Area of Research Emphasis (ARE) #1:
Hepatic, Renal, and Gastrointestinal Toxicology
Overview: Mammals are equipped with an extremely versatile system of metabolic enzymes and transport proteins that act on drugs and other foreign substances (xenobiotics) that enter the body. These enzymes and proteins either convert the xenobiotics to harmless, inactive metabolites, or transfer them across biological membranes so they can be excreted from the body. These distribution and elimination processes occur mostly within organs associated with the gastrointestinal tract, such as the liver, intestines, kidneys, and pancreas. Because of their central role in concentrating and eliminating foreign molecules, these organs are particularly vulnerable to cellular damage from xenobiotics. Moreover, it has become increasingly clear that variability in the efficiency of the elimination processes within these organs influences how likely the organs are to be harmed by the xenobiotics.
CEEH Connections: Sixteen researchers affiliated with the CEEH are working in this area of research emphasis. For example, Ken Thummel, Danny Shen, and Jonathan Himmelfarb are interested in the mechanisms by which drugs cause harm to the kidneys. Allan Rettie, David Eaton, Evan Gallagher, and Sidney Nelson are studying the liver as a target for xenobiotic toxicity. Finally, CEEH affiliates such as Melissa Austin and William Atkins study how genetic variability can impact an individual’s susceptibility to lung, liver, and pancreatic cancers.
ARE Director:
Dr. Ken Thummel, UW Dept. of Pharmaceutics
thummel@u.washington.edu
206-543-0819