About My Research

For my research I will be working with Professor Martyniuk who works for the Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology in the Department of Physiological Sciences at the University of Florida. I have been working in the Martyniuk Lab since spring of 2023. My research focuses on investigating the environmental and health effects of the pharmaceutical, Flupentixol, which is used to treat depression and schizophrenia. The recent discovery of traces of Flupentixol in Redfish found in Florida estuaries further conveys the urgency to study the potential effects that this drug could have to human health and to aquatic ecosystems. 

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The experimental design involves exposing zebrafish embryos to varying concentrations of Flupentixol and examining their locomotor and anxiolytic behaviors. Gene expression analysis will be conducted to investigate changes related to neurotoxicity and oxidative stress. The concentration range spans environmentally relevant levels to concentrations typically found in human pharmaceutical use. The data collected will increase understanding of the behavioral and molecular responses in zebrafish following waterborne exposure to neuroactive pharmaceuticals like Flupentixol. This is important for risk assessment efforts to protect wildlife and humans from unnecessary exposures.