First Eco-NAMs Webinar - State of the Science for Bioaccumulation

The information below was received from ETOX alumnus Wesley Hunter, a branch chief at the US FDA.   

First Eco-NAMs Webinar of New Series - State of the Science for Bioaccumulation: An Integrated, Weight of Evidence Approach

Wednesday, September 10 at 8:00-9:00 ET

The new webinar series aims to offer the most informative and up-to-date science on the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) for ecotoxicity assessments (Eco-NAMs). Each webinar will consist of presentations by experts followed by a discussion period. It provides an open forum for scientists from academia, industry, non-government organizations, regulatory authorities, and other interested parties including the general public to learn about and discuss various ecotoxicity NAMs topics.

The Eco-NAMS webinar series is co-organized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, European Medicines Agency, Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan), and PETA Science Consortium International e.V.

The first webinar in the Eco-NAMs series on the use of new approach methodologies in regulatory ecotoxicology is called “State of the Science for Bioaccumulation: An Integrated, Weight of Evidence Approach.” It will feature presentations by Dr. Pippa Curtis, Senior Specialist at the Chemical Assessment Unit, United Kingdom Environment Agency (UK EA), and Dr. Michelle Embry, Deputy Director of the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI).

Additional information and registration are available at State of the Science for Bioaccumulation: An Integrated, Weight of Evidence Approach.

Mihri and Cengiz Ozkan Named Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Mihri Ozkan, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and an ETOX faculty member and her husband Cengiz Ozkan, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, were both elected as Fellows in the National Academy of Inventors at its 2025 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.  They are the first husband and wife couple to be induced into the Academy.  Their election recognizes their innovative contributions in sustainable energy storage, nanomaterials technologies and in other areas.  More information on the Ozkans and their work can be found in the linked Inside UCR news article.  Our congratulations to both Mihri and Cengiz for their election to this prestigious academy. [The photo above is from the Inside UCR article.]

Zhao Lab Develops Probe that Protects Mitochondrial DNA from Degradation

A research group led by Linlin Zhao, professor in the Chemistry Department and Chair of the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, has developed a probe that protects mitochondrial DNA from degradation. The probe was designed by Anal Jana, a postdoctoral fellow in the Zhao lab.  As described in their article in the German Chemical Society journal Angewandte Chemie International, the mitochondria-targeting probe (mTAP) selectively reacts with abasic (AP) sites, key mtDNA repair intermediates. After mTAP conjugation, DNA substrates containing AP sites are resistant to cleavage by AP endonuclease and the mitochondrial DNA is protected from degradation. More information can be found in a UCR News article on the study and their article (see link above). Their work was also the focus of an article in Interesting Engineering. Our congratulations to Linlin, Amal and Yu-Hsuan Chen, for this interesting and novel work.  

Chief of the Cancer Toxicology and Epidemiology Section at OEHHA

        California EPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is searching for senior toxicologist to serve as the Chief of its Cancer Toxicology and Epidemiology Section.  As described by the agency, "The Chief of the Cancer Toxicology and Epidemiology Section (CTES) has an understanding of carcinogenesis, and will provide expert scientific oversight and supervision of a team responsible for providing technical support for listing chemicals as causing cancer under Proposition 65, developing guidelines for assessing risks of exposure to chemicals that cause cancer, and conducting dose-response and exposure assessment." Specific duties, requirements and information to apply can be found on the CalCareers website. The position will be open until filled.  

Metals Found at Elevated Levels in Ultrasonic Cigarettes

Dr. Ester Omaiye, a postdoctoral fellow and ETOX alumna and Prue Talbot, a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology and ETOX faculty member, have recently published the results of their studies showing that ultrasonic cigarettes contain elevated levels of various metals including arsenic, selenium, nickel, silicon, copper and zinc. Because exposure can occur on a repeated basis over a long period of time, these exposures could potentially result in several serious diseases including respiratory diseases such as silicosis and metal fume fever as well as cancer of the lungs, bladder and other tissues.  More information on their study can be found in a recent UCR News article.  Our congratulations to Ester and Prue for this recognition of their important work.  [The photo above is from the UCR News article.]

Another Successful Annual Student Symposium

On Wednesday May 28, the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program held its annual Student Symposium which consisted of student oral and poster presentations, several meals, a career panel discussion with two alumni Drs. Zhenshan "Hill" Chen and Vanessa Cheng, and a host of awards.  The symposium was a great success with many excellent student presentations.  The award winners were: 

Fukuto Award   Benjamin Maki

Best Oral Presentation Awards: Xiaochen Liang & William Troxel

Honorable mention: John Hoang & Lillian Tran

Audience Choice Award: John Hoang, William Troxel

Best Poster Presentation Award: Anthony Rios

Honorable mention: Zhixin Fang

Best presentation in the weekly seminar series: Ting Zhao

ETOX Faculty Mentor of the Year: Prof. Adler Dillman

We would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Ying-Hsuan Lin, Dustin Domingo, John Hoang and other members of the organizing committee, the moderators (John Hoang, Ting Zhao, Jacob Perkins, Benjamin Maki), the career panel facilitator (William Troxel) and our alumni (Drs. Zhenshan Chen and Vanessa) and the faculty judges. Below are photos of the event, almost all taken by the Program Director Linlin Zhao.  

Beni Maki, the Fukuto Award Winner

The Career Panel with William Troxel (moderator), Zhenshan Chen and Vanessa Cheng (ETOX Alumni)

Prof. Dave Volz Publishes Article Advocating Restriction of Flame Retardants in Furniture

Dave Volz, professor in the Environmental Sciences Department and ETOX faculty member, recently published an opinion piece in the journal Environmental Sciences & Technology advocating that California permanently ban the use of flame retardants in furniture.  He describes the history and problems associated with flame retardant use in California, and foresees that there will be a resurgence in the use of flame retardants if California does not update its furniture flammability standard to ban their usage.  More information about his proposal and the use of flame retardants can be found in a recent UC Riverside News article.  Our congratulations to Dave for this recognition of his work, and for addressing this important issue. [The photo above is from the UC Riverside News article.]