COEH faculty have research foci in the areas of reproductive and developmental toxicology, neurotoxicology, inhalation toxicology, cardiovascular toxicology, and immunotoxicology.
Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology
Current research focuses on how occupational and environmental exposures damage the female and male reproductive systems, causing premature menopause, infertility and cancer, on the developmental origins of premature menopause, male and female infertility, and ovarian cancer, and of antioxidants in protecting against ovarian toxicity. Exposures being investigated include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, particulate matter air pollution, cannabis and space radiation. Research also combines toxicological and epidemiological approaches to understanding reproductive and developmental toxicants in human populations.
COEH faculty members conducting research in reproductive and developmental toxicology:
Neurotoxicology
Research focuses on the impact of environmental factors, such as copper in drinking water and particulate matter air pollution upon the expression of chronic degenerative neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, is increasingly relevant as the population ages. These factors are under study using animal models of neurodegenerative disease.
COEH faculty members conducting research in neurotoxicology:
Inhalation, cardiovascular, and immune- toxicology
Research focuses on the roles of inflammation and oxidative stress as initiators of cardiopulmonary injury after exposure to ambient and laboratory-generated particle and gas mixtures. Studies involve inhalation exposures of human volunteers and laboratory animals to laboratory-generated fine and ultra-fine particles and to size differentiated ambient particles to examine the mechanisms by which inhaled environmental contaminants alter homeostatic processes that influence cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary physiology and thereby cause or exacerbate lung and heart diseases.
COEH faculty members conducting research in inhalation, cardiovascular, and immune- toxicology:
