About

2d03cedAlexander Suvorov, PhD, PI

According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, exposure to stressors during vulnerable windows of prenatal and early-life development may impact adult disease later in life. Although there is growing evidence of long term effects of xenobiotics on different health effects, and in particular on metabolic health, this field yet resides in its infancy. Most experimental studies focus on final health endpoints and mechanistic knowledge is scarce. Lack of mechanistic understanding makes it extremely challenging to prevent long-term health effects, predict possible effects of new xenobiotics, and identify nodal points of action, which might serve as therapeutic targets to treat environmentally-mediated disease. Thus our goal is to understand molecular and other mechanisms perturbation of which during early windows of plasticity by environmental stressors may result in long-lasting health effects and ultimately have significant impact on public health.


Ahmed

Ahmed Khalil, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate

  • Ph.D. in Technical Chemistry & Biochemistry –G.W. Leibniz University – Hannover – Germany 2008
  • M.Sc .in Biochemistry – Ain-Shams University- Egypt 2002
  • B.Sc. in Biochemistry – Alexandria University – Egypt 1995

I am interested in understanding the reprogramming contribution of 2, 2’, 4, 4’-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) on mTOR pathway and its implications to development, diabetes and cancer. My previous work during my Ph.D. research includes the study of yeast genes expression using DNA microarray technology. I have experience studying the mitochondrial dysfunction in human cancer and diabetes at Baystate Medical Center. I was also involved in using different immunochemical techniques to prepare antitetanus antibodies for passive immunization.


Victoria Salemme

I am a senior undergraduate student studying Animal Science on the Pre-Veterinary Track. Currently, I am involved in a research project that provides an unbiased approach to study response to chemical exposures. This project is based on the analysis of chemical-gene interactions using bioinformatic methods. Using programs such as GSEA, Metascape and IPA, we are analyzing the number of interactions between genes and environmental chemicals in order to determine what genes or cellular pathways are highly sensitive to chemical exposure. The goal of this project is to determine where the field of toxicology should consider focusing in the future and supporting the idea that toxicology must move towards a molecular focus to view the effects of chemical exposure. My career goals include pursuing graduate school in order to become a veterinary researcher, where I hope to improve the available diagnostic methods currently used, while also determining new and improved ways of diagnosing issues in domestic pets.


 

Lab Picture1Cassandra Thorburn

I am a senior undergraduate student working towards a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a concentration in Neuroscience and a minor in English Literature. My current research utilizes various bioinformatics software to study the mechanistic effects of prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of flame-retardant chemicals recently shown to have endocrine-disrupting potential. I am seeking to discover a mechanism which accounts for the neurodevelopmental deficits associated with prenatal exposure to PBDEs. Last year, during spring semester, I studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, where I continued my studies in Neuroscience at the University of Cape Town. Since then, I have had quite the travel bug! Besides travel, I love to read and write in my few moments of spare time.


Ben Kim

Benjamin Kim

I’m a Biochemistry Major and Sociology Minor on the pre-medical track. I’m currently researching the effects of the polybrominated diphenyl ether BDE-47 on the REDD1/DDIT4 gene. I’m also a fencer and a musician and play piano in my spare time. I enjoy working in the Suvorov Lab because I can practice biochemical techniques while working towards solutions to problems affecting populations around the world.

 

 

 


Portman

 

Daneal Portman

I am a senior undergraduate student earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Psychology. My Research focuses on the effects of perinatal exposure to the ubiquitous Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congener 2,2’,4,4’- tetrabromodiphenyl ether(BDE-47) on the male reproductive system in the rat model. Utilizing RT-PCR, I am looking at possible perturbations in gene expression in the mTOR pathway. Furthermore, I am counting testes homogenate via hemocytometer to look for impairments in spermatogenesis and decreased daily sperm production due to BDE-47 exposure. After graduating, I will be backpacking for three months through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Upon returning to the states I will be working as a lab technician while applying for graduate or medical school.


Azer

Aser Abrha

I am an undergraduate student studying Biology and Public Health at UMass Amherst. I am originally from Ethiopia, and I moved to the United States in 2011. Currently, I am working on utilizing bioinformatics tools to analyze genomic data, and to have a broader understanding of the effect of endocrine disruptors and BFR’s on biological systems and pathways. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan on attending medical school, and conducting clinical research.