Physiology and Environmental Toxicology

Our research aims to understand in detail how tissue-specific gene regulation and cell-cell communication together coordinate the functions of cells, which then form the basis for the development, function and behaviors of the entire plant or animal.

By gaining detailed knowledge of how cells are organized internally and how their molecular reactions and biochemical processes are regulated, it is possible to gain an increased knowledge of how external factors or diseases can affect organisms and their adaptation to different environments. In environmental toxicology, we study how some of the thousands of chemicals found in the environment affect various functions in humans and animals. We use a number of different model organisms from aquatic vertebrates to cell models and microorganisms "on-a-chip". An example is zebrafish, where we have access to advanced technologies for genetic disease modeling and substance exposure integrated with phenotypic evaluation.