Research Interests

To evaluate the toxicity of plant toxins in livestock, describe the toxicokinetics of plant toxins, characterize the molecular alterations due to plant toxins, identify diagnostic biomarkers of intoxication, including the degree and duration of intoxication, and develop methods to predict a prognosis for recovery.

Significant Accomplishments

•  The toxicokinetic profiles of several toxic plant alkaloids were characterized.
• A rodent model to study animal to animal variation in the susceptibility to larkspur toxicosis was developed and partially characterized.
• Characterized the role of the less toxic, but often times more abundant, MDL-type alkaloids on the toxicity of larkspur plants.
• The craniofacial deformities induced by Veratrum californicum were better described, the window of susceptibility to synophthalmia formation was more closely defined and cyclopamine toxicokinetics in sheep were characterized.