JAMES A. SWENBERG, Director
Louise M. Ball, Metabolism and Genotoxicity of Environmental Xenobiotics
Thomas W. Bouldin, Neuropathology, Ocular Pathology, and Neurotoxicology
Kim Rowse Brouwer, Pharmacokinetics, Hepatic Transport, Hepatobiliary Disposition, Biliary Excretion, Hepatotoxicity
Stephen G. Chaney, DNA Repair and Platinum Anticancer Drugs
Marila Cordeiro-Stone, DNA Repair and Replication in Human Cells; Mechanisms of Response to DNA Damage
Fulton T. Crews, Neurodegeneration and Chronic Drug-Induced Changes in Brain Signaling Pathways
Channing J. Der, Ras Protein Superfamily, Signal Transduction and Oncogenesis
Avram Gold, Structure-Reactivity Relationships in Metabolism and Mutagenicity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Milan J. Hazucha, Health Effects of Air Pollutants, Human Studies, Mechanisms of Response
David J. Holbrook Jr., Biochemical Toxicology, Xenobiotic Metabolism
David G. Kaufman, DNA Replication, Chemical Carcinogenesis
William K. Kaufmann, DNA Metabolism in Radiation and Chemical Carcinogenesis
Jean M. Lauder, Developmental Neurobiology, Developmental Biology, Neurotoxicology
Terry Magnuson, Mammalian Genetics, Genomics and Development
Richard B. Mailman, Parkinson's Disease, CNS Toxicology
Patricia F. Maness, Axon Guidance and Signal Transduction in Nervous System Development
A. Leslie Morrow, Neurotoxicology and Excitotoxicity of Alcohol
David Peden, Translational and Clinical Research in Environmental Lung Disease
Gary M. Pollack, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Therapeutic and Toxic Agents
Stephen M. Rappaport, Exposure Assessment, Industrial Hygiene
R. Jude Samulski, Development of Efficient Viral Vectors for Gene Delivery into Eukaryotic Genes
Aziz Sancar, DNA Repair and Cancer; Structure and Function of DNA Repair Enzymes and Reaction Mechanism of Human Blue-Light Photoreceptor
Kathleen K. Sulik, Developmental Toxicology, Embryology
James A. Swenberg, Carcinogenesis, DNA and Protein Adducts, Cell Proliferation, Risk Assessment
Bernard E. Weissman, Chromatin Remodeling and Epigenetic Alterations in Human Cancer
Elizabeth M. Wilson, Androgen Receptor Regulation of Gene Expression; Environmental Androgens and Antiandrogens; Androgen Receptor Regulation of Prostate Cancer
Christoph H. Borchers, Proteomics, Protein-Protein, and Protein-Ligand Interaction by Mass Spectrometry
William B. Coleman, Hepatocarcinogenesis, Tumor Suppressor Genes,
Biology of Liver Stem Cells, Cancer Epigenetics
Lee M. Graves, Protein Kinases and Cell Signaling, Regulation of Cell Metabolism and Toxicity
Robert C. Millikan, Cancer; Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology
Leena A. Nylander-French, Development of Methods to Monitor and Assess Dermal Exposure to Chemical Carcinogens and Contact Sensitizers
Dale A. Ramsden, V(D)J Recombination and DNA Double Strand Break Repair
Philip C. Smith, Toxicokinetics and Xenobiotic Metabolism, Peptide Analysis and Disposition
David Threadgill, Mammalian Genetics, Systems Genetics, Toxicogenomics, Gene x Environment Interactions, Cancer Susceptibility
Mohanish P. Deshmukh, Molecular Mechanisms of Apoptosis in Neurons and Other Postmitotic Cells
Jeffrey M. Macdonald, Metabolomics and Fluxomics Using NMR Spectroscopy and Imaging and Tissue Engineering
Charles M. Perou, Characterize and Classify Human Breast Tumors into Subtypes of Biological and Clinical Importance
Ivan Rusyn, Environmental Genomics
Miroslav Styblo, Metabolism and Biological Effects of Essential and Toxic Metals and Metalloids
Research Assistant Professor
Ilona Jaspers, Cellular Mechanisms of Air Pollutant Toxicity
Melvin E. Andersen, Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Environmental Compounds
Linda S. Birnbaum, Chemical Disposition of Xenobiotics, Mechanistic Toxicology, Dose-Response and Risk Assessment
John A. Cidlowski, Apoptosis, Steroids, Glucocorticoid Receptors, Hormone Action, Nucleases, Gene Regulation
Daniel L. Costa, Cardiopulmonary and Inhalation Toxicology; Health Effects of Air Pollutants
Robert B. Devlin, Pulmonary Toxicology, Molecular Biology
Steven R. Kleeberger, Genetic Determinants of Environmental Lung Disease
Stephanie Padilla, Behavioral Toxicology and Neurotoxicology
Michael D. Waters, Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis, Toxicogenomics
James W. Allen, Genetic Toxicology, Toxicogenomics and Epigenetic Mechanisms in Chemical Carcinogenesis
David C. Dorman, Experimental Neurotoxicology, Nasal Toxicology, Pharmacokinetics
Ronald P. Mason, Free-Radical Intermediates in the Metabolism of Toxic Chemicals
John M. Rogers, Developmental Toxicology, Teratology, Developmental Biology, Embryology, Nutrition
James M. Samet, Inflammatory Responses to Pollutant Inhalation; Cytokines; Eicosanoids
MaryJane K. Selgrade, Immunotoxicology
Robert Sills, Molecular Pathology
Ralph J. Smialowicz, Immunotoxicology (with a Focus on the Developing Immune System)
Raymond W. Tennant, Transgenic Animals in Carcinogenesis Studies
Hugh A. Tilson Jr., Behavioral Toxicology, Developmental Neurotoxicology
Kenneth R. Tindall, Molecular Mutagenesis, Somatic Cell Mutation, Role of Mutagenesis in Carcinogenesis
Douglas C. Wolf, Chemical Carcinogenesis
Hugh A. Barton, Xenobiotics Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) and Pharmacodynamic Modeling
Ronald E. Cannon, Cancer Biology, Transgenic Mouse Models
Kevin M. Crofton, Understanding the Consequences of Endocrine Disruption on Neurodevelopment
Michael DeVito, Development of Models for Cumulative Risk to Endocrine Disruptors
Suzanne Fenton, Environmental Effects on Mammary Gland Development and Function
Ian Gilmour, Experimental Toxicology
G. Jean Harry, Developmental Neurotoxicology, Molecular Neuro/Immunotoxicology
Yuh-Chin T. Huang, Genomics and Oxidative Stress in Vascular Reactivity
E. Sidney Hunter, Mechanisms of Developmental Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, Embryonic Stem Cells in Developmental Toxicity
Edward L. LeCluyse, Cellular/Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Liver Cytochrome P450 Enzymes Expression
Michael C. Madden, Air Pollution Toxicology, Lung Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Michael G. Narotsky, Developmental Toxicology, Pregnancy Maintenance and Parturition
Nigel Walker, Risk Assessment, Receptor-Mediated Toxicants, Environmental Contaminants and Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis
The Curriculum in Toxicology administers degree programs leading to the award of the PhD in toxicology and the MS in toxicology. The curriculum is an interdisciplinary program, and its faculty is drawn from various administrative units of the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Public Health. The training faculty also includes scientists at government laboratories on campus or in the Research Triangle Park (e.g., EPA, NIEHS). The research interests of the faculty are directed primarily at the biochemical and cellular mechanisms of action of toxic substances in mammalian systems, including cultured cells. The interests include most areas of toxicology, but major emphases are directed toward molecular and cellular toxicology; neurotoxicology; pulmonary toxicology; and carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. The faculty generally does not conduct research in the areas of aquatic toxicology, forensic toxicology, the ecological aspects of toxicology, or studies in invertebrate systems. The research activities of the Curriculum in Toxicology are conducted in the laboratory facilities assigned to each faculty member by a participating administrative unit.
Applications for predoctoral studies are considered from students who have received or expect to receive a BS/BA or an MS degree in a scientific discipline. A desirable background includes courses in biological sciences (including histology and animal physiology), in chemistry (including analytical and organic), and mathematics through calculus, although all of these are not absolutely essential. A strong course in general biochemistry accelerates the student's progress. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of undergraduate (and graduate) academic performance, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (General Test, and Subject Test if available), and letters of recommendation. Students are accepted on the basis of their achievement and potential. Special circumstances, including prior research experience and publications, are considered in individual cases in the assessment of qualifications for admission. The curriculum offers a program leading to the MS degree only under special circumstances.
The selection of a predoctoral student's graduate courses is influenced by that student's prior academic background. The minimum academic courses which we consider to be appropriate for graduate training in toxicology constitute approximately thirty-three credit hours in didactic courses, including biochemistry, biostatistics, histology, pathology, toxicology, and three elective courses. In addition, each predoctoral student is expected to participate in a minimum of twelve credit hours of nondidactic training activities; i.e., two semesters of laboratory research experience prior to the doctoral research and four seminars. The satisfactory completion of appropriate courses during the prior academic career permits a student to have greater latitude in the selection of courses.
A major requirement for the PhD degree is a doctoral dissertation based on the student's independent laboratory research. Written and oral examinations are required in the fields of general toxicology and the major research interest.
The curriculum seeks to fund predoctoral students each year. All applicants are considered for financial aid awards. For the maximum consideration for financial aid awards, applications for admission for the fall semester should be completed by early January and for the spring semester by September.
423 [123] DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY (CBIO 423) (2). Emphasis is placed on topics of current research interest relative to the genesis of environmentally caused and genetically based birth defects. One two-hour session per week (evening). Spring. (Alternate years.) Cell biology faculty: Sulik (course director).
442 [142] BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY (BIOC 442) (ENVR 442) (3). Prerequisites, any combination of two courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, or cell physiology (or permission of the course director). Development of a comprehensive understanding of biochemical and molecular actions of environmental chemicals and toxicants, and proper application of novel laboratory techniques for hypothesis-driven mechanistic research. Three lecture hours per week. Spring. Toxicology faculty: Rusyn (course director).
702 [202] PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY (PHCO 702) (3). Prerequisites, PHCO 701 or approval of the instructor. Introduces the major areas of pharmacology and toxicology and serves as a basis for more advanced courses. Three lecture hours per week. Spring. Pharmacology faculty: Parise (course director).
707 [207] ADVANCED TOXICOLOGY (PHCO 707) (ENVR 707) (3). Prerequisite, PHCO 702 or permission of the course director. Cellular and physiological basis of toxicity of environmental chemicals, with emphasis on inhalation toxicology, developmental toxicology, immunotoxicology, radiation toxicology, renal toxicology, and neurotoxicology. Three lecture hours per week. Fall. Toxicology faculty: Swenberg (course director).
715 [215] INTRODUCTION TO TOXICOLOGICAL RESEARCH (4). Introductory laboratory experience from research projects of limited scope to acquaint students with the experimental approaches, techniques, and equipment of current research in toxicology. May be repeated. Twelve laboratory hours per week. Fall, spring, and summer. Toxicology faculty: Nylander-French (course director).
720 [220] TOXICOLOGY SEMINAR I (1). Seminar series to introduce recent advances, methodology, and terminology in toxicology. One hour per week. Fall and spring. Toxicology faculty: Padilla (course director).
721 [221] TOXICOLOGY SEMINAR II (1). Student-conducted presentations and discussions of recent advances in toxicology; emphasis on critical evaluation of published investigations and on organization and oral delivery of presentations. May be repeated up to six times. One hour per week. Fall and spring. Toxicology faculty: Padilla (course director).
722 [222] TOXICOLOGY SEMINAR III (ENVR 722) (1). Presentations by outside invited speakers, local faculty, advanced graduate students, and postdoctoral trainees. Topics will cover all areas of research in toxicology. One hour per week. Fall and spring. Toxicology faculty: Rusyn (course director).
750 [250] DATA ANALYSIS (PATH 750) (PHCO 750) (CBIO 750) (1). Data analysis for biomedical scientists. This largely self-study course deals with basic statistical and quantitative methods for the analysis and interpretation of biomedical data. This course is required for PHCO/TOXC/PATH graduate students. Permission of the instructor is required for other students. Fall. Nicholas (course director).
760 [260] TOXICOKINETICS (3). A quantitative examination of the time course of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and biologic effects of agents of toxicologic interest. Three lecture hours per week. Fall. (2007 and alternate years.) Brouwer, Pollack (course co-directors).
792 [292] SEMINAR IN CARCINOGENESIS (PATH 792) (2). Prerequisite, permission of the course director. Survey of classical and current literature on selected critical issues in carcinogenesis. Discussions consider experimental methods and observations as well as theories and generalizations. Two seminar hours per week. Spring. Pathology faculty: Coleman (course director).
901 [301] RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY (Var.). May be repeated for credit. Hours and credits to be arranged. Fall, spring, and summer. Toxicology faculty.
993 [393] MASTER'S THESIS (Var.). May be repeated. Hours and credits to be arranged. Fall, spring, and summer. Toxicology faculty.
994 [394] DOCTORAL DISSERTATION (Var.). May be repeated. Hours and credits to be arranged. Fall, spring, and summer. Toxicology faculty.