For Immediate Release
February 4, 2008
Contact: Katrina Norfleet
301-587-1600
media@mayatech.com
MayaTech Establishes Center to Focus on Breakthrough Technology
The MayaTech Corporation, a leading provider of consulting and technical services to Federal agencies, has expanded its services with the establishment of the Center for NanoSystems Technology Applications (NSTA). The center will study the legal, regulatory, ethical, and social implications of nanotechnology and its applications.
MayaTech recognizes that nanotechnology offers exciting possibilities," says Jean-Marie Mayas, Ph.D., president and CEO of The MayaTech Corporation. "In keeping with our focus on public health, we intend to address the need for research and information that provides adequate assessment of the health and environmental benefits and risks of this emerging technology."
NSTA, led by MayaTech Science Monitor Dyneisha Felder and Health Policy Advisor Kerri McGowan Lowrey, J.D., M.P.H., is composed of social science research and evaluation professionals with expertise in health law and regulation, bioethics, and policy. Building on MayaTech's expertise in research and evaluation, NSTA is creating a database that will offer clients access to a compilation of reliable information on nano ethical, legal, and social implications (NELSI) issues. In addition, a free, online database offers Web users information on nanotechnology conferences and events at TheConferenceDesk.com.
"We are poised to assist in the monitoring and development of Federal and state law, regulation, and policy related to nanotechnology research, products, health safety, and components," says Lowrey. "We have much to offer as national and international consensus of nanotechnology risk and language begins to take shape."
As members of the national and international community are working to discover the first breakthrough product or application that will establish nanotechnology as a household term, MayaTech is enhancing the current knowledge base in preparation for that event.
"Nanotechnology presents unlimited possibilities to revolutionize the way we think of science," says Felder. "The hope of one day being able to selectively target a single cancer cell or to regenerate tissue by controlling cell behavior is within grasp if we can settle issues around proper risk assessment and NELSI."
ABOUT MAYATECH: The MayaTech Corporation is a consulting and technical services company that provides high quality, customer-focused applied research, policy, and evaluation; conference and logistics management; information and communications systems support; technical assistance; and international development services to public and private sector clients. MayaTech provides comprehensive services with specialized expertise in a number of public health areas including substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and minority populations. For more information, visit www.mayatech.org.
