Research interests in my laboratory focus on understanding how variations in an individual's genes affect how his/her body processes and responds to environmental chemical exposures. 
My long-term research program focus on three related areas of research: 

1. To define the molecular and cellular mechanisms that determines how certain genetic variations in the mammary gland affect the response to xenoestrogens.
2. To develop comprehensive estrogenic activity assays to accommodate the special challenges of risk assessment for genetically diverse human populations.
3. Development and application of molecular biomarkers of exposure, dose, and effect from xenoestrogen exposure.

Currently in our lab, we are seeking to understand how BRCA1 deficiency in mammary epithelial cells affects the response to xenoestrogens.  BRCA1 (Breast cancer-1) is the name of a gene that is altered in certain families with an inherited susceptibility to breast cancer.  Although it is well known that germline mutations in BRCA1 can initiate the breast tumorigenesis process, other factors that may influence the progression from this genetic predisposition to the onset of the disease have not been firmly established. Our preliminary studies as well as other supporting studies offer evidence to suggest that this variability could be due, in part, to an inappropriate response to hormonal exposure (e.g. estrogens) in the mammary gland.  Currently in our lab, we are seeking to understand how BRCA1 deficiency in the mammary gland affects the response to synthetic estrogenic compounds found in the environment.  

The three key areas of this research program work together towards a common goal: To translate our mechanistic basic research to the clinic by: 1) identifying new biomarkers that can be used to accurately predict breast cancer risk from exposures to synthetic environmental estrogens; and 2) to use these biomarkers to assess the efficacy of future public health based interventions designed to lessen these environmental exposures.  We anticipate that this line of research will lead, over the long term, to predictions about breast cancer risk from exposures to environmental compounds that could be tailored to an individual’s genetic predisposition to this disease.