Professor
Texas A&M University
My laboratory's focus is on understanding the adverse effects of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), on female reproduction, fertility, and fetal development. Cr(VI) is one of the heavy metal endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The exponential increase in Cr(VI) use by more than 50 industries and improper disposal of Cr(VI) waste have caused severe contamination of soil, air, and water with Cr(VI). Since it is impossible to eliminate Cr(VI) from the environment, there is an immediate need to find ways to mitigate or inhibit the harmful effects of Cr(VI) that have their route in our bodies as well as the genome, which puts our future generations into a colossal risk of developing various diseases. Therefore, our laboratory has set the goals to understand the adverse health effects and mechanisms of Cr(VI) on the development and functions of the female reproductive system and fetal and placental development. I have a solid and consistent history of obtaining NIH funding in female reproductive (ovary, uterus, and placenta) toxicology for the past 15 years. Based on my expertise in endocrine toxicology, I have been serving as an ad hoc reviewer for the NIH study sections and NIEHS' Environmental Health Science core centers' pilot projects. Cr(VI)-exposed women experienced a higher risk of pregnancy loss, spontaneous abortion, subfertility, pre-term birth, and stillbirth, and their children (F1 offspring) experienced increased birth defects. Our previous findings with human and rat placenta reported Cr accumulation in the placenta and apoptosis and oxidative stress in trophoblast cells due to gestational Cr(VI) exposure. Our laboratory has established Cr(VI) as a potent female reproductive toxicant. Our current research investigates the effects of Cr(VI) on trophoblasts' catabolism of the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines, fetal growth restriction, and pre-term labor. Our novel findings might help to understand and prevent Cr(VI) toxicity, preserve fetal growth and development against Cr(VI) toxicity, and form new regulations on Cr(VI) exposure in pregnant women, a vulnerable group for exposure to any EDC, including Cr(VI).