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2006 to 2007

Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Community and Preventive Medicine

Researcher

Expert's primary responsibility is to develop and carrying out research protocols to characterize the relationship between the loss of genomic imprinting and intra-uterine growth restriction, a condition associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including several behavioral syndromes (e.g. Asperger, Angelman, Prader-Willi, Rett and Turner syndromes), Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. With the findings from this research, Expert will develop clinical screening tools for use at birth and in utero to allow early detection of these neurobehavioral disorders. This research will guide the development of other clinical screening tools for early detection of other diseases caused by similar perturbations in imprinted gene expression, such as cancer.

2004 to 2006

European Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences "B. Ramazzini"

Molecular Biology

Unit Chief

Expert's primary responsibility was to design protocols to study the genetic and epigenetic perturbations caused by exposure to putative carcinogens and treatment with chemopreventive compounds. To facilitate this research, Expert designed the protocols and infrastructure for the collection and specimen banking for tissues collected from laboratory animals with varying degrees of exposure to putative carcinogens. Also, to facilitate this research, Expert designed and oversaw the implementation of the Information Technology Network used by the Ramazzini Foundation used by over 40 people. Expert also served as the Official Liaison and Co-Researcher in a joint program with the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences studying the long-term health effects of exposure to putative carcinogenic agents and chemopreventive compounds using animal model studies.

2002 to 2004

National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences

Laboratory of Experimental Pathology

Research Fellow

Expert used molecular techniques to study the genetic alternations in the H-ras, K-ras, p53 and Beta-catenin genes in the exposure-related neoplastic tissues in rats and mice in the Laboratory of Experimental Pathology.

2000 to 2002

European Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences "B. Ramazzini"

Environmental Toxicology

Senior Researcher

Expert was responsible for monitoring the health of cohorts of workers exposed to carcinogens and synthesizing the scientific data on the health risks of workplace exposures to chemical and physical agents. He specifically monitored health workers by updating and analyzing registries of workers exposed to asbestos (1500 workers), vinyl chloride monomers (2000 workers), and low-frequency electromagnetic fields (50). He prepared over 50 reports synthesizing the scientific data on the outcomes of workplace exposure to specific agents including asbestos, vinyl chloride monomers, low- and high-frequency electromagnetic fields, pesticides, formaldehyde, heavy metals, ionizing radiations, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, lead, and gasoline/gasoline additives.

1998 to 2000

European Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences "B. Ramazzini"

Environmental Toxicology

Junior Researcher

Expert conducted both human and animal studies on outcomes associated with putative carcinogen exposures. He designed, carried out, analyzed, and reported on epidemiological human cohort studies of 500 railroad workers exposed to asbestos; 200 shipyard workers, sugar refinery workers, sailors, cement-asbestos mixers, fire-retardant textile workers, and foundry workers exposed to asbestos; and 2,000 vinyl chloride monomer workers. Supported by a grant from the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro, he studied the association of tamoxifen–estradiol valerate on spontaneous mammary tumors in female Sprague-Dawley rats.

• Evaluation of health risks to the people of Tezze sul Brenta (Vicenza), Fontaniva (Padua) and Cittadella (Padua)due to exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr6+ ) dispersed in the local ground water by a smelting company -- Expert was part of the specialists team (~20 professionals of different areas of expertise) asked to determine the risks to the 35,000 people of the municipalities of Tezze sul Brenta (Vicenza), Fontaniva (Padua) and Cittadella (Padua) exposed to hexavalent chromium dispersed in the local ground water by Galvanica PM (smelting company). To determine the duration and intensity of hexavalent chromium exposure by community members, he review the smelting process observed that hexavalent chromium –laced water was incorrectly discarded and seeped directly into the ground water and thus, into, the local potable water supply. He then participated in developing a groundwater sampling plan and reviewed the data collected from several hundred groundwater samples. He was then able to provide a detailed description of the polluted groundwater plume and the exposures to the population living over it. Second, based on an extensive review of the scientific literature, he determined the increased risk of disease to the population based on their exposures. The report documenting this research and findings was used by the prosecution team in a liability case.
• Evaluation of health risks to workers due to asbestos exposure in the railroad industry -- Expert was one of 7-member team asked to determine if the neoplastic and respiratory diseases of 86 workers for the Officine Meccaniche Stanga (Office for Building and Repair of Metro Cars) in Padua, Italy, was likely due to asbestos exposure. First, he used workplace records to determine the duration and intensity of asbestos exposure of the workers; as expected, workers in different jobs had different levels of exposure. Second, based on an extensive review of the scientific literature documenting the association between asbestos and neoplastic/respiratory disease, he identified the increased risk of neoplastic/respiratory disease for each worker group. Third, he reviewed the medical records of each group of workers to fully characterize their diseases. Finally, he reviewed all the data and found that for each group of workers, the observed levels of neoplastic/respiratory disease was consistent with the scientifically expected levels of neoplastic/respiratory disease. The report documenting this research and findings was used by the prosecution team in a liability case.
• Evaluation of health risks to workers due to vinyl chloride exposure -- Expert was part of the specialists team (~50 professionals of different areas of expertise) asked to determine the long-term health risks of workers exposed to vinyl chloride at the European Vinyl Corporation (EVC) in Brindisi, Italy. First, he determined the duration and intensity of vinyl chloride exposure of the 1600 workers using documentation on work layout, workers' shifts and assignments, and air sampling and physical review of the production plant. He identified 6 different risk groups based on duration and intensity of exposure. Second, based on an extensive review of the scientific literature, he identified the increased risk of diseases for each worker group. Third, he reviewed all the medical records for all 1600 workers to fully characterize their health. Finally, he reviewed all the data and found that some workers were already suffering from their exposure with diseases like acrosteolysis and liver cancer, some were likely to suffer from their exposure at some point in the future, and some were unlikely to suffer from their exposure. Expert was able to discern the difference between diseases likely caused by the toxic exposure and those not caused by the toxic exposure. The report documenting this research and findings was used by the prosecution team in a liability case.
• Evaluation of health risks in individual claims (~30) of workers exposed to single or mixtures of chemicals – Expert was part of the specialists team (differing number of professionals of different areas of expertise) asked to determine in individual claim the long-term health risks of workers exposed to several chemicals in mixtures or singularly like asbestos, vinyl chloride monomers, low- and high-frequency electromagnetic fields, pesticides, formaldehyde, heavy metals, ionizing radiations, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, lead, and gasoline/gasoline additives. Expert in these claims first used workplace records to determine the duration and intensity of worker' s exposure. He secondly, based on an extensive review of the scientific literature documenting the association between exposure and disease, identified the increased disease risk for each worker. Third, he reviewed the medical records of each worker to fully characterize the disease. Finally, he reviewed all the data and filed the report on the correlation level between disease and exposure in the workplace. Reports documenting these research and findings were used by the prosecution team in a liability case.
• Evaluation of health risks in individual claims (~10) of workers exposed to asbestos at the European Union (EU) building “Palay Berlaymont” in Brussels, Belgium – Expert was part of the specialists team (differing number of professionals of different areas of expertise) asked to determine in individual claim the long-term health risks of workers exposed to asbestos at the European Union building “Palay Berlaymont” in Brussels, Belgium. “Palay Berlaymont” has been built in the 1960's with an extensive use of cement/asbestos mixture that later, due to the building degradation freed fibers of the carcinogenic mineral. Expert in these claims first used available data on air and particulate sampling to determine the duration and intensity of worker's exposure. He secondly, based on an extensive review of the scientific literature documenting the association between exposure and disease, identified the increased disease risk for each worker. Third, he reviewed the medical records of each worker to fully characterize the disease. Finally, he reviewed all the data and filed the report on the correlation level between disease and exposure in the workplace. Reports documenting these research and findings were used by the EU workplace compensation process.

• Pericardial mesothelioma expert .
• Expert for consulting on future diagnosis of Tamoxifen exposure.
• Expert in the health effects of diesel exhaust for litigation.