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.
Mechanistic Toxicology Branch
Janine leads the Mitochondria Toxicology and Biology Group in the Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT). Her group’s research focuses on how mitochondria can broadly impact cellular and health outcomes through their impact on epigenetics, particularly DNA methylation. The group also uses animal models of perinatal exposures, including using drugs/chemicals that affect mitochondria like HIV therapeutics, to establish translatability of the effects both in the context of maternal health and long-term fetal outcomes.
Janine obtained her Bachelor of Science in biology from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, followed by a Ph.D. in Genetic Toxicology from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. She did postdoctoral fellowship at NIEHS and was an Assistant Professor at the New Jersey Medical School before starting her work at DTT.
Selected Publications
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Yanamadala Y, Muthumula C, Gokulan K, Karn K, Sutherland V, Cunny H, Santos J, Khare S. Gestational exposure to HIV drugs alters intestinal mucosa-associated microbial diversity in adult rat offspring.
Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.).
2025;250:10564.
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AbstractYanamadala Y, Muthumula C, Gokulan K, Karn K, Sutherland V, Cunny H, Santos J, Khare S. Gestational exposure to HIV drugs alters intestinal mucosa-associated microbial diversity in adult rat offspring. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.). 2025
]
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Muthumula C, Yanamadala Y, Gokulan K, Karn K, Cunny H, Sutherland V, Santos J, Khare S. Effect of in utero and lactational exposure to antiretroviral therapy on the gut microbial composition and metabolic function in aged rat offspring.
Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.).
2025;250:10468.
[
AbstractMuthumula C, Yanamadala Y, Gokulan K, Karn K, Cunny H, Sutherland V, Santos J, Khare S. Effect of in utero and lactational exposure to antiretroviral therapy on the gut microbial composition and metabolic function in aged rat offspring. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.). 2025
]
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Rickard B, Sapienza-Lundie L, Overchuk M, Tulino J, Mori M, McCord J, Chappell V, Bortner C, Bae-Jump V, Santos J, Fenton S, Rizvi I. Chronic PFAS exposure induces chemotherapy resistance by promoting mitochondria-related alterations in ovarian cancer cells.
Environmental research.
2025 Nov 01;284:122211.
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AbstractRickard B, Sapienza-Lundie L, Overchuk M, Tulino J, Mori M, McCord J, Chappell V, Bortner C, Bae-Jump V, Santos J, Fenton S, Rizvi I. Chronic PFAS exposure induces chemotherapy resistance by promoting mitochondria-related alterations in ovarian cancer cells. Environmental research. 2025 Nov 01
]
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Chandel N, Falk M, Santos J, Brestoff J, Lechuga-Vieco A, Sancak Y, Chen Q, Elorza A, Quintana-Cabrera R. Mitochondria transfer.
Nature metabolism.
2025 Sep;7(9):1716-1719.
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AbstractChandel N, Falk M, Santos J, Brestoff J, Lechuga-Vieco A, Sancak Y, Chen Q, Elorza A, Quintana-Cabrera R. Mitochondria transfer. Nature metabolism. 2025 Sep
]
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Mori M, Lozoya O, Santos J. BAT mitochondria: whitening meets softening.
Nature metabolism.
2025 Aug;7(8):1503-1504.
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AbstractMori M, Lozoya O, Santos J. BAT mitochondria: whitening meets softening. Nature metabolism. 2025 Aug
]
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