Dr. Howard Ramsdell
Center for Environmental Medicine
1681 Campus Delivery
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-8635
Email: CEM@colostate.edu
Degrees
Ph.D., Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University
B.A., Chemistry, Pomona College, California
Dr. Ramsdell is a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for Environmental Medicine and an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences.
Research Interests
Dr. Ramsdell's research involves the use of biochemical approaches for the study of toxic chemical exposures and effects. Processes responsible for the bioactivation and detoxification of toxic chemicals as well as the biochemical changes caused by toxic chemical exposure are among his interests. A major research area is the use of biochemical end points as biomarkers of exposure and effects of environmental toxicants.
Recent and ongoing projects include field and laboratory biomarker studies of wildlife species (mammalian, avian, amphibian) and humans potentially exposed to environmental contaminants. Another area of research active in Dr. Ramsdell's labs is the use of planaria, an invertebrate flatworm, as a model for toxicology studies.
Dr. Ramsdell currently teaches an advanced graduate level toxicology course that covers the role of biotransformation in the fate of xenobiotics and the cellular effects of toxic chemicals and their metabolites. This course provides a basis for understanding biochemical and cellular mechanisms of toxicity. Another course that he teaches is an introductory graduate course that helps new Environmental Health graduate students learn about the broad scope of environmental health sciences. This course has an emphasis on developing an awareness of the societal and political mandates for environmental health protection, describing the role of environmental health scientists.
Recent Publications
- S.M. Strom, Ramsdell, H.S. and Archuleta A.S. Inhibition of aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus) from a metal-impacted stream. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 21,115-120 (2002).
- C.L. Fordham, J.D. Tessari, Ramsdell, H.S. and T.J. Keefe. Effects of malathion on survival, growth, development, and equilibrium posture of bullfrog tadpoles (Rana catesbeiana). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 20, 179-184 (2001).
- Ramsdell, H.S., Foster, S.D., Newell, P.G., Perkins, C.A., and Strom, S.M. Copper Exposure and Biomarker Responses in Terrestrial Receptors. Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 42(15):338. (1998)
- Blandin, B.A., Ramsdell, H.S., Stubblefield, W.A., and Garrison, T.D. Developmental Effects of Atrazine and Nonylphenol in Tadpoles. Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 30(1, Part 2):142. (1996)