Assistant Professor of Biology

Phone Number: 203-365-4772
E-mail: royn@sacredheart.edu

Area of Specialization: Molecular Biology and Developmental Biology

Description of Research Interest:  Dr. Roy utilizes the zebrafish model organism to study the effects of environmental toxins or pharmaceuticals on the developing nervous system.  Zebrafish are vertebrates, like humans, and follow the vertebrate developmental plan.  Thus, discoveries made using zebrafish are applicable to higher order vertebrates like humans.  The questions she asks in her lab are very important to human health.  It is estimated that 17% of children under age 18 are afflicted with developmental disabilities like ADHD and hyperactivity disorders.  Recent studies of fetal cord blood have demonstrated shockingly high levels of toxins including phthalates, PFC's and BPA.  Her lab takes a two-fold approach whether it is an ecotoxicological or pharmaceutical/drug related project.  The first tier of the project involves analyzing embryonic stages utilizing molecular approaches including PCR, in situ hybridization and the use of fluorescent transgenic reporter fish.  In these approaches, they look for changes in neural synapses, neurotransmitters and general synaptic remodeling events.  The second tier of the project is to link the molecular changes they see to later stage behavioral impairments.  Using a state of the art larval tracking apparatus that the department has recently purchased, they are able to track and analyze larval behavior and their responses to stimuli.  

Primary Teaching Responsibilities:
BI 355 Molecular Biology
BI 212 Developmental Biology
BI 111/113 Concepts In Biology I
BI 112/114 Concepts In Biology II

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