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Much of the work carried out by DTT is in support of the National Toxicology Program (NTP), an interagency partnership of the Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and NIEHS.

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Office of Program Operations

Helen C. Cunny, Ph.D., D.A.B.T.
Helen C. Cunny, Ph.D., D.A.B.T.
Toxicologist
Tel 984-287-3123
[email protected]
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop K2-06
Durham, NC 27709

Helen Cunny, Ph.D., is a toxicologist and serves as a project officer in the Office of Program Operations for the Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Cunny provides expertise in the conduct of long and short-term toxicity studies designed to provide information on the potential hazardous effects of environmental chemicals for use in human health risk assessments.

As a project officer, Cunny is involved in the design, conduct, interpretation, and reporting of research and testing activities. Studies are conducted using various models and a multidisciplinary approach. Throughout her career, she has been especially interested in testing for reproductive and developmental toxicants. She has also been an invited participant on numerous national and international reproductive and developmental toxicology committees.

Cunny received her B.S. in biology from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, and her Ph.D. in toxicology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. Prior to joining NIEHS, she worked at the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research in the Division of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology and at Rhone-Poulenc, an international chemical company. In this corporate toxicologist position, Cunny designed toxicology testing regimens for new and existing products, performed human health risk assessments, and advised product development divisions within the company. These activities involved ascertaining the safety or relative risks of a wide variety of materials including agricultural products, veterinary drugs, industrial chemicals and genetically modified products.

Selected Publications

  1. Witchey SK, Sutherland V, Collins B, Roberts G, Shockley KR, Vallant M, Krause J, Cunny H, Waidyanatha S, Mylchreest E, Sparrow B, Moyer R, Behl M. Reproductive and developmental toxicity following exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers, triphenyl phosphate and isopropylated phenyl phosphate, in Sprague Dawley rats. Toxicol Sci. 2023 Feb 17;191(2):374-386. [Abstract]
  2. Watson ATD, Sutherland VL, Cunny H, Miller-Pinsler L, Furr J, Hebert C, Collins B, Waidyanatha S, Smith L, Vinke T, Aillon K, Xie G, Shockley KR, McIntyre BS. Postnatal Effects of Gestational and Lactational Gavage Exposure to Boric Acid in the Developing Sprague Dawley Rat. Toxicol Sci. 2020 Jul 1;176(1):65-73. [Abstract]
  3. Behl M, Willson CJ, Cunny H, Foster PMD, McIntyre B, Shackelford C, Shockley KR, McBride S, Turner K, Waidyanatha S, Blystone CR. Multigenerational reproductive assessment of 4-methylimidazole administered in the diet to Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats. Reprod Toxicol. 2020 Dec;98:13-28. [Abstract]
  4. Surh I, Rao DB, Cesta MF, Hébert CD, Mann JF, Cunny H, Kissling GE, Malarkey D, Chhabra RS. Species and gender differences in the carcinogenic activity of trimethylolpropane triacrylate in rats and mice. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014 Apr;66:254-61. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2014.01.048. Epub 2014 Feb 3. [Abstract]
  5. Dunnick JK, Brix A, Cunny H, Vallant M, Shockley KR. Characterization of polybrominated diphenyl ether toxicity in Wistar Han rats and use of liver microarray data for predicting disease susceptibilities. Toxicol Pathol. 2012;40(1):93-106. [Abstract Dunnick, JK, A Brix, H Cunny, M Vallant and KR Shockley. Characterization of polybrominated diphenyl ether toxicity in Wistar Han rats and use of liver microarray data for predicting disease susceptibilities. Toxicol Pathol., 40(1):93-106 (2012).]
  6. Ronis, MJJ and HC Cunny. Developmental Effects on Xenobiotic Metabolism. In Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology, E. Hodgson, ed., 2008.
  7. Cunny, HC. Toxicity Testing. In A Textbook of Modern Toxicology, E. Hodgson, ed., 2nd edition 2004.
  8. Ronis, MJJ and HC Cunny. Physiological (Endogenous) Factors Affecting the Metabolism of Xenobiotics. In Introduction to Biochemical Toxicology, E. Hodgson, ed., 2nd Edition 1999, 3rd Edition 2001.
  9. Bates, HK, GA Kebede and HC Cunny. Developmental Neurotoxicology Test Methodology. In Handbook of Developmental Toxicology, R. Hood, ed., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL 1997.
  10. Cunny HC, Mayes BA, Rosica KA, Trutter JA, Van Miller JP. Subchronic toxicity (90-day) study with para-nonylphenol in rats. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1997 Oct;26(2):172-8. [Abstract]
  11. Mattsson JL, Charles JM, Yano BL, Cunny HC, Wilson RD, Bus JS. Single-dose and chronic dietary neurotoxicity screening studies on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in rats. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1997 Nov;40(1):111-9. [Abstract Mattson, JL, JM Charles, BL Yano, HC Cunny, RD Wilson and JS Bus. Single-Dose and Chronic Dietary Neurotoxicity Screening Studies on 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid in Rats. Fundamental and Appl. Toxicol., 40:111-119 (1997).]
  12. Charles JM, Bond DM, Jeffries TK, Yano BL, Stott WT, Johnson KA, Cunny HC, Wilson RD, Bus JS. Chronic dietary toxicity/oncogenicity studies on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in rodents. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1996 Oct;33(2):166-72. [Abstract Charles, JM, DM Bond, TK Jefferies, BL Yano, WT Stott, KA Johnson, HC Cunny, RD Wilson and JS Bus. Chronic Dietary Toxicity/Oncogenicity Studies on 2,4-Dichloro-phenoxyacetic Acid in Rodents. Fundamental and Appl. Toxicol., 33:166-172 (1996).]
  13. Leakey JE, Cunny HC, Bazare J Jr, Webb PJ, Feuers RJ, Duffy PH, Hart RW. Effects of aging and caloric restriction on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in the Fischer 344 rat. I: The cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase system. Mech Ageing Dev. 1989 May;48(2):145-55. [Abstract Leakey, JEA, HC Cunny, J. Bazare, P. Webb, J. Lipscomb, W. Slikker, R. Feuers, P. Duffy and RW Hart. Effects of Aging and Caloric Restriction on Hepatic Drug metabolizing Enzymes in the Fischer 344 Rat. I: The Cytochrome P-450 Dependent Monooxygenase System. Mech. Aging Develop., 48:145-155 (1989).]
  14. Leakey JA, Cunny HC, Bazare J Jr, Webb PJ, Lipscomb JC, Slikker W Jr, Feuers RJ, Duffy PH, Hart RW. Effects of aging and caloric restriction on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in the Fischer 344 rat. II: Effects on conjugating enzymes. Mech Ageing Dev. 1989 May;48(2):157-66. [Abstract Leakey, JEA, HC Cunny, J. Bazare, P. Webb, J. Lipscomb, W. Slikker, R. Feuers, P. Duffy and RW Hart. Effects of Aging and Caloric Restriction on Hepatic Drug metabolizing Enzymes in the Fischer 344 Rat. II: Effects on Conjugating Enzymes. Mech. Aging Develop., 48:157-166 (1989).]
  15. Bailey J, Cunny HC, Slikker W. Transplacental pharmacokinetics and fetal distribution of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the rhesus monkey. Tox. Appl. Pharm., 1987;90:315 321.
  16. Wenger GR, Donald JM, Cunny HC. Stereoselective behavioral effects of the isomers of pentobarbital and secobarbital in the pigeon. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1986 May;237(2):445-9. [Abstract Wenger, GR, JM McDonald and HC Cunny. Stereoselective behavioral effects of the isomers of pentobarbital and secobarbital in the pigeon. J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 237(2): 445-449 (1986).]