Page 7 - EUREKA -Fall 2014

Training Future Toxicologists blood of individuals in the far north,”

said Willmore. “They are transported
in Responsible Assessment there by wind, rain and ocean
currents: methylmercury and other
heavy metals from industry as well as
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).”
By Susan Hickman Willmore, whose laboratory
studies the results of treating cells
he first product on the market that more radical species. If quantum dots with toxicants and other mixtures Research news
Tused quantum dots was a series are in a high enough concentration, that generate oxidative stress, says
of flat panel televisions released last the cell will die by a natural process we need to know what levels of
year. And now these dots, which are known as apoptosis.” toxicity are a concern. Unfortunately
tiny engineered nanocrystals made of Although the precise mechanisms few studies have been conducted on
semiconductor material, are becoming of quantum dot toxicity are unclear, the most harmful chemicals, he says.
increasingly common, being used Willmore says there is a serious gap Under the NSERC grant,
in solar cells, transistors, white-light between the science of toxicology academic toxicology training
emitting devices (LEDs), diode lasers, and the policy required to assess its programs will be designed to meet
and in medical imaging applications. risk. the real needs of the work force.
“They are very heavily used in To address this concern, Willmore “There is a disconnect between
industry for converting light into and a team of eight other principals the subjects taught in academia
energy,” notes William Willmore, from universities across Canada are and the skill sets required for
Carleton University biochemist who designing new courses to train future employment in the private sector and
also studies toxicology. “But are they toxicologists, who will then be able to in government. We are developing
toxic? Should we be concerned?” influence policy. courses that introduce toxicology
In collaboration with Dr. Azam Under a $1.65 million NSERC students to the new technologies
Tayabali at health Canada, Willmore’s grant, researchers are beginning to and how they can be used to
team have found that quantum dots target areas of toxicology that need build risk assessment for a lot of
usually end up in the mitochondria, or addressing. Laurie Chan, the Canada toxicants.”
the cellular power plants, where they research chair of toxicology at the One course being developed is
can damage important components University of Ottawa, initiated the pro- a certificate program on regulatory
(Nguyen KC et al. Toxicology 306 posal for the collaborative research leadership, which will be offered
(2013) 114– 123). and training experience grant (CRE- jointly by Carleton University and the
“They generate a lot of radicals. ATE). The project, entitled Research in University of Ottawa. Courses in ad-
They also mess up electron transport Environmental, Analytical Chemistry vanced exposure and effect charac-
in the mitochondria, which generates and Toxicology (REACT), also involves terization will examine environmental
Carleton adjunct chemistry profes- samples as well as human blood to
sor Robert Letcher, a research group determine the risk posed to humans.
leader of Environmental and Analyti- State of the art toxicity assessment
cal Chemistry and Ecotoxicology of methods will be taught, as well as
Contaminant Stressors in Wildlife and how they will be used to develop
Ecosystems for Environment Canada, regulations and economic proposals.
and adjunct biology professor Car- The certificate program is tentatively
ole yauk, who works as a research set to begin this Fall.
scientist in the Environmental health Roger Keefe, senior advisor for
Centre’s Lead Genomics laboratory. Imperial Oil Products and Chemicals
This team of toxicology experts Division, points to the students who
are also using the grant to develop will become well grounded in the
a multi-disciplinary training ground processes affecting pollutants.
that will benefit over 140 qualified “The REACT partnership
personnel, as they will be able to network is unique in toxicology
promote public policy based on and environmental sciences,” says
scientific research. Keefe, “and industry sees value
As chemicals are used more in the mentoring in professional
extensively, ecological consequences and practical skills, developing
are also a growing concern, such as a broad global perspective and
the health of ecosystems in the Arctic, building advanced technical skills.
especially for indigenous peoples in Graduates,” he notes, “should be
the North. job-ready.”
William Willmore, Biochemistry “Contaminants are consistently
showing up in higher levels in the

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