Conference Awards

Developmental Neurotoxicology Teratology Society Conference/Travel Awards 

2020 DNTS Conference Awards

Students received a certificate and we want  to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments!

Jenna Sprowles
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Associations of prenatal phthalate exposure and neurobehavioral outcomes in 7.5-month-old infants

Andrew Hawkey
Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Embryonic benzo[a]pyrene exposure causes persistent neurobehavioral effects in zebrafish

Elizabeth Enright
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Using Electroencephalography (EEG) in Human Infants as a Measure for Environmental Epidemiology and Developmental Neurotoxicology

Nick Paige
University of Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Impulsivity, Working Memory, and Dopamine Dynamics in Lphn3 Knockout Rats

Rivka Green
York University, Toronto, Canada
Water Fluoride Levels and Hypothyroidism in a Canadian Pregnancy Cohort

Samantha Regan
University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Comparison of constitutive Lphn3 KO and Lphn3-Th-Cre conditional KO Sprague-Dawley rats on activity, learning, and memory.

 

 

2019 DNTS Conference Awards

Kiersten Bell,
United Stated Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, and Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
Examination of the Combined Effects of Iodine Deficiency and Developmental Perchlorate Exposure on Fear Learning in Rats

Kelsey Dzwilewski,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Characterization of Performance on an Automated Visual Recognition Memory Task in 7.5 Month-Old Infants

Katherine Hatcher,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Impacts of Dim Light at Night and Phthalate Exposure on Circadian Locomotor and Feeding Behaviors and Hypothalamic Gene Expression in Male and Female Mice

Zade Holloway,
Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Chronic Paternal THC in Rats Causes Long-Lasting Behavioral Disruption in the Offspring

 Francheska Merced-Nieves,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Association of Prenatal Maternal Stress with Visual Recognition Memory in 7.5-Month-Old Infants

Rebekah Petroff,
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Domoic Acid Exposure in Pregnancy Produces Behavioral Neurotoxicities in Mothers and Offspring

Jack Pfeiffer,
University of Louisville, Louisville KY, USA
Coal Fly Ash, Aluminum, and Short-Term Memory Among Children 6-14 Years Old

Emily Pitzer,
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Deltamethrin Exposure to Sprague-Dawley Rats from Postnatal Days 3-20 Alters Dopaminergic and Glutamatergic Activity and Long-term Potentiation When Tested as Adults

Samantha Regan,
University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Altered Dopaminergic Markers and Striatal Dopamine Release Dynamics in Hyperactive Lphn3 KO Rats

Megan Sieg,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Association Between Prenatal Exposure to Environmental Phenols and Attention to the Eyes in 7.5‐Month-Old Infants

 

2014 NBTS Conference Awards

Robyn Amos-Kroohs (Nominated by Michael Williams)
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Modeling Complex Environments in Rats: Neurobehavioral Phenotype of Manganese Overexposure, Iron Deficiency, and Developmental Stress Interactions

Samantha Renaud (Nominated by Stephen Fountain)
Kent State University
Brief Massed Training Reveals Epigenetic Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Female Rat Serial Pattern Learning

2013 NBTS Conference Awards
Kaitlyn Maier (nominated by Sherry Ferguson)
NCTR
Methylphenidate Treatment Does Not Alter Novel Object Recognition in Male and Female Rats

Kaitlyn Maier receives her award from Chip Vorhees, President

Kaitlyn Maier receives her award from Chip Vorhees, President

Ju Young (Julie) Park (nominated by Elaine Faustman)
University of Washington
Prenatal Exposure Effects of Repeated Oral Dose of Domoic Acid (DA) on Neurobehavior in Mice
IMG_2490

Kristin Sonon (nominated by Gale Richardson)
University of Pittsburgh
Prenatal Marijuana Exposure Predicts Marijuana Use in Offspring during Young Adulthood

Awardee Kristin Sonon with President Charles Vorhees

Awardee Kristin Sonon with President Charles Vorhees

Smitha Infante (nominated by Christine Curran)
Northern Kentucky University
Trans-generational Behavioral Effects of Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia in Rat Progeny

President Chip Vorhees presents Smitha Infante with her award

President Chip Vorhees presents Smitha Infante with her award

2012
NBTS Conference Awards
Jenna Fielding (nominated by Helen Sable)
University of Memphis
Perinatal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Rats Alters Cocaine-Induced Dopamine Efflux in the Nucleus Accumbens

Jenna Fielding

Jenna Fielding receiving her award from Dr. Jerry Meyer, Awards Committee Chair

Brian Powers (nominated by Barbara Strupp)
Cornell University
Perinatal Choline Supplementation Improves Learning and Attention in Ts65Dn Mice and Disomic Littermates without Altering the Nucleus Basalis Cholinergic Neuronal Phenotype

Brian Powers receiving his award from Dr. Jerry Meyer, Awards Committee Chair

Lindsay Silva (nominated by Diana Dow-Edwards)
State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center
Prenatal Drug Exposure and Maternal Behavior Have Distinct and Persistent Effects on Offspring Behavior

Lindsay Silva

Lindsay Silva receiving her award from Dr. Jerry Meyer, Awards Committee Chair

Ramon Velazquez (nominated by Barbara Strupp)
Cornell University
Perinatal Choline Supplementation Improves Spatial Learning and Increases Cholinergic Neuron Density in the Medial Septal Nucleus in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down Syndrome

Ramon Velazquez

Ramon Velazquez receiving his award from Dr. Jerry Meyer, Awards Committee Chair

2011
NBTS Conference Awards
Devon Graham (nominated by Charles Vorhees)
University of Cincinnati
Long-Term Receptor Alterations from Developmental Methamphetamine Exposure in Rats by Use of Selective Pharmacological Agonists and Antagonists

2011 NBTS Conference Award winner, Dr. Devon Graham with NBTS Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Phil Bushnell

2011 NBTS Conference Award winner, Dr. Devon Graham with NBTS Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Phil Bushnell

Tommy Saborido (nominated by Gregg Stanwood)
Vanderbilt University
Behavioral Effects of 5-HT6 Receptor Ligands and Relationship to Brain Dopamine Systems

2011 NBTS Conference Award winner, Tommy Saborido, with NBTS Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Phil Bushnell

2011 NBTS Conference Award winner, Tommy Saborido, with NBTS Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Phil Bushnell

Karla Sanchez-Huerta (nominated by Mary Gilbert)
Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, IPN, Mexico
Hypothyroidism Selectively Affects the Proliferation of Cells in the Hilus but Not the Subgranular Zone of the Dentate Gyrus of Adult Rats

No photo available for 2011 Conference Award Winner, Karla Sanchez-Huerta

Behavioral Toxicology Conference Award
Ning Zhu (nominated by Diana Dow-Edwards)
SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
The Age-Specific Effects of Methylphenidate on the Radial Arm Maze Task in Periadolescent Rats

2011 Behavioral Toxicology Conference Award Winner, Ning Zhu, with NBTS Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Phil Bushnell

2011 Behavioral Toxicology Conference Award Winner, Ning Zhu, with NBTS Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Phil Bushnell

MidAtlantic Reproduction and Teratology Association (MARTA) Bradford Award
Aliya Frederick
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Potential Dopamine D1 Receptor Signaling Through Gaq: Behavioral and Biochemical Assessment

No photo available for 2011 MidAtlantic Reproduction and Teratology Association (MARTA) Bradford Award Winner, Aliya Frederick

NBTS Presentation Awards
Paul Eubig
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Impaired Attention in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Compared with Developmental Lead or PCB Exposure

Laura Pickens
Kent State University, Kent, OH
Dose-dependent Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Cognition in the Adult Female Rat

 

2011 NBTS Presentation Award Winners, Laura Pickens (left) and Dr. Paul Eubig (right) with 2011 NBTS Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Phil Bushnell (center)

2011 NBTS Presentation Award Winners, Laura Pickens (left) and Dr. Paul Eubig (right) with 2011 NBTS Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Phil Bushnell (center)

2010
NBTS Conference Awards 
Aliya Frederick (Nominated by G. Stanwood)
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Molecular (Mal)adaptations in Dopamine-Modulated Signaling Pathways Following Neurodevelopmental Insult

Damiyon Sledge (Nominated by E.D. Levin)
North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC
Early Developmental Chlorpyrifos Causes Persisting Behavioral and Neurochemical Changes in Zebrafish

SOT Neurotoxicology Specialty Section Conference Award
Kate Saili (Nominated by R. Tanguay)
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Developmental Neurobehavioral Toxicity of Bisphenol A: Defining the Role of Estrogen Related Receptor Gamma

Behavioral Toxicology Conference Award 
Devon Graham (Nominated by M. Williams)
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
The Long-term Behavioral Effects of Exposure to Metals and Chronic Stress During Development

2009
NBTS Conference Awards
Patricia Janulewicz (Nominated by J. Adams)
University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
Attention and Working Memory in Children Exposed Prenatally to Anticonvulsant Monotherapy

Amanda A. Braun (Nominated by C. Vorhees)
Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH
Functional alterations in the 5HT1A receptor following neonatal +/-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) exposure in rats

SOT Neurotoxicology Specialty Section Conference Award
Damiyon Sledge (Nominated by E. Levin)
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
A Zebrafish Model of the Persisting Neurobehavioral Impairment Caused by Developmental Chlorpyrifos

2008
Merck and Co., Inc. Conference Award
Devon Graham (Nominated by M. Williams)
Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH
Differential Neurochemical Consequences of an Escalating Dose-Binge Regimen Followed by Single-Day Multiple-Dose Methamphetamine Challenges

SOT Neurotoxicology Specialty Section Conference Award
Jeannette Stankowski (Nominated by G. Stanwood)
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Selective Vulnerability of Dopaminergic Systems to Manganese: Relevant to Occupational Exposure

Fine Scientific Tools Conference Award
Jillian Gee (Nominated by G. Moser)
Neurotoxicology Division, US EPA, RTP, NC and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Acute Developmental Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether 47 (PBDE 47) Alters Dopamine Concentration within the Brain of Male Mice

NBTS Conference Award
Sherin Boctor (Nominated by S. Ferguson)
Department of Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences, U Arkansas and NCTR/FDA, Little Rock, AR
Neonatal NDMA Receptor Antagonist Treatment Has No Effects on Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) in Postnatal Day (PND) 25 Sprague-Dawley Rats

2007
Melissa M. Bailey (Nominated by J. Rasco)
Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Prenatal and Lactational Exposure to Chromium Picolinate and Picolinic Acid – The Effects on the Neurological Development of Mice

Lauren C. Harte (Nominated by D. Dow-Edwards)
SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, NY
Adolescent Tetrahydrocannabinol Improves Performance on Avoidance Tasks in Adult Females

Nathen J. Murawski (nominated by M. Stanton)
Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Interstimulus Interval Discrimination Conditioning of the Eyeblink Reflex in a Rodent Model of Autism

Tori L. Schaefer (Nominated by C. Vorhees)
Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH
Changes in Corticosterone and Monoamines Following Multiple Days of (+)-Methamphetamine or (±)-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Exposure in the Neonatal Rat

2006
Patricia Janulewicz (Nominated by J. Adams)
Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Genetics & Teratology, Mass General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA
Absence of Neuropsychological Effects Following Prenatal Exposure to Phenytoin (PHT)

Swatee Dey (Nominated by D. Snow)
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Induces Apoptosis in Locus Coeruleus Neurons through TNF-α Mediated Induction of Bax and JNK-1-MAPK Pathways

2005
Kimberly Berry (Nominated by S. Ferguson)
National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR
Prenatal Folate Deficiency in Mice Increases Adult Anxiety Levels

Sylvia Fitting (Nominated by R. Booze)
Behavioral Neuroscience Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Neonatal Hippocampal Tat Injections: Effects on Prepulse Inhibition (PPI)

Gene Mcfadden (Nominated by B. Pizzi)
Department of Psychology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
Multiple Toxic Effects of In Utero Exposure to DEHP

Joan Garey (Nominated by M. Paule)
Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, AR
Effect of Low-Dose Acrylamide Exposure on Preweaning Behavior of Fisher 344 Rats

2004
Matthew J. Burden (Nominated by S. Jacobson)
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Could Resources Devoted to Basic Perceptual Processing Impact Higher Order Memory Functioning in Iron Deficient Infants? An Event-Related Potential Study
Brian J. Piper (Nominated by J. Meyer)
Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Behavioral Toxicology of MDMA in Adolescent Rats

Annelyn Torres-Reveron (Nominated by D. Dow-Edwards)
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, NY
Prenatal Cocaine Decreases the Behavioral Response to Methylphenidate in Adolescent Female Rats

2003
Brian J. Piper
Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Thermoregulatory and Behavioral Sequelae of Neonatal “Ecstasy” (MDMA) Treatment in Rats

James B. Koprich
Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL
Prenatal ±MDMA Exposure Reduces Striatal and NAc Monoamine Metabolism and Increases Locomotor Activity in P21 Rats

Ronee B. LaRoche
Psychology Department, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Postnatal Exposure to Fluoxetine (Prozac): Enduring Effects on Reaction Time and Visual Attention

Francisco Javier Cisneros
Division of Neurotoxicology, NCTR, AR
Gender Specific Effects of 5-AZA-2’Deoxycytidine (5-AZA-CdR) in Mice Exposed During Embryonic Development

2002
Tara L. Foltz (Nominated by C. Mactutus)
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, THRI, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Prenatal IV Cocaine and Preattentive Processing: A Gestational Exposure Study

Erika P. Gray (Nominated by S.A. Ferguson)
National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, AR
New Approaches in Assessment of Animal Models of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Xinyu Wang (Nominated by Y.L. Hurd)
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Cannabis on the CB1 mRNA Expression in Human Fetal Brain

Jennifer A. Willford (Nominated by G.A. Richardson)
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Attention Mediates the Relations Between Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Executive Function

2001
Tara L. Foltz (Nominated by C. Mactutus)
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, THRI, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Prenatal IV Cocaine and the HR-OR: A Dose-Response Study

Susan M. Melnick (Nominated by D. Dow-Edwards)
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn, NY
Behavioral Assessment During SKF82958 Challenge in Adult Male Rats Castrated and Treated with Cocaine During the Preweanling Period

Brian L. Robinette (Nominated by M.E. Stanton)
Psychology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
Exposure to Chlorpyrifos Facilitates Discriminative Eyeblink Conditioning in Weanling and Adult Rats

Jennifer A. Willford (Nominated by G. Richardson)
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Prenatal Alcohol or Marijuana Exposure Differentially Affects Executive Function in Adolescents

2000
Stephane A. Beaudin (Nominated by B.J. Strupp)
Department of Psychology and Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Enduring Attentional Dysfunction Following a Short Period of Early Postnatal Lead Exposure: Evidence for an Inverted U-Shaped Dose-Response Curve

Kimberly A. Gray (Nominated by M. Longnecker)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
In Utero Exposure to Background Levels of Polychorinated Biphenyls and Cognitive Function Among School-Age Children

A. Bansal (Nominated by R.M. Booze)
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Neurology, Pharmacological Sciences and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Perinatal HIV-1 Infection: Developing a Rodent Model to Study the Consequent Neurotoxicity

Katherine M. Flynn (Nominated by S. Ferguson)
Division of Neurotoxicology, NCTR/FDA, Jefferson, AR
Multigenerational Genistein Exposure Increases Salt Solution Consumption in Rats