Jayne Boyer, PhD

About

Dr. Boyer previously investigated mechanisms of DNA microsatellite mutagenesis, both spontaneous and induced. The factors studied that affect mutation rate include: microsatellite length, unit size, sequence composition and degree of sequence perfection, as well as the absence of mismatch repair.

Dr. Boyer has also been involved in studying the pathogenesis of some types of kidney disease. She designed an ELISA to detect and quantify heparanase in blood to test the hypothesis that it is involved in kidney disease in diabetes. Dr. Boyer also used several recombinant chimeric mouse/human myeloperoxidase (MPO) protein species to attempt epitope mapping in the autoimmune disease ANCA. She expressed chimeric MPOs in vitro in HEK cells and purified the protein by FPLC. The chimeric MPOs were then used to stimulate an autoimmune response in mice, producing kidney damage similar to that seen in ANCA renal vasculitis patients.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Boyer has trained students of all levels in tissue culture and molecular biology techniques.

Research Activities

Dr. Boyer's current research interests include the use of a 3-dimensional human skin reconstruct model to study skin exposures to environmental and occupational chemicals. She was trained to isolate primary skin cells and to reconstruct them into in vitro dermal tissues at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, PA and has developed the system in the Nylander-French laboratory to study mechanisms of dermal toxicity from environmental exposures.

Dr. Boyer has also been involved in biomarker analysis of workers exposed to diisocyanates using analyses of bio-fluids for metabolites and SNP and DNA methylation analysis for genetic susceptibility.

Staff/Administrative Duties

Laboratory manager for Leena Nylander-French

Grant proposal writing

EHS laboratory representative

Laboratory supply ordering

Maintenance of laboratory instruments

Education