![]() ![]() Together with a now retired colleague, we also developed a series of assays that examine how chemicals can alter brain structure as it develops. This is a very sensitive way of looking at how a chemical can disrupt the development of brain function. It only takes 12 days to evaluate the effects of a chemical in this assay and we can test about 25 chemicals in a month. We have developed an in vitro assay that allows us to measure the electrical communications between networks of neurons as they develop. I have a background in neurophysiology, so, I focus on how the nervous system’s cells communicate with one another. So we need better ways to test more chemicals for developmental neurotoxicity hazard. By contrast, there are thousands of chemicals in the environment to which humans are exposed as the brain develops. Unfortunately, these tests cost about $1 Million for every chemical tested, take 1-2 years to complete and thus have only been conducted for a few hundred compounds. If the structure or function of the brain is altered during development, this can have life-long consequences for the individual and can also have societal impacts.įor many years, animal-based testing has been the primary way that chemical hazard to the developing nervous system is assessed. In humans, there is evidence that the nervous system is not completely developed until you’re 25 years old, so the effects chemicals might have on its development are important. The overarching goal of my research is to protect the developing brain from adverse effects of chemicals. Tim currently is developing high-throughput screening methods for neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity. ![]() Tim started working as a postdoctoral fellow at EPA in August 1991 and has been with the Agency for 29 years. in pharmacology and environmental toxicology from Michigan State University in 1991. ![]() Chemistry from Hope College in Holland, MI, in 1986 and his Ph.D. ![]()
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