Mechanistic & Translational Toxicology RIG Members

Lu Cai, M.D, Ph.D.

Mechanistic & Translational Toxicology Research Interest Group Leader
Professor
Department of Pediatrics, Radiation Oncology, and Pharmacology & Toxicology
Director of Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
Dr. Lu Cai’s research interests and expertise include the cellular and molecular mechanisms of diabetes-induced cardiovascular diseases, more specifically for the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy, and the roles of trace elements such as zinc and iron and related metallothionein in the development of diabetic complications as well as the health effect of environmental contamination of heavy metals such as cadmium or ionizing radiation on the victim and their offspring.

Mayukh Banerjee, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Chronic arsenic toxicity, mostly through drinking of contaminated groundwater, is a global issue affecting about 225 million people worldwide, leading to multiple cancer types. My laboratory is interested in dissecting the molecular mechanisms of arsenic induced skin carcinogenesis using cell line models. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how arsenite can displace zinc from zinc finger proteins, affecting multiple cellular processes of vital importance thereby contributing to cancer development. We are also interested in exploring if zinc supplementation can prevent the arsenic binding to zinc finger motifs resulting in maintenance of proper function of these proteins and the pathways they are involved in.

Alex Carll, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.

Assistant Professor
Department of Physiology
Dr. Carll's research evaluates the impacts of multiple inhaled toxins (traffic-related, printer-derived, and ambient particulate matter, as well as volatile organic compounds and e-cigarette aerosols) on cardiac electrical activity, mechanical performance, and neural regulation, and the mechanisms by which they occur.
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Shao-yu Chen, Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Distinguished University Scholar
Dr. Chen’s laboratory has broad interests in the application of cutting-edge technology to the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying alcohol-related birth defects or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Using a combination of state-of-the-art approaches that are integrated with cell and whole embryo culture systems and in vivo mouse and zebrafish models of FASD, Dr. Chen’s laboratory has been successfully conducting innovative research in various areas. More recently, Dr. Chen’s research work has been focused on the epigenetic mechanisms underlying FASD.
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Daniel J. Conklin, Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Medicine
University Scholar
Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute
Dr. Conklin’s research interests include: environmental cardiology, obesity, diabetes, tobacco products, animal models of human disease, air pollution, cardiovascular toxicology, aldehyde metabolism.
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Cynthia Corbitt, Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Biology
Dr. Corbitt has research interest in behavioral neuroendocrinology (the interaction of hormones, brain, and behavior), with particular interest in the effects of environmental signals (e.g., diet, toxins, photoperiod, etc) on physiological processes.
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Petra Haberzettl, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Diabetes & Obesity Center
Dr. Haberzettl's research has been focused on the mechanisms by which air pollution exposure affects pulmonary and cardiovascular health. After her initial work on the pulmonary toxicity of respirable particles during her doctoral training, she developed a strong research interest on the cardiovascular toxicity of air pollution. Currently, she investigates how inhalation of polluted air induces vascular and cardiometabolic injury.
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Liqing He, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
University of Louisville
Dr. He’s research centers on developing multi-dimensional chromatography-mass spectrometry based bioanalytical platforms for metabolomics and epitranscriptomics. Dr. He also applies the developed technologies to analyze complex biological samples to understand the mechanisms of molecular regulation changes in biological systems.
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Jason Hellmann, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
University of Louisville
My lab is interested in understanding fundamental mechanisms that regulate inflammation and its resolution. In particular, we investigate how lipid mediator production and innate immune cell function is altered in cardiometabolic diseases. Recently, we uncovered novel mechanisms by which exercise promotes the production of specialized proresolving mediators and macrophage phagocytic function, resulting in enhanced resolution of acute inflammation.
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Bradford G. Hill, Ph.D., FAHA

Professor and University Scholar
Department of Medicine
Associate Director, Center for Cardiometabolic Science
University of Louisville
The broad theme of Dr. Hill’s research entails understanding how changes in metabolism contribute to cardio-metabolic health and disease. This involves the critical examination of glycolysis, mitochondria, and other pathways of intermediary metabolism and the development of causal relationships between metabolic defects or signatures and (patho)physiology.
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Jiapeng Huang, MD, PhD, FASA, FASE

Academic Advisory Dean
Tenured Professor & Vice Chairman
Medical Director of Operating Rooms
Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
Professor of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery
Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Professor of Medicine
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Associate Editor, Journal of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Anesthesia
Associate Editor, Seminars in Cardiothoracic & Vascular Anesthesia
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Medicine
Dr. Huang research interest are environmental factors for pulmonary hypertension and heart failure, molecular mechanisms of heart failure, COVID-19 and immune dysregulation, clinical and translational research.

Venkatakrishna Jala, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Dr. Jala has interest research in understanding the role of Gut microbiota and Microbial Metabolites in regulating inflammation and gut barrier function in gastro-intestinal related disorders.
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Irina Kirpich, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Associate Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center
Dr. Kirpich’s long-standing research interest is in understanding the molecular mechanisms of alcohol-associated liver disease development and progression, identifying new biomarkers of the disease and novel therapeutic targets. Dr. Kirpich’s laboratory has been focused on understanding the role of different types of dietary lipids, specifically n6 and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in alcohol-associated alterations in the gut-liver axis. They explore the role of PUFA-derived bioactive lipid mediators in mechanisms underlying inflammation development and resolution. Dr. Kirpich’s group also has a particular interest in ethanol-induced changes of gut microbiota, bacteria-derived molecules, and their contribution to the intestinal permeability and liver injury.

J. Calvin Kouokam, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Dr. Kouokam's laboratory currently explores the role of inflammation in chromium induced carcinogenesis. In addition, we are developing nature products for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.
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Amanda Jo LeBlanc, Ph.D.

Professor in the Department of Physiology
Cardiovascular Innovation Institute
Department of Pharmacology
LeBlanc Laboratory
Dr. LeBlanc’s research focus is primarily on myocardial and microvascular regenerative medicine in a model of advanced age. Specific topics of current projects and interests include sex-specific coronary physiology, adipose-derived cell-based therapeutics, and cardiovascular toxicology related to nanoparticle inhalation.

Craig J McClain, M.D., AGAF, FACG, FAASLD, FACN

Professor
Department of Medicine and Pharmacology & Toxicology
Chief of Research Affairs, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Associate Vice President for Health Affairs/Research
Associate Vice President for Translational Research
Director, Clinical Trials Unit / Liver Research Program
Distinguished University Scholar
Dr. McClain's research interests include Alcoholic Liver Disease, Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Nutrition.
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Rachel Neal, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Dr. Neal's research of interest consist of fetal basis of adult disease, adverse health effects of maternal smoking/vaping, health effects of gut microbiome.

Timothy Edward O’Toole, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Medicine
Core Director, Metabolism and Toxicity Core, Louisville Superfund Research Center
The goal of studies are to develop a mechanistic understanding whereby environmental exposure adversely impact cardiovascular function.
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Madhavi Rane, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension

Brian E. Sansbury, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute
Dr. Sansbury’s research program focuses on better understanding the impacts of particulate matter exposure on the endogenous mechanisms of inflammation. Dr. Sansbury’s group recently found that exposure to particulate matter induces a state of failed resolution of inflammation in the spleen which may lead to imbalances in immune responses and red blood cell homeostasis.
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Melissa Smith, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
Director, UofL Sequencing Technology Center
University of Louisville
Dr. Smith’s research focuses on the development of novel targeted genomics methods that leverage single molecule sequencing methods to deconvolute and characterize complex regions of mammalian genomes. In relation to projects that apply to environmental health science, Dr. Smith’s lab is currently developing several methods to investigate genetic and epigenomic polymorphism in mitochondrial genomes, direct measures of epitranscriptomic modifications (e.g., methyl-6-adenosine on RNA), as well as targeted long-read sequencing methods to characterize alternative splicing and gene fusions. Environmental exposures to hard metals, toxins, alcohol, and other proinflammatory stimuli are known to impact host metabolism, RNA biology and gene regulation.
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Banrida Wahlang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Dr. Wahlang specializes in environmental health research; her current work focuses on understanding how environmental toxicants such as organochlorine pesticides impact metabolic health, with emphasis on sex differences. Her overall career goal is to establish her research in the field of women’s health, and in particular, environmental women’s health, with emphasis on health of minorities and indigenous communities.
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Walter Watson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Medicine and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Dr. Waston's research interest consists of oxidative stress and redox signaling, alcoholic liver disease, role of environmental agents in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
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Kupper A. Wintergerst, MD, FAAP

Professor & Chief, Pediatric Endocrinology
Director, Wendy Novak Diabetes Center
University of Louisville, School of Medicine
Norton Children’s Hospital
Dr. Wintergerst’s primary research interests involve work in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, including the study of advanced technology, therapeutics, and environmental and social factors influencing disease and health outcomes.
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John Wise, Jr., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Dr. Johnny Wise's research interest is in the relationship between aging and toxicology, focusing on the impacts of heavy metals on the brain.

John Pierce Wise, Sr. Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University Scholar
Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology
Dr. John Pierce Wise, Sr. conducts basic and translation research studying how environmental chemicals transform normal cells into tumor cells focusing on chromosomes and how chemicals alter the number and structure of chromosomes leading to chromosome instability and cancer. Research projects in the laboratory include understanding DNA damage, DNA repair, mitosis, centrosome biology, cell-cell communication, chromatin folding, the fourth dimensional genome; all in a one environmental health context.
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Sandra Wise, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Dr. Wise's research interests include how environmental chemicals, such as hexavalent chromium, depleted uranium and other metals, can transform normal cells into cancer cells. These studies have focused on DNA repair deficiency and its impact on chromosome instability as a driving mechanism to cellular transformation and the development of disease. Currently, she is pursuing how cells exposed to these chemicals induce DNA and chromosomal damage yet are able to survive and evade the normal cell death pathways that should occur in order to protect the organism from disease.
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Jamie Young Wise, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Dr. Young’s research seeks to develop insight into how environmental toxicants (i.e., heavy metals and PFAS) affect health and cause disease, focusing on environmental liver disease (ELD).

Igor N. Zelko, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
University of Louisville
Dr. Zelko’s research focuses on the systemic effects of inhaled pollutants as well as the local pulmonary inflammatory processes that generate and release large quantities of free radicals. How these free radicals cause pulmonary and cardiovascular injury predisposing affected individuals to chronic and acute diseases is the main theme of Dr. Zelko’s research.
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Qunwei Zhang Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
The major interest of my laboratory is particle toxicology, especially nanotoxicology, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of various particles including ambient particulate matter, cigarette smoke extract, and engineered metal nanoparticles. Currently, my laboratory is investigating the mechanisms underlying metal nanoparticle-related lung injury, inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer.
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