Elena Craft, Ph.D.

Superfund Basic Research Program

Dr. Elena Craft received her Master's of Science in Toxicology through a cooperative agreement between N.C. State and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC in 2000. She studied under Dr. Kevin Crofton in the Neurobehavioral Branch of the Neurotoxicology Division, and her work focused on assessing differences in the ability of structurally different polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners to reduce thyroid hormone concentrations. Her research examined how two congeners within the same class of compounds could elicit dissimilar responses with respect to circulating thyroid hormone concentrations. Following completion of her master's, she became a part of the SBRP-supported interdisciplinary research and education program in the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth and Ocean Sciences at Duke University. Elena was also a trainee in Duke's interdisciplinary, NIEHS-supported Integrated Toxicology Program (ITP), where she served for 2 years as student representative to the ITP faculty.

Elena completed her Ph.D. training at Duke University in the summer of 2006 while conducting research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Freedman. Her research focused on developing a model to understand metal toxicity. The model relies on characterizing signal transduction pathways that are activated following exposure to certain toxic metals that are found within contaminated environments. These metals can activate metal-responsive transcription factors, resulting in expression of stress-related genes. The model that she helped develop will be used directly in determining mechanisms by which environmentally relevant metals induce intracellular toxicity, disrupt normal development, and induce cancer. Dr. Craft also has research experience with PCBs and dioxin and their effects on thyroid hormones as related to low frequency hearing loss. Additionally, Dr. Craft has significant experience in behavior studies, animal work, cell culture, and protein expression, as well as with a variety of molecular biology and toxicological tools.

In 2002, she won the Karen Wetterhahn Award from the SBRP for her work in the examination of how some high priority metals activate MT expression. Her dissertation project is based on assessing the signaling pathways that are involved in mediating the response of some metals in initiating the expression of MT. Examination of the signaling pathways that are activated by high priority pollutants like metals will aid in further development of a phosphorylation-mediated model to understand the mechanisms by which metals and other contaminants negatively impact human health.

Elena enjoyed her time spent in academia and working at the Environmental Protection Agency and NIEHS, and strongly believes in the goals of the Superfund Basic Research Science Program, and in the mission of the EPA and NIEHS as a whole. Her work in the basic science research area of metal toxicity will contribute to understanding the influence of metals with respect to human disease. Additionally, her work will aid in the determination of the impact that high priority pollutants, such as metals, have on human and environmental health. Elena received her degree in July 2006 and accepted an environmental consulting position with ChemRisk in Austin, Texas.

Since joining ChemRisk, her project experience has included litigation support for toxic tort cases, including asbestos, dioxin, and methylene chloride, as well as summarization of toxicity and exposure information for a wide variety of chemicals.