Mammalian mechanistic toxicology of contaminant mixtures

A team of students, technicians, and post-doctoral fellows is being assembled to work with five toxicology professors, the local regulator, consulting company, and site owner, to develop innovative approaches to assess the human health chemical risk associated with a complex operating site that contains a complex, unresolved mixture in groundwater and soil. The students and fellows will work at the University of Saskatchewan Toxicology Group, one of the largest groups of its kind in North America.

This PhD project will aid in performing a preliminary screen of a limited number of uncharacterized contaminated site samples to determine target organs (neural, cardiovascular, hematological, hepatic, renal or metabolic) and potential class of contaminants based on gross or basic toxicological and histopathological responses in rodents. These results will be used by other personnel in the project to establish suitable cell culture end-points that will serve as a surrogate screen of a larger battery of potentially contaminated soils. A second phase of this project will require the PhD student to explore in more detail the mechanisms and extent of toxicity for the major organ(s) identified as target(s) using advanced techniques such as behavioural testing, ultra-high resolution cardiovascular ultrasound, comprehensive lab animal metabolism system (CLAMS) monitoring, glucose tolerance testing and/or biochemical techniques. Candidates should have a strong background in toxicology and/or mammalian physiology, as well as interest in human health risk assessment. The project will involve the candidate working closely with three other PhD students who are working on fish and cell culture models of toxic action for this complex mixture. In addition, the project involves this candidate working closely with practicing risk assessors and a research associate well versed in analytical toxicology.