The world is facing a paradigm shift in its population structure, come 2030 ~20% of the population in developed nations will be geriatric. While this will strain our economic and medical capacities, we also have a detrimental lack of knowledge for the toxicology of aging. Dr. Wise will present his concept of a “Toxic Aging Coin” which he uses to describe his approach to investigating the intersection of toxicology and aging. He will then discuss how he applies this approach to his ongoing research investigating the neurotoxicity of hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]).
About the Speaker: Dr. Wise began his toxicology research career at a young age – as a freshman in high school – and has maintained a tenacious pursuit of opportunities in toxicology research ever since. His research experiences range from zero gravity parabolic flights on NASA’s colloquially named “Vomit Comet”, to studying the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on sperm whales and the offshore environment, wrestling alligators in South Carolina and Florida, investigating the effects of space dusts on lung cells, and ultimately to investigating neurotoxicology. His research passion lies with environmental toxicology and neurotoxicology, particularly for heavy metals, which he synergizes to tackle complex questions about brain health. Dr. Wise earned his B.S. in biology from the University of Southern Maine in 2013 where he studied heavy metals and DNA damage repair, then his Ph.D. in neurotoxicology from Purdue University in 2018 where he studied autophagic mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease. He completed a postdoc at the University of Southern California in 2019 studying how air pollution contributes to brain aging, and a second postdoc at the University of Louisville investigating the heart-brain axis. In 2021 Dr Wise earned his first NIH R21 grant as a postdoc, and is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UofL. Outside of work, Dr. Wise spends his free time homebrewing mead, playing bike polo, and enjoying long-distance road trips with his dog, Bucky.
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 12:00-1:15 pm Eastern
Field Auditorium Room 1112, Grainger Hall (9 Circuit Dr, Durham, NC)
Masks are optional for in-person attendees. Please stay home if you aren’t feeling well and join us via livestream instead (see below).