B A. Merrick.
Toxicology
Institut Pasteur de Bangui
Mauritius
Biography
The Molecular Toxicology and Genomics Group, headed by B. Alex Merrick, Ph.D., uses advanced technologies and computational approaches to relate chemicals to genes, genes to pathways, and pathways to disease. Development of toxicity signatures will further our understanding of disease processes and contribute to predictive models of toxicity and chemical prioritization. In addition, next generation (NextGen) sequencing is being used to study the relationship of genomic and epigenomic structure to gene expression and chemical toxicity.
Research Interest
Identify molecular mechanisms of toxicity action and disease-associated pathways by gene and reporter expression analysis. Develop computational and predictive models for animal and human biological response to environmental toxicants. Prioritize substances for further in-depth toxicological evaluation
Publications
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Dunnick JK, Merrick BA, Brix A, Morgan DL, Gerrish K, Wang Y, Flake G, Foley J, Shockley KR. Molecular changes in the nasal cavity after N,N-Dimethyl-p-toluidine exposure. Toxicologic Pathology 2016 44(6):835-847
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Black Cohosh Clinical Study – We are investigating the genotoxic, hematological, and metabolomic effects of black cohosh herbal products in women. This study is designed to determine if the effects seen in NTP animal studies are also observed in humans (Mercado-Feliciano et al., 2012; Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 263:138-147).
