Animate biosensors offer a practical and innovative approach for detecting toxic chemicals, leveraging the sensitivity and specificity of engineered mammalian cells to assess environmental hazards. This research centers on developing mammalian cell-based biosensor platforms capable of identifying a range of hazardous chemicals, including nitrosamines, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and flame retardants. By introducing specific metabolic enzymes, particularly cytochrome P450 isoforms, we mimic human metabolic activation pathways, improving the physiological relevance of our models. This approach enables comprehensive detection of DNA damage and repair events following environmental exposures, supporting chemical safety assessment and public health efforts.

Through this SuperUROP I aspire to characterize the effects of a key class of toxins on liver cell line physiology and genomic integrity. I am determined to work towards elucidating genotoxic interactions at a granular level, and hopefully uncover findings which advance our knowledge of the intersection between toxin exposure and human physiology at the cellular level.