Environmental toxicology researcher, Nicole Renee Sparks, PhD, is an assistant professor at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. Sparks focuses on a unique area of research looking at environmental toxicants, such as using and exposure to tobacco products, impact on a fetus' development. Sparks’ lab uses stem cell and animal models to observe how a toxicant can change microRNA and mRNA expression levels that cause an embryonic osteoblast (bone-forming cell) defect.
Sparks holds a doctorate in environmental toxicology from UC Riverside and a masters of science degree in biological sciences from California State University, San Bernardino. During her postdoctoral research at UC Riverside, Sparks’ work on the role of miRNAs as a predictive toxicity biomarker to skeletal defects was funded through NIEHS MOSAIC K99/R00 and UC Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship.
A review of publications identifying underlying mechanisms involved in environmental exposure impact on skeletal damage
"We hope this information will provide the community with an understanding of how disruptive toxic chemicals can be on our bone development and assist researchers to build better diagnostic tools.”