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Marissa E. Terry, Ph.D.

Marissa E. Terry, Ph.D.

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Office (585) 276-4099

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About Me

Faculty Appointments

Assistant Professor - Department of Environmental Medicine (SMD)

Assistant Professor - Department of Neuroscience (SMD) - Joint

Research

Dr. Sobolewski's lab focuses on sex-differentiated mechanisms of neurotoxicity. The perinatal endocrine environment of a developing mammal differs depending on sex. These sex-specific hormone profiles may result in unique sensitivity to endocrine active chemicals (EACs). We test the hypothesis that ...
Dr. Sobolewski's lab focuses on sex-differentiated mechanisms of neurotoxicity. The perinatal endocrine environment of a developing mammal differs depending on sex. These sex-specific hormone profiles may result in unique sensitivity to endocrine active chemicals (EACs). We test the hypothesis that environmental disruption of perinatal hormone profiles results in lasting sex-specific changes to brain development and behavior. The goal is to advance our understanding of differential toxicity risk based on sex. Ultimately, our lab seeks to translate our mechanistic research into a deep understanding of the role the environment plays in the etiology of neurobehavioral disorders with sex-biased prevalence rates, such as Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Our first research aim examines EAC disruption of early sex steroids, specifically disruption of the male-specific testosterone surge before and after birth known as the perinatal testosterone surge (PTS). Steroid hormones are key regulators of reproductive tract and central nervous system development. Using EACs, our lab disrupts PTS signaling to elucidate its role in sex-specific nervous system development in rodents. Furthermore, given the vast number of compounds with endocrine disrupting properties, it is critical to characterize combinations of compounds that alter such key developmental pathways. Mixtures studies are significant for public health protection as current methods of risk assessment, based only on effect thresholds of single chemicals, may overestimate the actual no-adverse effect risk levels of EACs.
Our second research aim focuses on mechanisms connecting early hormone disruption with adult behavioral variability. Consistent with fetal origins of adult disease theory, environmental information gathered during development is carried forward into adulthood, influencing behavior. Increasingly, research is identifying that epigenetic modifications may provide the cellular memory for transmission. Our lab uses environmental stressors and endocrine active chemicals to elucidate mechanisms of cellular transmission from development into adulthood through epigenetic reprogramming.

Publications

Journal Articles

Cumulative Risk Assessment as the Pathway to Public Health Protection for Behavioral Neurotoxicity.

Neurotoxicology.. 2025 May 9 Epub 05/09/2025.

Brain iron accumulation in neurodegenerative disorders: Does air pollution play a role?

George JV, Hornburg KJ, Merrill A, Marvin E, Conrad K, Welle K, Gelein R, Chalupa D, Graham U, Oberdörster G, Johnson GA, Cory-Slechta DA, Sobolewski M

Particle and fibre toxicology.. 2025 May 122 (1):9. Epub 05/01/2025.

The Promise of a Pointillist Perspective for Comparative Immunology.

Downs CJ, Sobolewski ME

Physiology.. 2024 November 139 (6):0. Epub 05/29/2024.

The contributions of neonatal inhalation of copper to air pollution-induced neurodevelopmental outcomes in mice.

Cubello J, Marvin E, Conrad K, Merrill AK, George JV, Welle K, Jackson BP, Chalupa D, Oberdörster G, Sobolewski M, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology.. 2024 January 100 :55-71. Epub 12/09/2023.

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals impacts immunological and metabolic status of women during pregnancy.

Merrill AK, Sobolewski M, Susiarjo M

Molecular and cellular endocrinology.. 2023 November 1577 :112031. Epub 07/26/2023.

Neurotoxic effects of air pollution: an urgent public health concern.

Cory-Slechta DA, Sobolewski M

Nature reviews. Neuroscience.. 2023 March 24 (3):129-130. Epub 1900 01 01.

Air Pollution-Related Neurotoxicity Across the Life Span.

Cory-Slechta DA, Merrill A, Sobolewski M

Annual review of pharmacology and toxicology.. 2023 January 2063 :143-163. Epub 08/26/2022.

The potential involvement of inhaled iron (Fe) in the neurotoxic effects of ultrafine particulate matter air pollution exposure on brain development in mice.

Sobolewski M, Conrad K, Marvin E, Eckard M, Goeke CM, Merrill AK, Welle K, Jackson BP, Gelein R, Chalupa D, Oberdörster G, Cory-Slechta DA

Particle and fibre toxicology.. 2022 August 919 (1):56. Epub 08/09/2022.

Effects of gestational low dose perfluorooctanoic acid on maternal and "anxiety-like" behavior in dams.

Merrill AK, Conrad K, Marvin E, Sobolewski M

Frontiers in toxicology.. 2022 4 :971970. Epub 08/29/2022.

Protracted Impairment of Maternal Metabolic Health in Mouse Dams Following Pregnancy Exposure to a Mixture of Low Dose Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals, a Pilot Study.

Merrill AK, Anderson T, Conrad K, Marvin E, James-Todd T, Cory-Slechta DA, Sobolewski M

Toxics.. 2021 December 99 (12)Epub 12/09/2021.

Paraquat Inhalation, a Translationally Relevant Route of Exposure: Disposition to the Brain and Male-Specific Olfactory Impairment in Mice.

Anderson T, Merrill AK, Eckard ML, Marvin E, Conrad K, Welle K, Oberdörster G, Sobolewski M, Cory-Slechta DA

Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.. 2021 February 26180 (1):175-185. Epub 1900 01 01.

Developmental exposure to methylmercury and resultant muscle mercury accumulation and adult motor deficits in mice.

Rand MD, Conrad K, Marvin E, Harvey K, Henderson D, Tawil R, Sobolewski M, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology.. 2020 December 81 :1-10. Epub 07/28/2020.

Lineage- and Sex-Dependent Behavioral and Biochemical Transgenerational Consequences of Developmental Exposure to Lead, Prenatal Stress, and Combined Lead and Prenatal Stress in Mice.

Sobolewski M, Abston K, Conrad K, Marvin E, Harvey K, Susiarjo M, Cory-Slechta DA

Environmental health perspectives.. 2020 February 128 (2):27001. Epub 02/05/2020.

The Impact of Inhaled Ambient Ultrafine Particulate Matter on Developing Brain: Potential Importance of Elemental Contaminants.

Cory-Slechta DA, Sobolewski M, Marvin E, Conrad K, Merrill A, Anderson T, Jackson BP, Oberdorster G

Toxicologic pathology.. 2019 December 47 (8):976-992. Epub 10/14/2019.

Effects of neonatal inhalation exposure to ultrafine carbon particles on pathology and behavioral outcomes in C57BL/6J mice.

Morris-Schaffer K, Merrill A, Jew K, Wong C, Conrad K, Harvey K, Marvin E, Sobolewski M, Oberdörster G, Elder A, Cory-Slechta DA

Particle and fibre toxicology.. 2019 February 1816 (1):10. Epub 02/18/2019.

Limited developmental neurotoxicity from neonatal inhalation exposure to diesel exhaust particles in C57BL/6 mice.

Morris-Schaffer K, Merrill AK, Wong C, Jew K, Sobolewski M, Cory-Slechta DA

Particle and fibre toxicology.. 2019 January 716 (1):1. Epub 01/07/2019.

Developmental exposures to ultrafine particle air pollution reduces early testosterone levels and adult male social novelty preference: Risk for children's sex-biased neurobehavioral disorders.

Sobolewski M, Anderson T, Conrad K, Marvin E, Klocke C, Morris-Schaffer K, Allen JL, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology.. 2018 September 68 :203-211. Epub 08/23/2018.

Enhanced cerebellar myelination with concomitant iron elevation and ultrastructural irregularities following prenatal exposure to ambient particulate matter in the mouse.

Klocke C, Sherina V, Graham UM, Gunderson J, Allen JL, Sobolewski M, Blum JL, Zelikoff JT, Cory-Slechta DA

Inhalation toxicology.. 2018 August 30 (9-10):381-396. Epub 12/20/2018.

Effect of neonatal hyperoxia followed by concentrated ambient ultrafine particle exposure on cumulative learning in C57Bl/6J mice.

Morris-Schaffer K, Sobolewski M, Allen JL, Marvin E, Yee M, Arora M, O'Reilly MA, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology.. 2018 July 67 :234-244. Epub 06/18/2018.

Developmental Lead Exposure and Prenatal Stress Result in Sex-Specific Reprograming of Adult Stress Physiology and Epigenetic Profiles in Brain.

Sobolewski M, Varma G, Adams B, Anderson DW, Schneider JS, Cory-Slechta DA

Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.. 2018 June 1163 (2):478-489. Epub 1900 01 01.

Endocrine active metals, prenatal stress and enhanced neurobehavioral disruption.

Sobolewski M, Conrad K, Marvin E, Allen JL, Cory-Slechta DA

Hormones and behavior.. 2018 May 101 :36-49. Epub 02/01/2018.

Exposure to fine and ultrafine particulate matter during gestation alters postnatal oligodendrocyte maturation, proliferation capacity, and myelination.

Klocke C, Allen JL, Sobolewski M, Blum JL, Zelikoff JT, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology.. 2018 March 65 :196-206. Epub 10/24/2017.

Sex-Dependent Effects of Developmental Lead Exposure on the Brain.

Singh G, Singh V, Sobolewski M, Cory-Slechta DA, Schneider JS

Frontiers in genetics.. 2018 9 :89. Epub 03/16/2018.

Different Behavioral Experiences Produce Distinctive Parallel Changes in, and Correlate With, Frontal Cortex and Hippocampal Global Post-translational Histone Levels.

Sobolewski M, Singh G, Schneider JS, Cory-Slechta DA

Frontiers in integrative neuroscience.. 2018 12 :29. Epub 07/19/2018.

Cognitive flexibility deficits in male mice exposed to neonatal hyperoxia followed by concentrated ambient ultrafine particles.

Morris-Schaffer K, Sobolewski M, Welle K, Conrad K, Yee M, O'Reilly MA, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology and teratology.. 2018 70 :51-59. Epub 10/11/2018.

Developmental Lead and/or Prenatal Stress Exposures Followed by Different Types of Behavioral Experience Result in the Divergence of Brain Epigenetic Profiles in a Sex, Brain Region, and Time-Dependent Manner: Implications for Neurotoxicology.

Cory-Slechta DA, Sobolewski M, Varma G, Schneider JS

Current opinion in toxicology.. 2017 October 6 :60-70. Epub 09/28/2017.

Toxicoanthropology: Phthalate exposure in relation to market access in a remote forager-horticulturalist population.

Sobolewski M, Weiss B, Martin M, Gurven M, Barrett E

International journal of hygiene and environmental health.. 2017 July 220 (5):799-809. Epub 03/27/2017.

Neuropathological Consequences of Gestational Exposure to Concentrated Ambient Fine and Ultrafine Particles in the Mouse.

Klocke C, Allen JL, Sobolewski M, Mayer-Pröschel M, Blum JL, Lauterstein D, Zelikoff JT, Cory-Slechta DA

Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.. 2017 April 1156 (2):492-508. Epub 1900 01 01.

Sex-dependent effects of lead and prenatal stress on post-translational histone modifications in frontal cortex and hippocampus in the early postnatal brain.

Schneider JS, Anderson DW, Kidd SK, Sobolewski M, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology.. 2016 May 54 :65-71. Epub 03/24/2016.

A novel, ecologically relevant, highly preferred, and non-invasive means of oral substance administration for rodents.

Sobolewski M, Allen JL, Morris-Schaffer K, Klocke C, Conrad K, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology and teratology.. 2016 56 :75-80. Epub 04/14/2016.

Sex-specific enhanced behavioral toxicity induced by maternal exposure to a mixture of low dose endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Sobolewski M, Conrad K, Allen JL, Weston H, Martin K, Lawrence BP, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology.. 2014 December 45 :121-30. Epub 10/22/2014.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: do endocrine-disrupting chemicals play a role?

Barrett ES, Sobolewski M

Seminars in reproductive medicine.. 2014 May 32 (3):166-76. Epub 04/08/2014.

Sex-dependent and non-monotonic enhancement and unmasking of methylmercury neurotoxicity by prenatal stress.

Weston HI, Sobolewski M, Allen JL, Weston D, Conrad K, Pelkowski S, Watson GE, Zareba G, Cory-Slechta DA

Neurotoxicology.. 2014 March 41 :123-40. Epub 02/03/2014.

Female parity, male aggression, and the Challenge Hypothesis in wild chimpanzees.

Sobolewski ME, Brown JL, Mitani JC

Primates; journal of primatology.. 2013 January 54 (1):81-8. Epub 10/25/2012.