CEEH Research Highlights
Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb heads up new Northwest Kidney Institute
CEEH Affiliate
Dr. HimmelfarbDr. Jonathan Himmelfarb (Member, Gastrointestinal and Renal Toxicology ARE) recently moved to the Unviersity of Washington School of Medicine to become the director of the Northwest Kidney Institutes. His laboratory applies innovative technologies to enhance our understanding of biological pathways and networks relevant to kidney function, which plays a critical role in maintaining circulatory and organ system function. A persistent loss of kidney function results in chronic kidney disease (CKD), a highly prevalent condition in the US population a risk factor for cardiovascular events and death. The recognition of biomarkers that can evaluate cardiovascular risk in kidney disease would have the potential to be a powerful tool for clinical use, facilitating the use of appropriate therapies for patients.
CEEH Investigator studies the effects of phthalates on male genital development and links to testicular cancer
CEEH Affiliate
Dr. SathyanarayanaDr. Sheela Sathyanarayana (Member, Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology ARE) studies hypospadias and cryptorchidism, known risk factors for the development of testicular cancer in humans. Rates of these conditions are rising in industrialized countries, and it is believed that an interplay of genetics and the environment is to blame. Phthalates are synthetic chemicals that are ubiquitous in our environment. In animal studies, phthalate exposure during pregnancy leads to significant developmental toxicity in offspring, including testicular tumors later in life. A long-term goal of Dr. Sathyanarayana’s research is to determine whether the increased risk of altered genital development associated with exposure to phthalates during pregancy is modified by genetic factors related to the regulation of male genital development.
Dr. John Stamatoyannopoulos joins UW and CEEH
CEEH Affiliate
Dr. StamatoyannopoulosThe Northwest Reference Epigenome Mapping Center, headed by Dr. John Stamatoyannopoulos (UW Depts. of Genome Sciences and Medicine, and new member of the CEEH Biostatistics and Bioinformatics ARE) was recently awarded an NIH Road Map Initiative Grant. The Center will study how non-genetic factors affect the expression of DNA in pluripotent human cells—cells that have the potential to become many different types of body tissue depending on what the body needs them to be. The Center will also profile both small RNA species and conventional gene expression from all study cell types. These new approaches will be useful to a number of CEEH investigators who are interested in the effects of environmental exposures on gene regulation, especially as it relates to environmentally induced disease.
CEEH Investigators study the effects of diesel exhaust on heart function
CEEH Affiliate
Dr. RosenfeldDr. Michael Rosenfeld (Member, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Toxicology ARE) heads up a research program focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis. In a collaboration with Drs. Terry Kavanagh, Dan Luchtel and Joel Kaufman, the Rosenfeld laboratory has exposed ApoE null mice (an animal model that spontaneously develops atherosclerosis) to diesel exhaust for up to 8 weeks, and examined the effects of such exposure on heart rate, heart rate variability, inflammation and the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Diesel exhaust exposure was associated with a decrease in heart rate, and disturbances in heart rate variability, although there was no effect on the degree of atherosclerosis in the diesel-exposed mice. Dr. Rosenfeld plans to examine the effects exposure to diesel exhaust early in adolescence (beginning with 5-6 week old mice) in future studies.
CEEH Investigator looks for links between diet, genetics, and colorectal cancer
CEEH Affiliate
Dr. UlrichDr. Cornelia (Neli) Ulrich (Member, Carcinogenesis ARE) conducts research in the area of molecular epidemiology. This discipline integrates knowledge from the laboratory sciences (for example with respect to gene function) with epidemiologic methods for investigating the causes of diseases. Cancer is a multi-factorial disease, caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Combining genetic information with human studies on disease occurrence and extensive exposure information (e.g. on dietary behaviors) provides a powerful approach towards cancer prevention. Dr. Ulrich is pursuing the relationship between colorectal cancer and genetic factors affecting enzymes in folate metabolism and DNA repair enzymes, as well as biomarkers of DNA damage.
CEEH Investigators study connections between gene expression, proteins, and neurological diseases such as Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers.
CEEH Affiliate
Dr. ZhangDr. Jing Zhang (Member, Neurotoxicology ARE) is interested in neuropathology and the genetic and molecular mechnanisms responsible for the development of chronic neurological disease such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), ALS, and manganism. Recently Dr. Zhang conducted a study in collaboration with Dr. Dick Beyer of the CEEH Bioinformatics Core to discover biomarkers in the brains of patients with PD. Approximately 200 proteins were found to display significant differences in their relative abundance between PD patients at various stages and controls. Gene ontology analysis indicated that these altered proteins belonged to many categories (e.g. mitochondrial function and neurotransmission) that were likely critically involved in the development of PD. Dr. Zhang is now following up these studies in a larger cohort of PD patients, and also extending these exciting techniques to other neurological diseases such as AD.
