Much of the work carried out by DTT is in support of the National Toxicology Program (NTP), an interagency partnership of the Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and NIEHS.

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Mechanistic Toxicology Branch

Gaylia J. Harry, Ph.D.

Biologist

Tel 984-287-4183
[email protected]

G. Jean Harry, Ph.D., is head of the Neurotoxicology Group within the Mechanistic Toxicology Branch. She obtained an M.S. in neuropharmacology from Virginia Commonwealth University with a research focus in drugs of abuse. Her Ph.D. was obtained from VCU and bridged the fields of neuropharmacology and neurotoxicology. Postdoctoral work was conducted in an NIH Training Program in Neuropathology followed by an NIH independent fellowship award in the Biochemistry Department, University of North Carolina. Following a position within the Developmental Disorders Center at UNC, she joined NIEHS as head of Neurotoxicology Group.

The Neurotoxicology Group studies adverse effects of environmental exposures on the nervous system using a multidisciplinary approach integrating molecular, anatomical, and behavioral assessments. The work examines the regulatory processes of tissue-resident immune cells and alterations in their normal function. Inflammatory processes and microglia dysregulation have been implicated in a diverse array of human disorders/disease states across the life-span. The current research examines the influence of environmental exposures as they may alter the normal function of microglia and the neuroimmune system leading to dysfunction and altered brain development and neurodegeneration. Other research interests lie in how to refine neurobehavioral testing methods for neurotoxicity and how to potentially translate findings fromin vitro models to adverse effectsin vivo.

Major Areas of Research

• Heterogeneity of the microglia response and regulatory processes.
• Mechanisms associated with microglia and tissue resident macrophage dysregulation contributing to chronic health conditions.
• Translation of findings fromin vitro models to effects observedin vivo.

Current Projects

• Establishment of cardiac tissue resident macrophage cell lines forin vitro assessment of regulatory processes and function.
• In vitro models of chemical/drug induced alterations in microglia phenotype (inflammatory and non-inflammatory processes).
• Long-term impact of combination HIV therapeutic drugs on the developing nervous system.

Recent Publications