apl. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Dr. med. habil. Gisela Degen

Academic background

• since 1997 apl. Prof. at the Ruhr-University of Bochum
• since 1992 head of the research group "Chemical toxicity" (since 2007 "Chemical risks") – previously the Biochemical Toxicology Laboratories at IfADo
• 1990 habilitation (Dr. med. habil.) for Biochemical Pharmacology and Toxicology; Priv. Doz. at the University of Würzburg, Germany
• 1983–1992 research associate at the Institute of Toxicology, Univ. of Würzburg and project leader in Special Center Grant (Sonderforschungsbereich 172)
• 1979–1983 postdoctoral fellow at the NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC/USA
• 1978 dissertation (Dr. rer. nat.; University of Würzburg, Germany)
• 1972 state examen completing the academic training in food chemistry (University of Würzburg)

Research interests

• biochemical toxicology (bioactivation and detoxication of xenobiotics)
• genotoxicity of chemicals (mycotoxins, steroids, metals, others)
• toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of hormonally active compounds
• risk assessment of chemicals

Current research

• Field of research "Effect characterization for selected compounds and mixtures"
  (Claudia Behm, Gisela H. Degen, Wolfram Föllmann, Nicola Höfer)
  The question whether damage of the genetic material arises from direct or indirect genotoxic effects of an agent and the underlaying mechanisms have gained considerable attention in the context of hazard characterization. This topic is addressed in experimental studies with selected chemicals, mycotoxins and their mixtures, also with other agents (arsenic), and for anabolic steroids misused in doping. Research needs exist also for so-called "endocrine disruptors": The biological efficacy of estrogenic compounds and combinations will be studied (in cooperation with PD Dr. P. Diel, DHSH Köln) both in vitro and in vivo. Another project will help to clarify the relevance of estrogenic effects of cadmium, a heavy metal which is presently regulated on the basis of its well known nephrotoxicity.
   

• Field of research "Biomonitoring"
  (Gisela H. Degen, Katherine A. Munoz - in cooperation with the central support unit "Analytical chemistry")
  An analytical method for the detection and quantification of isoflavone-phytoestrogens and bisphenol A in urine has been validated for biomonitoring at low levels of exposure. It is now applied within a research project (CEFIC-LRI) to investigate the exposure of German children against phyto-/xenoestrogens (in cooperation with FKE). A thesis project on ochratoxin A (OTA), supported by DAAD and CONICYT, will assess early mycotoxin exposures in infants from Chile and Germany (cooperation with the University of Conception, Chile). This project builds upon published biomonitoring methods for OTA, but involves also method developments to cover metabolites.
   

• Field of research "Method Developments"
  (Claudia Behm, Gisela H. Degen, Wolfram Föllmann, Jan G. Hengstler)
  Our work on urothelial cell cultures as alternative test systems focuses on the detection of hazardous effects of chemicals that target the bladder. In this context refined techniques are needed to assess damage profiles of chemicals, and study effects also at the level of subpopulations and single cells. This work is pursued within the intergroup research initiative "UroTox" at IfADo.
   

• Field of research "Toxicological risk evaluations"
  (Hermann M. Bolt, Gisela H. Degen)
  Research projects on selected hazardous chemicals take up either principal scientific questions with regard to occupational limit value setting for carcinogenic chemicals or are closely related to questions of advisory regulatory bodies (AGS, MAK, SCOEL) on classification and labelling of such compounds. Internationally recognized papers of the project group on matters of risk evaluation for important industrial chemicals such as acrylamide, acrylnitril, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, vinyl acetate and vinylchloride group are key elements in new concepts for the regulation of carcinogenic chemicals (see below→ selected publications). Work in this field thus accomodates also the aspect of applied research.

Boards and committees

• editorial board member of Mycotoxin Research (since 2009) (Springer)
• vice president of the Society for Mycotoxin Research (since 2008)
• member (since 2004) of the Scientific Committee for Consumer Products, European Commission, Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General (SCCP)
• member of the Ausschuss für Gefahrstoffe (AGS) of the BMAS (German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs)
• chair of the AK "Grenzwerte und Einstufungen für CM Stoffe" of the UAIII in AGS
• 2003–2005 member of the International Peer Review Panel for the Uterotrophic Bioassay of the OECD
• 2000–2003 member of the (German) Risikokommision (gemeinsame ad hoc Kommission von BMG und BMU zur "Neuordnung der Verfahren und Strukturen der Risikobewertung und Standardsetzung im gesundheitlichen Umweltschutz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland")

Mitwirkung im Editorial Board der Zeitschrift "Mycotoxin Research"

Berufung in den wissenschaftlichen EU-Ausschuss "Konsumgüter"

Parlamentarischer Abend der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft in Berlin

Zum Motto "Energie - Ernährung - Klima. Mit Agrarforschung nachhaltig in die Zukunft" vertrat das IfADo am 18. Mai 2010 die Bedeutung der Mykotoxinforschung für Produzenten und Verbraucher (mehr...)