- New
Center for Environmental Genomics at UC Los Angeles
- Coastal
Toxicology Coordinator Bonnie Williamson Moves on
- Assistant
Professor Opening in Environmental Toxicology at UC Santa Cruz
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New
Center for Environmental Genomics at UC Los Angeles
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With the recent success
in the sequencing of the human and mouse genomes and the explosion of information
in the field of genetics, the importance of genetics to public health is of
greater potential significance than ever before.
To address this issue, the Center for Environmental Genomics (CEG) was recently
developed under the initiative of Dr. Robert Schiestl, a member of the TSR&TP
Lead Campus in Toxic Mechanisms. The Toxic Mechanisms program sponsored the
Lead Campus symposium and training course which was held at the Los Alamos National
Laboratory in June 2001. This course significantly contributed to the conception
and implementation of the CEG. The CEG includes the participation of several
other members of the Lead Campus, including Drs. Oliver Hankinson, Curt Eckhert
and John Froines. Seed money from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
has jump-started the CEG, and the Center is currently seeking additional outside
funding.
The CEG goals are to investigate: the molecular mechanisms by which environmental
agents such as air pollutants and radiation interact with genetic predisposing
factors to cause diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma and
birth defects: how these agents cause changes in environmental biotas; the changes
in gene and protein expression patterns in response to challenge by environmental
agents including dose response relationships; the effects of the different genetic
makeup of individuals in the population on such changes; how nutritional and
chemical intervention (chemoprevention) may function to counteract disease;
the feasibility of developing predictive biomarkers for exposure or disease
predisposition, such as tests based on genetic instability, gene expression
profiles or DNA polymorphism.
The CEG promises to revolutionize toxicological research within the Lead Campus
Program and in the California toxicological community as a whole.
TSR&TP Toxic Mechanisms Lead Campus research and collaborations which
contributed to recent funding awarded to UCLA
Whereas the TSR&TP Toxic Mechanisms Lead Campus significantly helped to
give rise to the CEG, the CEG in turn has contributed to the award of a five
year, $7 million dollar Center Grant. The grant will explore the effects of
pesticides on Parkinson’ Disease, hence the name "Center for Gene
Environment Studies in Parkinson’s Disease". The Principal Investigator,
Dr. Marie-Françoise Chesselet, is a member of the CEG, co-PIs Beate Ritz
and Robert Schiestl are also members of TSR&TP and CEG.
The UC TSR&TP Toxic Mechanisms Lead Campus training course of June 2001
has also led to two awards for Dr. Schiestl’s laboratory. One is a $45,000
grant from the UC Campus Laboratory Exchange Program for collaborations with
Dr. Michael Altherr, Co-Director of the Lead Campus and investigator at the
Los Alamos National Laboratory. The second award of $25,000 was given by the
Southern California Health Sciences Center. The two awards will research "Effects
of carcinogen exposure on DNA rearrangements in human cells".
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Coastal
Toxicology Coordinator Bonnie Williamson Moves On
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| Bonnie Williamson, research associate and program coordinator for the Coastal Toxicology Lead Campus has taken a new position at UC Santa Barbara as a grant administrator for the Marine Science Institute. Bonnie worked with the Coastal Toxicology program for more than 12 years. She was instrumental in coordinating the activities of the Coastal program, most notably the annual retreat at Bodega Bay. She also coined the term Life After Toxics - following students who were supported by the TSR&TP and bringing them back from their new academic careers to inspire current students. Bonnie was well liked by the students and faculty of the lead campuses, and she was a great asset to the TSR&TP program as a whole. We will all miss her! |
Bonnie Williamson at the last TSR&TP Symposium in Long Beach |
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| Assistant Professor Opening in Environmental Toxicology at UC Santa Cruz | |
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The Department of
Environmental Toxicology seeks a tenure track ASSISTANT PROFESSOR focusing
on the study of organic contaminants. We are especially interested in
research that seeks to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying
the transport and/or fate of organic contaminants in the environment;
or the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic fate
and toxicity of organic contaminants to organisms in aquatic, terrestrial,
or laboratory/model systems. Truly exceptional candidates pursuing innovative
research in other areas of environmental health and toxicology may also
be considered. Postdoctoral experience is required. In addition to running
a strong research program, the candidate will teach both graduate and
undergraduate classes in environmental health and toxicology, and actively
participate in the ongoing development of the department and graduate
program in Environmental Toxicology. The campus is especially interested
in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the
academic community through their research, teaching and/or service. |
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