About Us > Faculty & Staff > Faculty > Sara Brenner

Assistant Vice President for NanoHealth Initiatives; Assistant Professor of Nanobioscience


Dr. Brenner Discusses Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety at CNSE

sbrenner@albany.edu

Dr. Brenner receives Women of Excellence Award 2012 by the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce

Read the Hospitals & Health Networks article, "Itty-Bitty Medicine," featuring Dr. Brenner

Read Dr. Brenner's article in Medgadget, "Safeguarding the Promise of Nanotechnology"

Watch Dr. Brenner on YNN's story on 100 NanoHealth jobs coming to region as industry grows

Read the New Haven Independent article, "She’s Sussing Nano-Safety From The Inside," featuring Dr. Brenner

SUNY Health Affairs - Dr. Brenner discusses the role of SUNY in improving health and wellness in New York 

Daily Gazette Nanotech Internship offers students hands-on lessons 8.19.10

Listen to Dr. Brenner discuss how nanotechnology is influencing medical research on WAMC's Academic Minute 

Watch Dr. Brenner's television interview with WNYT's Benita Zahn

Read Dr. Brenner's Nanotechnology Now web site article: Nano Meets Medicine and Public Health  

Read Dr. Brenner's Alumni Interview on the University of Iowa's Medicine Alumni Society webpage

Watch Dr. Brenner's interview on nanomedicine with Senator Kemp Hannon on "Health Matters"

Watch Dr. Brenner in the community during National NanoDays 2012

Degrees:

• M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
• M.P.H. (Master of Public Health) UAlbany School of Public Health
• B.S. (Genetics; Philosophy) Iowa State University of Science & Engineering

Residencies:

• Preventive Medicine, New York State General Preventive Medicine Residency
• Internal Medicine, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

Areas of Research:

• Nanomedicine
• Biomedical nanotechnology
• Nanotoxicology
• Preventive medicine & public health
• Occupational health & safety
• Environmental health
• Epidemiology
• Bioethics

Research Description:

Dr. Brenner's research and initiatives aim to develop novel nanotechnology applications in the life sciences, including medicine and public health.  She is also leading health and safety research initiatives related to nanoparticle and nanomaterial exposures in the workplace, consumer marketplace, and environment.  Dr. Brenner is addressing gaps in our understanding of the safety and risk associated with the unique characteristics of nanoscale materials by incorporating theory from many disciplines such as physics, engineering, biology, genetics, medicine, public health, epidemiology, and environmental science.  As part of these efforts, she is advancing risk assessment and reduction strategies for occupational exposures, monitoring of materials that may impact population health and public safety, and the development of industrial practice standards for product safety.  Dr. Brenner is working proactively with collaborators and partners to develop monitoring and surveillance techniques to assess the environmental and ecological impact as well as the biopersistence of engineered nanomaterials in the Capital District.  Her team is building a framework to employ custom-tailored strategies to mitigate potential risks associated with nanotechnology-based products that are currently on the market as well as those under development.

Honors & Awards:

• Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce Women of Excellence Award 2012 (Emerging Professional)
• American College of Preventive Medicine Don Gemson Resident Award
• A. Zamin Rizavi, MD Internal Medicine Award
• University of Iowa Hancher-Finkbine Medallion
• American Medical Association Foundation Leadership Award
• NIH Fellow, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia
• American College of Preventive Medicine Future Leaders in Preventive Medicine Award
• Global Entrepreneurs Conference Grant Recipient
• Karolinska Institute Academic Exchange
• University of Sydney Independent Exchange

Recent Publications:

• Alam B, Shepard M, Morgan H, Brenner S. (January 2012). Fundamental Investigation of Semiconductor Nanoparticle Health and Safety. SEMATECH-ISMI Tech Transfer Report ID 12015179A-ENG. ESHI006M – ESH – Advanced Technology & Assessments.
• Shepard M, Roth G, Morgan H, Brenner S. (January 2012). Nanoparticle Exposure Assessment During Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) Operation and Maintenance. SEMATECH-ISMI Tech Transfer Report ID 12015180A-ENG. ESHI006M – ESH – Advanced Technology & Assessments.
• Roth G, Morgan H, Brenner S. (January 2012). Identification and Determination of Fate of SiO2 Nanoparticles During Conventional Wastewater Treatment. SEMATECH-ISMI Tech Transfer Report ID 12015181A-ENG. ESHI006M – ESH – Advanced Technology & Assessments.
• Nasir, A, Brenner, S. (Accepted August 2011). Think Small: Nanotechnology for Plastic Surgeons. Annals of Plastic Surgery.
• Brenner S, Ling, J. (Submitted June 2011). Nanotechnology applications in orthopedic surgery. ASME Journal of Nanotechnology in Engineering and Medicine.
• Stebounova, L, Morgan H, Grassian V, Brenner S. (Submitted April 2011). Occupational Health & Safety Implications of Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials. WIREs Nanomedicine & Nanobiotechnology.
• Marchesano J, Brenner S. (December 2010). Nanotechnology in Biology: Understanding future ethical dilemmas from past technologies. Ethics in Biology, Engineering and Medicine.
• Brenner S, Pautler, M. (September 2010). Nanotechnology applications in vascular disease. ASME Journal of Nanotechnology in Engineering and Medicine.
• Pautler M, Brenner S. (September 2010). Nanomedicine: Promises and Challenges for the Future of Public Health. International Journal of Nanomedicine.
• Brenner S. (August 2010). Colorectal Cancer. Focus on Female Cancers Resource Guide. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, District II/NY.
• Brenner S, Siu K. (November 2009). Physician Leadership in Health Policy & Preventive Medicine. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice.
• Kaloyeros AE, Alperson B, Brilla R, Geer R, Brenner S, Haldar P, Cupoli EM. (November 2009). How Nanoscale Is Revolutionizing Technology and Business. Semiconductor International.
• Brenner S. (October 2009). Cancer Survivorship: Cancer Types. Focus on Female Cancers Resource Guide. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, District II/NY.
• Brenner S. (September 2009). Clinical and Public Health Genomics: Informing Prevention and Population Medicine. Medscape Perspectives in Prevention.
• Brenner S, Parker C. (March 2009). Health Effects of Global Climate Change: How Health Professionals Can Be Part of the Solution. Medscape Perspectives in Prevention.
• Brenner SA. (July 2008). Policy and Advocacy Solutions to Public Health and Health System Challenges. Medscape Public Health & Prevention.

Invited Presentations:

• Semiconductor Environmental Safety & Health Association (SESHA) National Conference, San Jose, CA (Keynote) 4/12
• Jacobi Medical Center Grand Rounds, Bronx, NY 4/12
• Rotary Club of Schenectady, Schenectady, NY 3/12
• American Waste Management Association/American Industrial Hygiene Association (AWMA/AIHA)
• Technical Conference, Syracuse, NY 3/12
• American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Albany, NY 2/12
• Girls, Inc. Nano Summit, Albany, NY (Keynote) 12/11
• Semiconductor Environmental Safety & Health Association (SESHA) New York State Conference, Albany, NY 11/11
• Inter-city Infectious Disease Conference, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY (Keynote) 11/11
• International Semiconductor Manufacturing Initiative (ISMI) Manufacturing Week Conference, Austin, TX 10/11
• American College of Healthcare Executives symposium, Verona, NY (Keynote) 10/11
• 5th International Symposium on Nanotechnology, Occupational & Environmental Health, Boston, MA 8/11
• Ethical, Legal and Societal Impacts of Nanotechnology Workshop, Stony Brook, NY 7/11
• Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine’s Distinguished Lecture, Chicago, IL 4/11
• Preventive Medicine 2011 (ACPM), San Antonio, TX 2/11
• American Society for Nanomedicine (ASNM), Potomac, MD 10/10 
• Ellis Hospital Leadership Development Institute, Scotia, NY 9/10
• PerkinElmer 2011 Nano Symposium, Boston, MA 8/10
• Occupational Health Clinic Network, Albany, NY 6/10 
• University of Rochester Medical Center Grand Rounds, Rochester, NY 4/10 
• Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences 3/10 
• NanoBio Symposium, CNSE, Albany, NY 3/10 
• Preventive Medicine 2010 (ACPM), Washington, DC 2/10 
• General Electric (GE) Health Care, Niskayuna, NY 1/10 
• Capital Region Medical Decision Making Group (CRMDMG), Albany, NY 11/09
• Pfizer Medical Futures Forum (MFF), New York City, NY 3/09 
• Preventive Medicine 2009 (ACPM), Los Angeles, CA 2/09

• DigiGirlz Day, UAlbany, Albany 3/12
• NanoHigh, Nanomedicine Display & Discussion, CNSE, Albany, NY 2/12
• "Health Matters" live televised interview with Senator Kemp Hannon, Albany, NY 2/12
• NANOvember Community Day, CNSE, Albany, NY 11/11
• Children’s Museum of Science & Technology NanoCamp, Albany, NY 7/11
• Tech Valley High School nanomedicine module, CNSE, Albany, NY 5/11
• Everyday Public Health: A Day in the Life panel, Rensselear, NY 4/11
• Bring our Future to Work Day, NYS Dept. of Labor, Troy, NY 4/11
• NanoDays 2011, New York State Museum, Albany, NY 4/11
• National Nanotechnology Days, Crossgates Mall Exhibit, Albany, NY 3/11
• Girl Scouts “Go Nano!” Program, CNSE, Albany, NY 3/11
• Nanomedicine Display at the New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12/10
• NANOvember Community Day, CNSE, Albany, NY 11/10
• NANOvember Y Nano, NanoHealth & NanoMedicine Activity, Albany, NY 11/10
• MVP Health Care Back to School Expo "Welcome to NanoWorld", Albany, NY 9/10
• Children's Museum of Science & Technology NanoCamp, Troy, NY 7/10, 8/10 
• NanoCareer Day, Nanomedicine Display & Discussion, CNSE, Albany, NY 5/10 
• NanoHigh, Nanomedicine Display & Discussion, CNSE, Albany, NY 4/10 
• National Nanotechnology Days, Crossgates Mall Exhibit, Albany, NY 4/10 
• NANOvember Lecture Series, Panelist Week 4, CNSE, Albany, NY 11/09 
• NANOvember Community Day, Booth/Display & Discussion, CNSE, Albany, NY 11/09 
• NANOvember Lecture Series, Presenter Week 1, CNSE, Albany, NY 11/09