Studied molecular alterations in structurally intact tissues adjacent to prostate adenocarcinomas, a phenomenon termed “field cancerization” or “field effect.” These alterations include genetic and expressional abnormalities such as telomere attrition and up-regulation of the transcription factor early growth response 1 (EGR-1) and macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC-1.) Awarded Two Undergraduate Student Scholarly/Creative Grants and a Summer Research Fellowship

Arsenic exposure from abandoned mine tailings, particularly through the inhalation pathway, is highly influenced by particle size. An analysis of arsenic concentration as a function of particle size has been performed on mine waste samples from the Calico Mine – an abandoned mine located near the town of Barstow in San Bernardino County, CA that has since been transformed into a tourist attraction. The Calico Mine is located near a major highway and a residential area and operates mine tours to the public, all of which suggest a potential health threat through their susceptibility to inhalation. A report was submitted to the Department of Toxic Substances Control, which was building a case to clean up arsenic-enriched mine wastes posing a threat to residents and recreational visitors in close proximity to former mining lands. Awarded an Undergraduate Student Scholarly/Creative Grant