* The Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL). Established at NCI's Frederick, Md., facility in 2004, this laboratory performs analytical tests to guide the research community; supports regulatory decisions; and helps identify and monitor environmental, health, and safety ramifications of nanotech applications. The NCL recently completed its first year of operation and is actively characterizing nanoparticles for academic and commercial researchers through a rigorous set of analytical protocols. The NCL works with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, please visit http://ncl.cancer.gov.

* Multidisciplinary research training and team development. The application of nanotechnology to cancer requires cross-disciplinary training in biological and physical sciences. The Alliance will support training and career development initiatives to establish integrated teams of cancer researchers, through mechanisms such as the NIH National Research Service Awards for Senior Fellows and NIH National Research Service Awards for Postdoctoral Fellows. Applications are now being accepted for training awards (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-06-010.html). In addition, through NCI's collaboration with the National Science Foundation, a total of $12.8 million in grants were awarded in September 2005 to four institutions for research over the next 5 years. These grants allow U.S. science and engineering doctoral students to focus on interdisciplinary nanoscience and technology research with applications to cancer (http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/NCINSFIGERT).


For more information on the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, please visit http://nano.cancer.gov.

For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4 CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

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