Dr Emma Marczylo

I am currently a Principal Toxicologist in the Toxicology Department at the Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, where I lead projects investigating environmentally-induced epigenetic toxicity and the links between the mycobiome and respiratory health. I therefore have extensive experience in molecular toxicology, particularly omic methodologies, statistical and bioinformatic analyses and toxicologically relevant in vivo and in vitro models. As part of my role at PHE, I have been involved in a number of meetings and expert groups organised by COM, SETAC, ECETOC, EFSA and the OECD looking at the potential role of epigenetics and toxicogenomics in regulatory toxicology. My involvement at such meetings has been both as an invited speaker and as an expert contributing to roundtable discussions. Working at PHE over the last 5 years (Sep 2012 – to-date) has also provided the opportunity to contribute to a range of multidisciplinary projects. This has broadened my knowledge of toxicology and its associated disciplines (including pathology, microbiology, bioinformatics and epidemiology) from fundamental science through to application in safety/risk assessment.

I now have over 40 peer-reviewed publications as both lead and senior author, including original and review articles, conference contributions, book chapters and reports. I have supervised 3 MSc students and co-supervised 2 PhD students to successful completion, and am a member of the PHE Postgraduate Training Subcommittee. This has involved helping to organise and chair PHE’s annual post graduate student day.

Prior to PHE, I worked as an Investigator Scientist within the Systems Toxicology Group at the MRC Toxicology Unit. During this 6 years (Dec 2006 – Sep 2012), I developed my interest in, and understanding of, toxicogenomics and epigenetics, working on in vivo and in vitro models of liver and reproductive toxicology. Part of this work was funded by the CEFIC Innovative Toxicology Award, a personal award of €100,000 that I received in 2008. From Feb 2004 – Dec 2006 I was a BBSRC funded postdoctoral researcher at the Cell Signalling Laboratory in De Montfort University, Leicester. Here I developed expertise in cellular and molecular biology whilst investigating the potential dimerization of G-protein coupled purinergic receptors in vitro. From Jun 2003 – Jan 2004, I held a short-term contract with Photopharmica to assess the antibacterial efficacy of novel photosensitisers whilst completing my PhD. I obtained my PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Leeds in Nov 2003 and my First Class (Hons) degree in Biochemistry from Lancaster University in 1999.