{"id":2425,"date":"2011-12-12T17:50:00","date_gmt":"2011-12-12T22:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/toxicology\/doctoral-studies\/overview\/"},"modified":"2024-08-16T13:35:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T17:35:25","slug":"overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/toxicology\/doctoral-studies\/overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The overall goal of the program is to develop trainees that are knowledgeable in the basic principles of toxicology and environmental health sciences with in-depth experience in the development, execution and publication of research relevant to toxicology and human health.<\/p>\n

The overall goal of the program is to develop trainees that are knowledgeable in the basic principles of toxicology and environmental health sciences with in-depth experience in the development, execution and publication of research relevant to toxicology and human health.<\/p>\n

What is Toxicology?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, toxicology is defined as the study of the adverse effects of external factors on an organism or a system. We are all aware that environmental chemicals, drugs, and constituents of our diet (collectively known as xenobiotics; \u201cforeign to life\u201d) are important subjects of study for toxicologists. Toxicologists also study physical factors that include ionizing radiation, UV light, electromagnetic forces, sound, and the like.<\/p>\n

In addition to the study of the agents that might cause toxicity, modern toxicologists are equally interested in the inherent mechanisms that mediate both toxic insult and the biological or environmental sequelae. Thus, all approaches of modern science (molecular biology and genetics, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, informatics, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, behavior and physiology, etc.) are used daily in the field.<\/p>\n

All of these scientific approaches are practiced by the training faculty of the Curriculum in Toxicology. Although one of our strengths is environmental toxicology, our Faculty\u2019s research interests also include pharmaceuticals, dietary agents, radiation, as well as a focus on how xenobiotics are relevant to specific diseases.<\/p>\n

For some interesting background, see:<\/p>\n

Chapter 1 of \u201cCasarrett and Doull\u2019s Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons.\u201d
\nChapter 1 of \u201cIntroduction to Biochemical Toxicology\u201d (E. Hodgson & R. Smart (eds) (3rd Edition).
\nHistory of Toxicology<\/a>
\nThe Society for Toxicology<\/a>\u00a0and their\u00a0Career Guide<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Curriculum in Toxicology offers a dynamic environment for graduate training. Collaborative research among faculty in the biomedical, environmental, and public health sciences is not hindered by institutional boundaries or administrative barriers. Students benefit from close interactions with investigators at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and other laboratories in the Research Triangle Park, in addition to those in the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Several centers and programs at the University also foster the development of multidisciplinary initiatives in both research and teaching.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Curriculum in Toxicology provides a rich training environment that enables students to:<\/p>\n