Decades of industrial activity in Wilmington, MA contaminated groundwater with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a probable carcinogen that causes DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the liver. This project investigates how immune-liver interactions influence cancer progression after NDMA exposure. First, I will determine if immune cells interact with liver cells in ways that amplify cancer-related processes (e.g. promoting liver cell DNA damage and inflammation). Then, I will apply mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics to map signaling changes in co-cultures of hepatocytes and immune cells. The goal of this project is to reveal how cross-talk between cell types drives inflammation and disease in populations exposed to environmental toxins.

My previous work in the White Lab showed me how powerful mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics can be for uncovering disease mechanisms. I’m excited to apply these skills to study how environmental contaminants impact human health. Through this project, I hope to better understand these effects and contribute to helping people who have been exposed.