Toxicologists who have that blend of expertise can be especially important to public health in Appalachia , where chronic conditions and exposure to airborne toxicants often overlap , and the adverse health effects are augmented .
For example , Appalachians face higher-than-average rates of cardiovascular disease , diabetes , and obesity , yet many of them are also exposed to low-quality air from coal-mining or hydraulic fracturing sites because they work there or live nearby .
Toxicologists can determine how those variables interact . That knowledge can suggest better ways to safeguard and improve the health of community members .
The inhalation facility — at the core of the program — was established through combined support from Health Sciences , departmental funds , and the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute , reflecting the broad impact of the unique resource .
“ It ’ s one of only five or six remaining in the nation ,” Nurkiewicz said .
Nurkiewicz said . “ They don ’ t fully appreciate how our body systems work . They can ’ t tell the forest from the trees . This training program is centered around our inhalation facility , which is the core for all of our exposures . The students will work with those exposures to study the various systems of the body and determine how inhalation of specific toxicants impacts their function and health .”
The students will get the chance to work with preceptors from across WVU , including Health Sciences , the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources , and the downtown campus .
They ’ ll also participate in a specialized course called the Paracelsus Society . The course , named for the 16th-century chemist whom scientists consider the father of toxicology , will allow them to customize the curriculum so that it pertains to their individual toxicology training .
Each year , a preeminent toxicologist will visit WVU for several days , give a keynote address , and interact with them .
“ In essence , we ’ ll train the next generation of toxicologists much like I was trained over the years ,” Nurkiewicz said . “ I was originally trained as a microvascular physiologist , and then I learned inhalation toxicology because of my colleagues at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health . Well , that ’ s not a normal combination . There ’ s no program in that , right ? So , this training program recognizes that we ’ ve been very successful here . Students will have the best of both worlds . They will still learn their initially chosen discipline , but it will ultimately be viewed through the lens of toxicology .”
“ Inhalation facilities are increasingly a rarity across the country ,” he said . “ So , the ability to train toxicologists in facilities like ours is disappearing . But if we don ’ t have people who can assess air quality , or who can assess where or when air pollution poses a health risk , then the general health of the population will continue to decline .”
To learn more about the toxicology training program , visit the program ’ s website .
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences under Award Number NIH T32 ES032920 and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 5U54GM104942-05 . The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH , NIEHS , or NIGMS .
Image 1 : WVU Photography . Timothy Nurkiewicz , chair of the WVU department of physiology and pharmacology , conducts research in the inhalation facility .
Image 2 : WVU Photography . Timothy Nurkiewicz , chair of the WVU department of physiology and pharmacology and director of the inhalation facility .
New director to advance diversity , equity and inclusion initiatives for WVU Health Sciences
Dedicated to fostering a more inclusive environment for students , faculty , and staff that extends across West Virginia University ( WVU ) and beyond , Courtney Lanham has been named director of diversity , equity , and inclusion ( DEI ) for Health Sciences .
In this newly created position , Lanham will serve as the primary point of contact for Health Sciences diversity , equity , and inclusion initiatives and will play a critical role in communicating and
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