DUSRC Summer Intern, Kyra Farmer, a rising Junior at North Carolina Central University, presented a poster at the NC Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting on September 10, 2025 entitled “Neurobehavioral Effects of Fluoranthene and Vitamin E on Zebrafish (Danio rerio)”.
Farmer’s research investigated whether Vitamin E protects zebrafish from a specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) called fluoranthene which can be a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion. Zebrafish behavioral tests that measure locomotor activity and light/dark response were used to assess neurodevelopmental outcomes in the fish. Research like this is helping environmental health scientists better understand the impacts of chemical contaminants in the environment and the impact on organisms.
Kyra Farmer was mentored by Duke researchers Melissa Chernick, Dr. Ed Levin, and Dr. Nishad Jayasundara. The meeting was held on the campus of RTI International in Research Triangle Park, NC.
