Research Cluster

The ERDC Toxicogenomics research cluster led by Dr. Ed Perkins, includes an interdisciplinary team of experts in the fields of toxicology, ecotoxicology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and computational biology. The team focuses upon development of tools to rapidly assess toxicity of military chemicals in a wide range of animals using genomics, identifying gene biomarkers of exposure, understanding the mechanisms by which military chemicals cause toxicity, and extrapolating toxicity effects across multiple species using genomics. Capabilities of the team include advanced state-of-the-art instrumentation that is used to characterize impacts of chemicals on gene expression using high-density gene arrays, DNA sequencing, and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. The team is also experienced at analysis and development of genomics for non-model species. Research conducted at ERDC focuses on providing scientists, engineers, and regulators interested in toxicity of military chemicals in the environment the tools and knowledge to assess potential hazards to soldiers and the environment. Accomplishments include high-density gene expression tools for examining chemical impacts on rats, earthworms (Eisenia fetida), Northern Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), the ecotoxicological model species fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) (in collaboration with University of Florida) and the water flea ( Daphnia magna)(in collaboration with Daphnia magna consortium), in addition to the Staghorn coral Acropora formosa. Other accomplishments include determination of gene expression signature responsive to environmental perturbation such as chemical toxicity, collaborations with commercial and government technology developers to address toxicity screening and prioritization, and studies characterizing the molecular mechanisms by which different military chemicals cause toxicity in different animals.

Dr. Xianfeng (Jeff) Chen
Dr. Kurt Gust
Dr. David Johnson
Dr. Burton Suedel
Dr. Jacob Stanley
Dr. Michael Mayo
Dr. Edward Perkins
Mr. Alan Kennedy
Mr. Mitchell Wilbanks
Dr. Youping Deng (SpecPro, Inc.)
Dr. Ping Gong (SpecPro, Inc.)
Dr. Tanwir Habib (Badger, Inc.)
Dr. Natalia Garcia-Reyero Vinas (Jackson State University)