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From Ambient Ultrafine Particles to Engineered Nanomaterials: Environmental Health Challenges and Applications
March 27 | 4pm – 5:30pm | Room 708 | RSVP
Dr. Philip Demokritou
Associate Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Dr. Demokritou’s research interests are primarily in the areas of aerosol science and technology with an emphasis on the elucidation of nano-bio interactions and potential environmental health safety implications and biomedical applications of nanoparticles. His particle research spans across the exposure-disease continuum andincludes the development of methods for the physico-chemical and in-vitro/in-vivo toxicological characterization of incidental and engineered nanoparticles. His current research focuses on nanoscience, nanosafety, and nano-bio interactions related to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and the role of ENM structure on bioactivity. His pioneered nanosafety research has involved development of in-vitro screening approaches for nano-specific effects (DNA damage, epigenetics, translocation of ENMs across biological barriers, etc), “safer-by-design” approaches for families of ENMs, development of advanced tools and framework approaches for in-vitro/in-vivo dosimetry,lifecycle specific risk assessment studies for nano-enabled products (NEPs), and biological implications of ingested and inhaled ENMs. His current nanoscience research includes the development of environmental nanotechnology applications for pathogen inactivation, nanonutraceutical and nanomodulating platforms for engineering interfacial processes in the gut using nature derived biopolymers, and nanotechnology based agri-chemical delivery platforms.
Dr. Demokritou is currently the Director of two interdisciplinary research centers at Harvard University: The NIH/NIEHS-funded Nanosafety Research Center and the Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology. He is also currently the co-director of the Nanyang Technological University–Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Initiative for SustainableNanotechnology. He also served as a co-PI of the Harvard-EPA PM Health Effect Center (1999-2010, US EPA star grant) and participated in the development of graduate level degree programs in the area of environmental health. He served as PI, co-PI, or co-investigator on several grants funded by NIH, EPA, NIOSH, NSF, USDA/NIFA, CPSC, and EU research framework(FP7).
He holds eight international/US patents and inventions. He is a co-author of two books, numerous book chapters, and more than 125 articles in leading journals in nanoscience, particle health effect, and aerosol engineering fields. Dr. Demokritou’s innovative research was highlighted in major mainstream media and online magazines, including articles published in the Economist, NanoWerk, Chemistry World, The Scientist, ACS C&EN News, MIT News, Harvard Gazette, and NPR news. Dr. Demokritou is currently an associate professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and a founding coeditor in chief of NanoImpact (Elsevier), a journal that focuses on all aspects of nanosafety research.
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