Certifications in Toxicology:

Diplomate, American Board of Toxicology
Fellow, Academy of Toxicological Sciences
Certificate, Swiss Professional Register of Toxicology
Eurotox Registered Toxicologist

General Interests: Biochemical toxicology, molecular pharmacology, endocrinology, carcinogenesis, and risk assessment

Research Program: Rodent models may serve as surrogates for the human for the purpose of gaining understanding concerning the hazard or clinical value of pharmaceuticals and other materials. However, there are clearly unique features in the development, biochemistry and physiology of the rats and mice which may make their use as a human surrogate inappropriate. The research program of Dr. Stevens currently focuses on evaluating the one of these differences, the ontogeny of the p-glycoprotein (MDR1, ABCb1) gene in the rodent brain, liver, kidney and gonads. The ABCb1 gene is a 170kDa membrane-bound glycoprotein shown to efflux a wide variety of chemicals. Neonatal rats and mice will be evaluated to determine the presence or absence of the ABCb1 gene using western blot and rt-PCR techniques. ABCb1 knockout mice and the B16/F10 murine melanoma cells transfected to the human ABCb1 gene will also be employed to evaluate specific chemical interaction with this gene.