Biology

Foundation Antoine Saugrain Lecture
Co-sponsor: Center for Study of Gene Structure and Function*
Dr. Willie E. May
National Institute for Standards and Technology
“NIST Activities to Support Innovation in
Healthcare”
Friday, April 9th, 2010
At 3:00 O’clock

NIST Activities to Support Innovation in Healthcare
Dr. Willie E. May
Director, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
National Institute for Standards and Technology, USA
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory agency within
the U.S. Department of Commerce whose mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial
competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that
enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. The Chemical Science and
Technology Laboratory is one of eight discipline-based technical operating units within NIST
and serves as the Nation’s primary reference laboratory for chemical measurements, standards,
and data, to promote commerce, improve quality of life, and innovation in the areas broadly
encompassed by chemistry, the biosciences, and chemical engineering.
Healthcare reform is a major issue in our world today. The rising cost of healthcare and
increased prevalence of chronic diseases is having a devastating effect on economic security and
quality of life in all parts of the world. Major efforts are underway to reform healthcare and
reduce spending through increased efficiency and quality, focusing on prevention of disease and
creating a healthier population. Improvement in the quality of Healthcare measurements are a
key to achieving these goals.
NIST has used its expertise in measurement science and standards to address important
problems in healthcare since the 1920s. Over the years, our capabilities and our programs have
expanded and evolved in accordance with both societal and industry needs. We have conducted
extensive outreach efforts over the last 5 years to the relevant U.S. governmental agencies and
the international health medical professional, in vitro diagnostics and clinical laboratory
communities. Three documents have resulted from these outreach efforts:
• Accelerating Innovation in the 21st Century Biosciences: Addressing the
Measurement, Standards and Technological Challenges
• Measurement Challenges to Innovation in the Biosciences: Critical Roles for NIST
• NIST Measurement Science and Measurement Standards to Support Innovation in
Healthcare
This talk will focus on NIST’s the findings from our strategic outreach activities and our current
and planned activities regarding new measurement science and measurement standards to
support:
• Laboratory Medicine
• Medical Imaging
• Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
• FDA approval of new Nanotechnologies for Cancer Therapy