Research Areas
- Developmental biology
- Impacts of environmental toxins on early development, using zebrafish embryos as NAMs (New Approach Methodology), and on aging, using African killifish as a research system
Scientific Achievements
- Afzal Z., Kumar D. Review Paper: Environmental yin-yang: how external cues are processed at cellular and organismal levels
- Afzal Z.* et al. Research paper on BioRxiv: Early exposure to PFAS disrupts neuro-muscular development in zebrafish embryos
- Selected presentation, PFAST NC Conference, June 2025: “Forever” impacts: How PFAS disrupts neuro-muscular gene regulatory programs
Funding
RCMI Funding
- U54MD012392, NIH/NIMHD: Pilot Project “How PFAS disrupts developmental gene expression patterns: Insights from single-cell observations”
Scientific Advance
Afzal Z.* et al. Research paper on BioRxiv: Early exposure to PFAS disrupts neuro-muscular development in zebrafish embryos. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.19.700343
Afzal Z.*† and Pittman, E*. Research paper on BioRxiv: Short-chain PFAS exposure alters embryonic development and behavior in zebrafish. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.03.709373
Afzal Z.*† and Veershetty, V*. Research paper on BioRxiv: Environmental PFOA Exposure Alters Early Developmental Programming during the Maternal–Zygotic Transition. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.05.21.726952
These studies highlight the importance of understanding how PFAS affect early development, tracing their effects from changes in individual cells and proteins to how an animal moves and behaves.
Awarded FDA Triangle CERSI grant for “Assessing Anxiety and Anxiolytic Efficacy in Early Development Using Zebrafish Embryos as NAMeRS.”
Awarded NCCU Research Institute Pilot Award for “PFOA and Muscular Development: Uncovering the Impact of Exposure.”
