In general, the goals of our research are three-fold:
- Determine the role of environmental exposure during critical periods of development on neurological disease through the lifespan and the mechanisms by which disease and dysfunction is produced.
- Develop animal models of neurological disease and dysfunction based on environmental exposures and test therapeutic agents in these models
- Identify novel and specific biomarkers of exposure and disease for early detection of disease or dysfunction of the nervous system.
More specifically, our research is currently focused on the effects of pesticide exposure during critical periods of development and what role such exposures may play in the etiology and pathogenesis of Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). We have recently developed a new animal model for ADHD based on developmental exposure to pyrethroid pesticides and are currently expanding our research with this model to determine the mechanisms by which these pesticides produce their effects and to gain insight into the pathogenic mechanisms in ADHD (Funded by NIEHS R21ES013828 andR01ES015991). We are also engaged in collaborative work with Dr. Stuart Shalat, an epidemiologist at EOHSI, and Dr. Thomas Rugino, a neurologist at Children’s Specialized Hospitals, aimed at using our animal model to develop biomarkers of pyrethroid exposure and ADHD. We will also be conducting exposure analysis and biomarker testing in Dr. Rugino’s ADHD patient population. Finally, we are testing both therapeutic drugs and novel non-pharmacological therapies in this model aimed at providing alternatives or adjuvants to psychostimulant drug administration for treating ADHD.
Similarly, we are pursuing our interest in environmental factors in PD focusing on exposures to persistent organic pollutants such as organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls. Current research is focused on developing pre-clinical peripheral biomarkers for dopaminergic neurodegeneration (Funded by a pilot grant from the NIEHS Center), determination of specific pesticides that are elevated in the blood of PD patients in collaboration with Dr. Dwight German at University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center (Funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Research). Further research in this area focuses on determination of the mechanisms by which these compounds produce dopaminergic dysfunction and the evaluation of gene-environment interactions in PD patient populations.
To accomplish our research goals, we make use of a variety of research techniques spanning from in vitro cell culture models to in vivo animal models and human populations and from molecular techniques to whole animal behavioral techniques. Specific techniques include, but are not limited to, laser capture microdissection, real-time PCR, radioligand binding and autoradiography techniques, western immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, HPLC, LC/MS, GC/MS, and operant behavioral techniques.
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