The Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), part of the National Cancer Institute’s Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, was established in 2004 to serve as a national resource to investigators developing nanotechnology oncology therapeutics or diagnostics.
The NCL has since established a thorough cascade of analyses to characterize a nanoparticle’s physical and chemical properties, in vitro cytotoxicity, in vitro blood contact properties, in vitro immune cell responses, as well as in vivo analyses for evaluating toxicity and efficacy.
Since its founding, the NCL has characterized more than 250 different nanoparticles from more than 75 different investigators, several of which are now in human clinical trials. Dr. McNeil serves as the Director of the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL). At the NCL Dr. McNeil leads a team of scientists responsible for testing candidate nanotech drugs and diagnostics, evaluating safety and efficacy, and assisting with product development – from discovery-level, through scale-up and into clinical trials.
Dr. McNeil is a member of several working groups on nanomedicine, environmental health and safety, and other nanotechnology issues. He is an invited speaker to numerous nanotechnology-related conferences and has several patents pending related to nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Prior to establishing the NCL he served as a Senior Scientist in the Nanotech Initiatives Division at SAIC where he transitioned basic nanotechnology research to government and commercial markets. He advises industry and State and US Governments on the development of nanotechnology and is a member of several governmental and industrial working groups related to nanotechnology policy, standardization and commercialization.
The NCL is equipped with state of the art instrumentation for physical and chemical characterization, cell and molecular biology, and has access to human blood samples. The NCL as experience with a variety of cell lines, in vitro cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays, as well as analysis for oxidative stress, autophagy, complement activation, and cytokines.