Research Areas
- Environmental sciences and occupational health
- Respiratory health and molecular biology
- Alcohol use
Scientific Achievements
- Addressed parasitic resistance in livestock
- Demonstrated the efficacy of polyphenolic compounds in decreasing inflammation and reactive oxygen species
- Elucidated alcohol’s ability to predispose the airway to toxic environmental insults
Funding
RCMI Funding
- U54MD012392, NIH/NIMHD: Pilot Project “Analyzing Air Quality in Nail Salons and Effects of Nail Salon Dust on Airway Epithelium”
Scientific Advance
Gerald, C. L., McClendon, C. J., Ranabhat, R. S., Waterman, J. T., Kloc, L. L., Conklin, D. R., ... & Williams, L. L. (2019). Sorrel Extract Reduces Oxidant Production in Airway Epithelial Cells Exposed to Swine Barn Dust Extract In Vitro. Mediators of Inflammation, 2019.
Price, M. E., Gerald, C. L., Pavlik, J. A., Schlichte, S. L., Zimmerman, M. C., Devasure, J. M., ... & Sisson, J. H. (2018). Loss of cAMP-dependent stimulation of isolated cilia motility by alcohol exposure is oxidant dependent. Alcohol.
Gerald, Carresse L., et al. "Alcohol Decreases Organic Dust-Stimulated Airway Epithelial TNF-Alpha Through a Nitric Oxide and Protein Kinase-Mediated Inhibition of TACE." Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 40.2 (2016): 273-283.
Extracts from the sorrel plant act as strong antioxidants, shielding airway cells from inflammation caused by dust found in farm environments, such as swine barns.
Chronic alcohol use stops the tiny, hair-like sweepers (cilia) in our windpipe from doing their job, preventing the lungs from clearing inhaled dirt, mucus, and germs.
When agricultural dust causes inflammation, alcohol blocks the lungs from releasing critical danger signals. This silences the natural immune response, leaving the body unable to mount an effective response to the dust.
Minority Supplement-NIAAA-5R01AA008769-22 CLG & JHS
Pilot Grant-Central Appalachian Regional ERC: Analyzing the role of Nrf2 in Hog Barn Dust Mediated Antioxidant Activity
NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) NHLBI, Health Disparities program
Award #: 1L60HL159852-0
Award #: 2L60HL159852-02
