Timothy G. Bowden, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy
Chair, Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program

My research deals with molecular mechanisms of chemical and ultraviolet light induced non-melanoma skin cancer. We are studying UV induced cellular signaling that results in the promotion of skin cancers. With this information we are testing natural products and small molecule inhibitors that block the UV signaling and may prevent skin cancer.

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Todd Camenisch, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology

The focus of the laboratory is investigating the integration between extracellular matrix and growth factor receptor signaling during heart morphogenesis. The emphasis is on heart septae and valve formation.

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Qin M. Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Director, NIEHS Training Grant

Our laboratory is interested in the molecular impact of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the physiology of normal (i.e. non-tumor) cells. We investigates the signaling pathways and transcription factors activated by ROS. These findings are potentially beneficial for the translational studies to prevent or treat environmental diseases involving oxidative stress.

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Nathan Cherrington, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology

We study the molecular mechanisms involved in the transcriptional regulation of drug transporters and drug metabolizing genes. By pharmacologically inducing certain hepatic transporters, we hope to be able to reduce toxicity during several forms of liver disease.

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Bernard W. Futscher, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pharmacology& Toxicology
Director, Genomics Facility Core

The research in my laboratory focuses on the field of cancer epigenetics. Using both genomic and gene-specific approaches, we are attempting to determine how disruption of normal epigenetic control mechanisms contribute to human oncogenesis.

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A. Jay Gandolfi, Ph.D.
Professor Pharmacology & Toxicology
Director, NIEHS Super Fund Program
Assistant Dean, College of Pharmacy

My research use in vitro systems (e.g. cell culture, slices) to determine mechanisms of toxicity in target organs. Current emphasis is on toxicity of metals.

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Patricia B. Hoyer, Ph.D.
Professor of Physiology

My research focuses on ovarian function, specifically mechanisms by which environmental chemicals cause toxicity in ovarian follicles in
rats and mice. We have also developed a chemically-induced mouse model for early ovarian failure. This model is suitable for studies related to pre- and post-menopause in women.

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Elaine L. Jacobson, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology

Our research is providing both fundamental and clinical data that are the basis of developing drugs to treat and prevent skin cancer.

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Myron K. (Mike) Jacobson, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry

Our laboratory is involved in understanding and therapeutic targeting of cellular responses to genotoxic stress with an emphasis of the involvement of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) in the maintenance of genomic integrity.

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R. Clark Lantz, Ph.D .
Professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy
Associate Head, Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy
Deputy Director, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center

Our lab focuses on pulmonary toxicology. Exposure to environmental toxicants alters lung structure and function. Our primary focus is currently on determining the effects of environmentally relevant exposures to arsenic and uranium exposure, especially in sensitive populations.

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Serrine S. Lau, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Director, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center

Dr. Lau utilizes genomic and proteomic approaches to investigate reactive oxygen species and metabolism-dependent chemical induced cell injury and carcinogenicity. In addition, Dr. Lau is interested in the molecular mechanism(s) with which prostanoid protects cells against chemical-induced renal cell injury.

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Terrence J. Monks, Ph.D.
Professor Pharmacology & Toxicology
Chair, Dept. of Pharmacology of Toxicology

Dr. Monks has shown that ROS activate MAPKs, and promote the phosphorylation of histone H3, which is required for the initiation of chromosome condensation, a process essential for mitosis.

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Mark A. Nelson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pathology
Director of Research, Department of Pathology

Recently, the role of cyclin dependent kinases super family members as primary effectors and as mediators of tumorigenesis has become a subject of increased interest. Several cyclin dependent kinases are associated with the initiation of programmed cell death, thus linking the mechanisms controlling cell growth and apoptosis.

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Donato F. Romagnolo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Nutritional & Mammary Gland Biology

Our research investigates the role of environmental xenobiotics on expression of tumor suppressor genes in mammary epithelial cells. We are studying in vitro and in animal models the effects of exposure to ligands of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxin on transcriptional activity of the breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA-1.

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Raymond Runyan, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy

My laboratory focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular events that regulate heart valve formation. My interests in toxicology developed from observations that suggest that the industrial solvent and common environmental contaminant, trichloroethylene (TCE), appears to cause heart defects. We are looking at the molecular basis of this observation.

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I. Glenn Sipes, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology
Chair, Dept. Pharmacology

Dr. Sipes' research centers around the disposition and metabolism of environmental chemicals. He is particularly interested in how various chemicals are metabolized to toxic metabolites that damage the liver and ovary.

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Richard Vaillancourt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology

My research focuses on the regulation of protein kinases, which typically involves phosphorylation of specific amino acids.
Hormones, as well as environmental toxicants like arsenic, affect protein phosphorylation within the cell and our goal is to identify and characterize these events.

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Georg Wondrak , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Reactivity-based drug discovery for cancer chemoprevention and therapy aims at developing chemical reagents into potent drugs that target chemical mechanisms such as oxidative and carbonyl stress involved in carcinogenesis.

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Stephen H. Wright, Ph.D.
Professor of Physiology

The goal of my work has been to identify and characterize transport proteins that may play a role in the accumulation and/or clearance of toxic metals and metal-containing compounds by renal cells. My current emphasis have been to identify the pathways by which heavy metals and their chelators cross cell membranes.

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Donna Zhang , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology

The research projects in my laboratory are focused on (1) Mechanistic studies of the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway that is activated by oxidative stress and chemopreventive compounds, (2) the protective role of Nrf2 in arsenic-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity, and (3) regulation of gene expression by the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation pathway.

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