Brenna Flannery

Cooperating Doctoral Program: Food Science and Human Nutrition

EITS Track: Toxicology

Education: B.S., Nutrition Science, Michigan State University

Research Interests:
My current area of research involves different mycotoxins, but currently I work with Deoxynivalenol. I am investigating the mechanisms behind DON induced weight loss. I am interested in understanding how DON interacts with the autocrine and endocrine systems of animals, and how this interaction results in weight loss. This can be applied to human exposure to DON as well.

I am also interested in developing and measuring specific biomarkers of Deoxynivalenol exposure. These biomarkers include the upregulation of cytokines after exposure. I am also interested in discovering novel mechanisms behind DON's effects at a molecular level as well as at a system level (weight loss, endocrine system). I intend to apply this knowledge to determine DON's toxic effects through various routes of human exposure. These routes include through food and exposure through nasal passages at a grain elevator.

Major Professor: James Pestka, Food Science and Human Nutrition

Contact: flanne12@msu.edu