Education: 

• Certification as Toxicologist by the German Board of Pharmacology and Toxicology and registered by Eurotox. 1999 
• Molecular Toxicology, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Germany. PhD 1996 
• Molecular Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Germany. MS 1991.  
• Biological Sciences, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Germany. BS 1989.  

Department: Department of Environmental Toxicology and Center for Health and the Environment  

Research Interests:

Molecular and Environmental Toxicology  

Research Summary: 

Molecular mechanisms of inflammation and development of chronic diseases including cancer and atherosclerosis induced by exposure to environmental toxicants such as dioxins and components of ambient particulate matter (PM) air pollution. Focus of our research is the function of receptors for xenobiotics and inflammatory signaling to understand molecular mechanisms of the development of chronic inflammatory diseases promoted by the exposure to environmental toxicants and non-chemical stressors. Application of rapid cell bioassay systems as screening tool for the assessment of relative toxicity and inflammatory activity of environmental pollutants. Application of Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis assay as a sensitive technique for the detection of Genotoxicity such as DNA damage induced by environmental toxicants. Developing a novel noninvasive imaging technique (PET-MRI) to detect activation of innate immune cells and inflammation in vivo.

Pubmed listing