James S. Woods, PhD, MPH, MS

Our general area of research focuses on the gene-environment interactions that explain susceptibility of humans to toxicity from heavy metal exposures. Heavy metals such as mercury and lead are important public health hazards, because they accumulate in the brain and other organs, causing cognitive deficits, personality changes, and impaired motor function. Students in our laboratory use molecular biological and biochemical techniques to define the mechanisms by which metals cause toxicity to cells and tissues at the molecular level. Genomics and bioinformatics studies are also aimed at identifying polymorphisms in specific genes that explain why some individuals or subgroups, such as children or the elderly, are more susceptible to the toxic effects of metals than others.