Faculty Spotlight: Protecting People

The age-old reminder to eat more vegetables is proving to be more than just a parental phrase — it could help save lives, according to Krista McCoy Ph.D., associate professor in the FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

McCoy’s research targets how the body builds defenses to reduce the effects of toxic chemicals like pesticides, and toxins from harmful algal blooms, and how supplements, like sulforaphane, which is found in some green vegetables can aid in the process. Exposure to these chemicals can cause severe neurological disorders, or liver disease, she said. She also wants to better understand how humans and animals are able to be healthy after exposure.

Both humans, and a variety of animals from toads and fish to dogs, can suffer if they visit lakes affected by harmful algal blooms, or consume food filled with high levels of toxins, she said. While current research looks at how those toxins function, McCoy has a different approach. “Rather than only focusing on how toxins work, I’m focusing on how the body works to become resilient,” she said.

McCoy began her career as an undergraduate student at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Through her studies, she learned that amphibians were on the verge of extinction and immediately wanted to help, she said. So, after completing her bachelor’s degree in biological science she went on to earn her master's degree from James Madison University, also in Virginia. There, she studied how differences in acidity of the water affected development in salamanders.

She then moved to University of Florida to earn her doctorate degree where she studied how agricultural pesticides around Okeechobee affected the development of frogs and toads. It wasn’t until she was finishing her doctorate degree in 2007, that she began to think about how humans were affected by the same toxins that affected toads and other amphibians living around Lake Okeechobee. She saw people fishing in areas that were heavily polluted with the same pesticides that created defects in the animals she researched.

“I only ever focused on animals because I thought people were okay and that animals needed more attention, but when I thought about pregnant mothers eating food that was covered in the same pesticides that harmed the animals I studied, I knew I had to learn more about protecting human health,” McCoy said.

In her own words, McCoy talks about her research and future goals:

Q: Tell us more about your research focus?

A.I have another project that I began at my previous institution, East Carolina University where I taught for eight years, that I will continue here at FAU. I’m researching how the placenta inside a pregnant woman operates to protect the mother and baby from harmful toxins. I studied women who were exposed to drugs during their pregnancy and those who were not to compare the difference in placenta and the kinds of protective proteins it made. I sought to understand the protective mechanisms the placenta had against toxins. This is important because when a mother is exposed to chemicals that can cross the placenta and enter the baby causing birth defects to occur. So, my work is focused on finding natural supplements that keep babies safe from toxic chemicals. Even further I am researching how we can protect humans generally. If we study the way our body protects itself from chemicals, that is a more direct way to develop therapies to prevent the harmful effects of chemicals than studying the ways the chemicals cause harm (their toxicity). In fact, I am preparing to study the ways in which we can prevent autism associated with developmental exposure to toxicants.

Q: What have you discovered that you enjoy the most about your research?

A.What I like most about my research is the approach to how I study and ask questions. What this means is that I allow myself to study and think about what I want to. The questions I ask are not solely focused on one single thing, but rather I also allow myself to think about things from different perspectives. I don’t automatically assume the way that research is being conducted or the way that it is accepted is the only way, or the right way. For example, in my dissertation, I argue and show that the reproductive abnormalities in amphibians were due to the increase in agricultural use of pesticides across the landscape. This was different than the traditional approach researchers used where they compared “clean” vs. “dirty” areas. I realized that I could question the questions in research, I continue doing this throughout my work and it allows me to discover so much and stay excited about research.

Q: What does the future for your research look like?

A.I am hoping to have the opportunity to complete a clinical trial where I offer specific supplements like sulforaphane to those who are exposed to harmful algal blooms and other toxins such as pesticides. I would like to discover if we can protect people from these chemicals using safe well studied plant derivatives. Imagine broccoli pills! Once participants start these natural remedies, we will likely see a decline in the toxins in their bodies. Trials like these could help develop therapies that help people cope with diseases and other problems that arise from harmful toxins. And one major goal would be to someday redefine the way toxicology is taught and learned and bring more diversity to the way questions are asked while learning about toxins.

Q. What makes you excited to carry your research out at FAU?

A.I am super excited about the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at FAU Harbor Branch (Oceanographic Institute). Being around a group of people who study natural substances and how they can help human health is motivating, specifically since I was the sole researcher studying natural remedies for human health at my previous institution. Collaborating with likeminded people who have different perspectives on how to help people can help me think about my work. I am also excited to work with researchers like Nwadiuto Esiobu in the department of biological sciences, and with people at the Brain Institute.

Q. Do you have any advice for becoming a researcher in your field?

A.Ask lots of questions about the person you will work with, because it’s important to find a mentor that supports you and the work that you are doing—and will not think of you as a competitor when you leave their laboratory. Find someone who will help you balance your work and life. You can work really hard to become a scientist while still having a life and a family. Having a support team to help advance your career makes all the difference.