Toxicology

Research Themes

• Role of nitric oxide in chemical-induced toxicity
  
  
  • Nitric oxide as a mediator of lung and liver toxicity (NIH funded)
  • Peroxynitrite and skin toxicity (NIH funded)
  • Ultrasensitive microprobes for single cell nitric oxide analysis (NIH funded)

• Mechanisms of benzene hematotoxicity
  
  
  • Open ring metabolites as mediators of benzene toxicity (NIH funded)
  • Free radicals in chemical-induced toxicity

• Biochemical and molecular mechanisms of halogenated hydrocarbon toxicity
  
  
  • Role of transcriptioin factor NF-kB in dioxin toxicity (NIH funded)
  • Bioavailability of dioxins, benzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls
  • Ah receptor gene polymorphisms and human cancer susceptibility

• Molecular mechanisms for cell growth control
  
  
  • Role of polyamines in regulating tumor growth (NIH funded)
  • Mechanism of action of psoralens in the regulation of cell growth (NIH funded)
  • Antiestrogens

• Developing rationale strategies for risk assessment
  
  
  • Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models
  • Integrating pharmacodynamics into the assessment of dose-response for pesticides
  • Models for percutaneous absorption of halogenated hydrocarbons
  • Assessing toxicity of chemical mixtures (NIH funded)
  • Genetic polymorphisms in carcinogen metabolizing enzymes as biomarkers of exposure and susceptibility (NIH funded)
  • Developing cumulative risk methodology for understanding community risk contaminants

  
  

Faculty

Jeffrey Laskin, Ph.D., Division Director

Deborah Cory-Slechta, Ph.D.

Andrew Brooks, Ph.D.
Michael Gallo, Ph.D.

Jason Richardson, Ph.D.
Mona Thiruchelvam, Ph.D.
Thresia Thomas, Ph.D.

Gisela Witz, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus