An Issues Landscape for Nanotechnology Standards: Report of a Workshop

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Institute for Food and Agricultural Standards
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
USA
March 2007

Better Retinal Implants for Blindness Cure Coming

another approach with FDA trial approval
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Arrowhead Research Corporation to Form New Nanomedicine Subsidiary and Acquire Nanotherapeutics Company, C Sixty Inc.

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Nanotechnology online journal is launched

HOUSTON, March 22 (UPI) — U.S. scientists have started an online journal that offers citations and links to articles about environmental and health effects of nanotechnology.

The nanotechnology coalition that launched the first online database of scientific findings related to the benefits and risks of nanomaterials Thursday launched the Virtual Journal of Nanotechnology Environment, Health & Safety.
The journal is available at icon.rice.edu/virtualjournal.cfm.

GM mosquito ‘could fight malaria’

A genetically modified (GM) strain of malaria-resistant mosquito has been created that is better able to survive than disease-carrying insects.It gives new impetus to one strategy for controlling the disease: introduce the GM insects into wild populations in the hope that they will take over.

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DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY STRATEGIC PLAN Feb 2007

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2007 DARPA Military Technology Plan: Future Medical Promise or Danger?

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Harvested/Mined Natural Nanomaterials: Another “Fuzzy Line.

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found on the nanotechnology law report blog

the report can be found here

the write up from the nanotechnology law report blog
New Report Warns of Nanotechnology Risks in Cosmetics

By Tim Cahill:

On February 20, 2007, the Investor Environmental Health Network (“IEHN”) issued a report entitled “Beneath the Skin: Hidden Liabilities, Market Risk and Drivers of Change in the Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Industry.” IEHN represents 20 investment organizations with $22 billion under management that are seeking to ensure that the companies they invest in are taking appropriate steps to reduce risks associated with the toxic chemicals used in their products. The IEHN’s report warns that nanotechnologies represent one of the significant health risks in the cosmetics industry and that investors in this industry must be aware that sweeping changes are likely to occur in this market. The report describes the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) current oversight of cosmetics as a “a porous and ill-defined regulatory framework” and cites to the fact that “cosmetics are generally exempt from pre-market review” as a major limitation in the FDA’s ability to regulate cosmetics. As a result, the report recommends that cosmetics manufacturers take independent steps to monitor the safety of their products in order to avoid potential liability and gain a competitive advantage by increasing their brand trust.

The IEHN’s report is certainly not the first to blast the FDA’s ability to regulate the use of nanotechnologies in cosmetics. In an October 2006 report by former FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Michael R. Taylor, entitled “Regulating the Products of Nanotechnology: Does FDA Have the Tools It Needs?,” the FDA’s lack of oversight of cosmetics was identified as an area that must be addressed in order for the FDA to adequately monitor the safety of cosmetics containing nanotechnologies, particularly since cosmetic products with nanomaterials are reaching the marketplace faster than many other products regulated by the FDA. The IEHN’s report recommends greater self-regulation by cosmetics manufacturers, but the FDA could impose stricter regulations in this area in the near future. The FDA is in the process of evaluating its ability to effectively regulate the use of nanomaterials in FDA-regulated products, and it has been reported that the agency will issue its findings in July 2007. How the FDA addresses cosmetics with nanomaterials will be one area to watch closely.

blood tests for mental health conditions under development

Based on study results from the University of Iowa, blood tests for panic disorder and other mental health conditions are now being developed at UI and will become commercially available in the near future.
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The Brain on the Stand

an article by By JEFFREY ROSEN Published: March 11, 2007
about neurotech and impact on law
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Buy your portable brain-computer interface here

If you can’t wait until next year to get your hands on a Project Epoc EEG cap, never fear: a German company called g.tec (Guger Technologies) is now offering the world’s first commercially available brain computer interface (BCI).
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Singapore is arming teachers with educational nanotechnology kits

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Synthetic Biology on Display

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TR10: Neuron Control

Karl Deisseroth’s genetically engineered “light switch,” which lets scientists turn selected parts of the brain on and off, may help improve treatments for depression and other disorders.
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Nano memory

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168 million for 13 solar projects

U.S. Funds Shine $168M on Solar

President Bush wants to cut the price of solar electricity.
March 9, 2007

By Ilkka Luukkonen

The U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday announced it will invest $168 million in 13 solar technology projects in the next three years as a move to bring down the cost of solar energy.
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references for Psychological Enhancements: The Reluctance to Enhance Fundamental Traits

JASON RIIS
New York University – Stern School of Business
JOSEPH P. SIMMONS
Yale School of Management
GEOFFREY P. GOODWIN
Princeton University – Department of Psychology March 1, 2007
Abstract:
Four studies examined young healthy individuals’ willingness to take drugs intended to enhance various social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. We found that people were much more reluctant to enhance traits believed to be highly fundamental to the self (e.g., social comfort) than traits considered less fundamental (e.g., concentration ability). Moral acceptability of a trait enhancement strongly predicted people’s desire to legalize those enhancements, but not their willingness to take those enhancements. Ad taglines that framed enhancements as enabling rather than enhancing the fundamental self increased people’s interest in a fundamental enhancement, and eliminated the preference for non-fundamental over fundamental enhancements.
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EU’s Sustainable Energy Future

Commitment by European leaders to scale up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 per cent by 2020 sets the right path to control climate change at the global level. But appropriate laws and measures are needed to be put into place so that the goal does not remain hot air.
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OSHA does not anticipate regulating nanotechnology in 2008

OSHA Update

Inside OSHA recently reported that OSHA does not anticipate regulating nanotechnology in 2008 because of continued uncertainty regarding whether nanotechnology poses any health risks. The publication indicated OSHA is still “working with NIOSH on identifying the hazards of nanotechnology.” Inside OSHA, Feb. 18, 2007, Vol. 14, No. 4.
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