NCL  
Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory Skip Navigation
 

Staff

  Scott E. McNeil, Ph.D., Director
  Anil K. Patri, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
  Steve Stern, Ph.D., Scientist
  Marina Dobrovolskaia, Ph.D., Scientist
  Jiwen Zheng, Ph.D., Scientist
  Jeffrey Clogston, Ph.D., Scientist
  Banu S. Zolnik, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
  Arindam Dhar, M.D., Ph.D., IOTF Fellow
  Chris McLeland, Senior Research Associate
  Timothy M. Potter, Research Associate
  Barry W. Neun, Research Assistant
  Sarah Skoczen, Research Assistant
  Lydia Fine, Secretary


 

Scott E. McNeil, Ph.D., Director

Photo: Scott E. McNeil, Ph.D., DirectorDr. McNeil serves as Director, Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory for the National Cancer Institute at Frederick where he coordinates pre-clinical characterization of nanomaterials intended for cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. Prior to joining NCI-Frederick (i.e. SAIC-Frederick), he served for three years as 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. Dr. McNeil's professional career includes tenure as an Army Officer, with tours as Chief of Biochemistry at Tripler Army Medical Center, as a Combat Arms officer in the Gulf War. He is an invited speaker to numerous nanotechnology-related conferences and has six patents pending related to nanotechnology and biotechnology. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Portland State University and his doctorate in cell biology from Oregon Health Sciences University.

 

Anil K. Patri, Ph.D., Senior Scientist

Photo: Anil K. Patri, Ph.D., Senior ScientistDr. Patri joined the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) as a Senior Scientist in February 2005. He directs the physico-chemical characterization and standardization of nanomaterial for the NCL and actively collaborates with NIST and FDA.

Dr. Patri received his B.Sc., from Osmania University and M.Sc., in Organic Chemistry from Aligarh Muslim University, India. He then worked for two years as a lecturer in Chemistry in India and then obtained his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of South Florida under the guidance of Prof. George Newkome. After a
one-year post-doctoral training with Dr. Donald Tomalia at the University of Michigan, he joined the Center for Biologic Nanotechnology as a staff scientist. In this position, he developed dendrimer based nanomaterial for targeting, imaging and drug delivery applications.

Steve Stern, Ph.D., Scientist

Photo: Steve Stern, Ph.D., ScientistIn his position at the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), Dr. Stern is involved in the design and implementation of pharmacology and toxicology studies used to characterize nanoparticle biological disposition and access nanoparticle biocompatibility. Data generated is used to support IND regulatory filings and aid in environmental risk assessment. Dr. Stern's responsibilities also include representing NCL at local and national nanotechnology meetings and the education of study personnel regarding nanoparticle safety issues.

Prior to joining the NCL, Dr. Stern was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in the Division of Drug Delivery and Disposition and Curriculum in Toxicology. In this position, his research focused on examining the role of intestinal metabolism in modulating the gastrointestinal toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. His areas of expertise include biochemical toxicology of the liver and kidney, analytical methodology and drug metabolism/pharmacokinetics. He received his B.S. degree in Biochemistry from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY and his Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of Connecticut at Storrs, CT.

 

Marina Dobrovolskaia, Ph.D., Scientist

Photo: Marina Dobrovolskaia, Ph.D., ScientistAt the NCL Dr. Dobrovolskaia directs characterization related to the nanomaterials' interaction with components of the immune system. In animal models and in vitro, she develops and conducts assays to support preclinical characterization of nanoparticles and monitors acute/adverse effects related to the immune system.

Prior to joining the NCL, Dr. Dobrovolskaia worked as a Research Scientist; Department of Immunochemistry at a GLP operated contract research organization in Richmond, VA. She has been supervising the design, development and validation of bioanalytical ligand-binding assays to support pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies in a variety of drug development projects. Her areas of expertise include cell signaling, innate immunity, immunogenicity and analytical methodology. She received her M.S. degree in Biology/Microbiology from the Kazan State University in Russia and her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Center of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in Moscow, Russia.

Jiwen Zheng, Ph.D., Scientist

Photo: Jiwen Zheng, Ph.D., ScientistDr. Zheng joined the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) in January 2006. In his position, Dr. Zheng is involved in physico-chemical characterization and standardization of nanomaterials intended for cancer therapeutic and diagnostics.

Prior to joining the NCL, he worked as a Postdoctoral on directed assembly of nanoparticles by atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based lithography in Professor Harald Fuchs' group at Muenster University, Germany, and then joined Professor Nadrian Seeman's lab at New York University as a Postdoctoral working on scaffolded assembly of nanoparticles with Branched DNA. Dr. Zheng received his B.S. and M.S. degree in Inorganic Chemistry from Inner Mongolia University and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry/Nanoscience and Technology from Peking University, China. His areas of expertise include AFM imaging and lithography, synthesis and modification of nanoparticles as well as design and construction of robust Branched DNA motifs.

 

Jeffrey Clogston, Ph.D., Scientist

Photo: Jeffrey Clogston, Ph.D.Dr. Clogston joined the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) as a Scientist in March 2006. In his position, Dr. Clogston conducts physico-chemical characterization and standardization of nanoparticles intended for cancer therapeutics and diagnostics.

Dr. Clogston received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University. His research dissertation was on the application of the lipidic cubic phase for drug delivery, wastewater remediation, and membrane protein crystallization. His areas of expertise include physico-chemical characterization of and in vitro release from lipid-based drug delivery systems, analytical methodology, and protein and lipid biochemistry.

 

Banu S. Zolnik, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

Photo: Banu S. Zolnik, Ph.D., Postdoctoral FellowDr. Zolnik joined the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) in November of 2005 as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Her research includes in vitro/in vivo Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetic Modeling of cancer-related nanoparticles. She is also interested in understanding cellular uptake of nanoparticles for cancer therapy.

Dr. Zolnik received her B.S. in Pharmacy from Istanbul University in Turkey and her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University Connecticut. Her dissertation research was on in vitro and in vivo release testing of controlled release parenteral microspheres. Her areas of expertise include formulation, physico-chemical characterization and in vitro/in vivo release of polymer-based therapeutics. As a doctoral student, she was awarded a United States Pharmacopeia Fellowship from 2003 to 2005 for her research on the development of in vitro release testing standards for biodegradable polymer drug delivery systems.

Arindam Dhar, M.D., Ph.D., IOTF Fellow

Photo: Arindam Dhar, M.D., Ph.D., IOTF FellowDr. Dhar is a NCI-FDA Interagency Oncology Task Force (IOTF) Fellow working on nanotechnology-based cancer theranostics (therapeutics + diagnostics using single multifunctional particles) at the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL). The project aims to establish the potential for human use of a targeted nano-theranostic system by determining effectiveness as well as pharmacological-toxicological properties in vitro and in vivo. This Fellowship is a collaborative project with the NCI Nanobiology Program and the Laboratory of Cancer Prevention. As part of his Fellowship, Dr. Dhar also works at the FDA on regulatory review with emphasis on nanomedicine.

Previously, Dr. Dhar worked as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Doris Benbrook (Gynecologic Oncology), University of Oklahoma HSC, and with Dr. Nancy Colburn (Laboratory of Cancer Prevention) at NCI-Frederick. He studied transcription factors (retinoic acid/retinoid receptors, NF-κB and AP-1) as molecular targets for cancer prevention. He is actively involved in basic and translational research with nitric oxide-donors for cancer therapy and prevention. Dr. Dhar received his M.B.B.S. degree from the University of Calcutta, and his M.D. (Pharmacology) and Ph.D. (Biotechnology) from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Chris McLeland, Senior Research Associate

Photo: Chris McLeland, Research AssociateMr. McLeland joined the NCL in October of 2004 as a research associate. He works closely with NCL staff members to provide technical and logistical support in order to develop a series of assays that characterize the physical, in vitro and in vivo properties of nanoparticles.

Chris McLeland served as a research biochemist at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, MD, on the Biodosimetry Team prior to joining NCL. In this capacity, he and his colleagues developed a quantitative real-time PCR assay for assessing exposure to radiation. He has collaborated with NCI investigators and was subsequently co-authored on peer-reviewed publications. He received his B.S. degree in Biology from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.

 

Timothy M. Potter, Research Associate

Photo: Timothy M. Potter, Research AssistantMr. Potter is the primary tissue culture technician for the NCL, maintaining human and animal primary and immortalized cells. His duties include running a variety of cell-based toxicity and immunology assays and working closely with other NCL personnel in assay development.

Tim began working at the NCI at Frederick in 1989 in the Laboratory Animal Sciences Program. In early 1990, he transferred to the In Vitro Cell Line Screening Program (IVCLSP) of the Screening Technology Branch. In the IVCLSP, he developed extensive cell culture experience as a technician in the 60 cell line human tumor panel, the AIDS-related Lymphoma Screen and the Cellular Differentiation Screen. He was later assigned to the Molecular Target Screening Program, where he helped develop and run a variety of molecular target screens, including the B/ZIP and nucleocapsid screens. The wide range of experiences and responsibilities in his assignments in the Screen Technology Branch has given Tim valuable skills in cell culture and assay development.

Barry W. Neun, Research Assistant

Photo: Barry W. Neun, Research AssistantMr. Neun is the Radiation Area Supervisor and is responsible for establishing the Radiological Program for the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL). He is also the primary technician responsible for animal studies in working with the Laboratory Animal Sciences Program (LASP) and the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) to develop animal studies which will help the NCL with its mission. Other duties include running various toxicity and immunological assays to help with the characterization of the nanoparticles submitted to the NCL.

Barry has been employed continuously at the NCI-FCRF campus since November of 1987. He comes to the NCL having worked in the In Vitro Cell Line Screening Program (IVCLSP), part of the Screening Technologies Branch (STB). He has extensive experience in mammalian cell culture having helped maintain the 60 cell line human tumor panel used in the IVCLSP. He then branched out into high throughput molecular targeted anti-cancer screens. One screen Barry helped develop involved Thymidine Phosphorylase, an enzyme involved in angiogenesis signaling. Working on the development, optimization and implementation of high throughput molecular targeted screens has also given Barry valuable experience in recombinant protein expression and isolation.

Sarah Skoczen, Research Assistant

Photo: Sarah Skoczen, Research AssistantMs. Skoczen joined the NCL in September of 2005, as a Research Assistant. She is responsible for helping maintain human and animal primary and immortalized cells. Her duties also include running a variety of toxicity and immunological assays that aid in the characterization of nanoparticles submitted to the NCL. In addition to the biological assays, she provides support for a variety of physico-chemical characterization assays.

Sarah received a B.S. in Biology from Shippensburg University and a M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University in December of 2005. She began working at SAIC-Frederick in June of 2002 in the In Vitro Cell line Screening Program (IVCLSP) of the Screening Technology Branch. As a technician on the 60 cell line human tumor panel, she gained valuable experience in mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique. She has also worked in the Radiation Modifiers Evaluation Module (RAMEM), where she screened for radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity of human tumor cell lines.

Lydia Fine, Secretary

Photo: Lydia Fine, Secretary Mrs. Lydia Fine is the Secretary for the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL). She joined the NCL in November 2004. In her position, Lydia arranges meetings and appointment schedules, makes travel arrangements, orders supplies/equipment, edits and prepares material for final review, participates in planning functions and provides administrative support to the entire NCL Staff.

Lydia began working at SAIC-Frederick in June 2002 as a Secretary for the Engineering Department in Facilities Maintenance and Engineering (FME). Later she became the Secretary of the Project Managers (PM) and the Manager of the PM's in FME. Before moving back to Maryland in June 2002, Lydia was a Revenue Specialist for the State of Florida, Department of Revenue, Child Support Division in Port Charlotte, FL. She received her A.A. degree and a Certificate in Office Technology from Frederick Community College in Frederick, MD.

 
       
       
National Cancer InstituteDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institutes of HealthFirstGov.govNCI - Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer
National Cancer Institute U.S. National Institutes of Health www.cancer.gov Nanotechnology Characterization Lab