking "comment on several possible appraoches for obtaining information about what nanoscale materials are present in registered pesticide products. . . . and its potential effects on humans or the environment. . . ." Under … Continue Reading
As part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Official Birthday, Buckingham Palace released the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Among those honored with a knighthood was Professor Mark Edward Welland of the University of Cambridge, where he heads the Nanoscience Centre and also currently serves as Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Ministry of Defence. Professor Welland is also … Continue Reading
As a follow-up to and outgrowth of the June 2005 OECD Joint Meeting of the Chemicals Committee and the Working Party on Chemicals, Pesticides, and Biotechnology, the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) was established in September 2006, with the mission of helping "member countries efficently address the safety challenges of nanomaterial". Presented at the … Continue Reading
One June 9, the President’s Office of Budget and Management, United States Trade Representative, and Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a joint memorandum directed to all Executive branch departments and agencies entitled "Policy Principles for the U.S. Decision-Making Concerning Regulation and Oversight of Applications ofNanotechnology and Nanomaterials." The Policy Statement is important because it … Continue Reading
The Senate returned from its Memorial Day recess this week. Among the bills that it may begin debating is H.R. 1540, the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. Introduced by Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA-25th), Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services , on 04/14/2011, HR 1540 was amended during a "markup" session of the Committee … Continue Reading
Running from June 6 to June 8, 2011 at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington Virginia, the 2011 TAPPI Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials will focus on the theme of Nanotechnology for a Sustainable Future. Speakers will give presentations on subjects including : -Importance of Nanotechnology/Nanomaterials to the Forest Products Industry of the 21st Century … Continue Reading
Ensnarement is a powerful defense in any patent case where the doctrine of equivalents is at issue. It’s time for defendants to “discover” this under-utilized defense. Despite litigating numerous doctrine of equivalents cases, I’ve only litigated one case where an ensnarement defense was vigorously asserted. Ensnarement, seminally set forth in Wilson Sporting Goods, prevents … Continue Reading
An official at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") stated recently that the agency has never cited an employer for exposing workers to nanomaterials. OSHA remains focused on prevention and the development of guidance measures to stop exposures before they happen. Moreover, because the agency is aware that workers can be exposed to … Continue Reading
Senator Lautenberg:This isn’t a reorganization of the way we function here. It is to be another version of TSCA, far less harmful but having a law that does cover the bases. Introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) on 04/14/2011, S. 847, the "Safe Chemicals Act of 2011", is the third bill introduced in the last … Continue Reading
A food safety strategist for "As You Sow" recently indicated that the group is conducting a survey "of a wide selection of food manufacturers and retailers regarding their use of nanomaterials in food products." The group is also creating a "Nanofood Sourcing Framework" designed to guide food-related companies on the issues they should be considering … Continue Reading
In a notice published in the Federal Register for 05/04/2011, the FDA Science Board, an advisory panel that provides advice to the FDA Commissioner and the Commission on "specific complex and technical issues as well as, emerging issues within the scientific community, in industry and academia . . . .advice to the Agency on keeping pace with … Continue Reading
The Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is part of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Services located in UCSF’s School of Medicine. PRHE just published its "Recommendations for Addressing Potential Health Risks from Nanomaterials in California” which was commissioned by California’s Office of … Continue Reading
Here is an advance copy of a new multi-walled carbon nanotube significant new use rule being published tomorrow in the federal register. It applies only to the specific carbon nanotubes that were the subject of PMN P-08-199, and binds anyone who intends to manufacture, import, or process the specific chemical substance. It is largely consistent … Continue Reading
Nano Engineering Students Create World’s Smallest Images of Stephen Colbert Two nanotechnology engineering students at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Canada, have created the world’s smallest images of comedian Stephen Colbert. The undergraduate students, John Maier and Erin Bedford, made the images using aluminum sputtered onto substrate through a photoresist mask. The smallest … Continue Reading
The May 3, 2011 edition of Chemistry World carried an interesting article by James Urqhart — Titanate cigarette filter — regarding several Chinese researchers who have developed a cigarette filter which employs nanoscale TiO2 which supposedly filters out harmful tobacco smoke constituents. One of the researchers claims that "[a] great range of harmful compounds including … Continue Reading
A decision issued by the Federal Circuit April 29, 2011 offers a lesson for patent prosecutors to talk to each named inventor about what they consider to be the best way of practicing their invention. Though anti-intuitive, it is possible to have multiple best modes. In Wellman, Inc. v. Eastman Chemical Co. (Fed. Cir. 2011), the … Continue Reading
On May 4, 2011, research institute RTI International will host a policy forum entitled, "Nanotechnology: The Huge Challenge of Regulating Tiny Technologies." The forum will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, where experts will discuss the issues and concerns regarding the difficulties faced by agencies in drafting federal regulation and … Continue Reading
Kadmon Pharmaceuticals LLC ("Kadmon"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing medicines and therapies in the areas of oncology, infectious diseases, and immunology, has entered into an agreement with research and development company Nano Terra, Inc. ("Nano Terra"), whereby Kadmon would acquire Nano Terra’s perpetual, worldwide exclusive licenses to three novel, clinical stage product candidates … Continue Reading
The Nanodermatology Society ("NDA" or "the society"), an organization of doctors, scientists, and researchers, was founded with the mission to "promote a greater understanding of the scientific and medical aspects of nanotechnology in skin health and disease." The society recently addressed concerns about the use of nano materials to formulate nanoparticulate titanium dioxide and … Continue Reading
