Colleen Hegg , PhD
Biography
My research program is exploring the interface between toxicology and stem cell biology. I am a trained neurotoxicologist. I investigated heavy metal neurotoxicity during my graduate studies. I joined Stan Thayer’s lab as a postdoctoral fellow and studied the adverse effects of opioids and cannabinoids in the hippocampus in the context of HIV-1 AIDS dementia complex. I entered the field of chemical senses in 2000 in Mary Lucero’s lab where I investigated the physiological responses of the olfactory epithelium to modulatory factors, gaining experience with a model of adult neurogenesis. I integrated these experiences combining toxicity studies with neuroregenerative models when I began my independent career. Recent projects in my lab examined how mature cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were altered by the effects of environmental air pollutants (mold-produced toxicants and concentrated ambient particles. The underlying themes were to determine key signaling components that regulate stem cell maturation and to examine alterations in the identified signaling components following environmental exposure. I realized my passion was in nurturing the next generation of scientists and that I could have a bigger impact if I focused my time on graduate student mentoring. Thus, I became the director of the Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology Graduate program in 2019.
Education
PhD, Environmental Toxicology, University of Wisconsin–Madison,
BA, Chemistry, Kalamazoo College,
Employment
Graduate Program Director, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 2019 - Present
Associate Professor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 2012 - Present
Assistant Professor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 2006 - 2012
Publications
Constitutive and evoked release of ATP in adult mouse olfactory epithelium. Open life sciences (2024)
An endocannabinoid system is present in the mouse olfactory epithelium but does not modulate olfaction Neuroscience (2015)
Defects in neural stem cell proliferation and olfaction in Chd7 deficient mice indicate a mechanism for hyposmia in human CHARGE syndrome Human Molecular Genetics (2009)
Satratoxin G–Induced Apoptosis in PC-12 Neuronal Cells is Mediated by PKR and Caspase Independent Toxicological Sciences (2008)
Diminished blocking effect of acute lead exposure on high-threshold voltage-gated calcium currents in PC12 cells chronically exposed to the heavy metal. Neurotoxicology (1998)
ATP Mediates Neuroprotective and Neuroproliferative Effects in Mouse Olfactory Epithelium following Exposure to Satratoxin G In Vitro and In Vivo Toxicological Sciences
ATP differentially upregulates fibroblast growth factor 2 and transforming growth factor alpha in neonatal and adult mice: effect on neuroproliferation Neuroscience
Activation of Human Microglial Cells by HIV-1 gp41 and Tat Proteins Clinical Immunology
Activation of Purinergic Receptor Subtypes Modulates Odor Sensitivity The Journal of Neuroscience
Activation of purinergic receptors induces proliferation and neuronal differentiation in Swiss Webster mouse olfactory epithelium Neuroscience
Fundings
Neurogenesis and chronic cannabinoid exposure
Purinergic Receptors in Olfactory System
Injury-Evoked Regeneration Mechanism in Olfactory System
Short-term biomedical research training program for veterinary students
Neural stem cell susceptibility to ambient particulate matter over the lifespan
Interdisciplinary Training in Leadership and Animal Biosecurity (IT-LAB)