HAMMOCK LAB
The Laboratory of Pesticide Biotechnology
To test experimental drug for laminitis in horses
November 14, 2012
Veterinarians at the UC Davis have announced plans to conduct the first clinical trial of an experimental drug that has shown promise in treating horses stricken with laminitis, an excruciatingly painful and often life-threatening foot-related disease. Four horses suffering from laminitis have been treated with the investigational anti-inflammatory drug so far. One experienced a complete remission that has lasted for more than a year, and three others have shown some improvement.
The experimental compound, known as t-TUCB, belongs to a group of anti-inflammatory compounds called sEH (soluble epoxide hydrolases) inhibitors. It stems from a discovery made more than 40 years ago by Professor Bruce Hammock while doing basic insect biology research. Originally interested in finding biological insect control methods, Bruce has since broadened his research to also search for biomedical applications. He and colleagues have identified a group of anti-inflammatory compounds, including the sEH inhibitors, that have proven to be effective in relieving inflammatory discomfort and pain related to nervous system disorders in mice and rats. Their work has been published in scientific journals including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
Nils, the lab alumnus, won award for research paper
September 21, 2012
Food chemist and toxicologist Nils Helge Schebb, a former postdoctoral researcher in the lab (2009-2011), has just received the 2012 Sciex LC /MS Award for his “extraordinary work in the field of LC/MS” from the section of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) of the German Society of Mass Spectrometry for a research paper published on the anti-microbial and environmental contaminant, triclocarban (TCC).
The research, “Investigation of Human Exposure to Triclocarban after Showering and Preliminary Evaluation of its Biological Effects,” was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology and was co-authored by Bruce and four other scientists in the lab: Bora, Ki Chang, Christophe and Shirley.
Nils has a doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Munster, Germany, is now principal investigator and head of a lab at the Institute of Food Toxicology and Chemical Analysis at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Hannover, Germany.
Let's get everybody wet!
July 13, 2012
It was meant to be 15 minutes of fame, but it turned out to be 10 minutes of aim. That’s how long it took for the water warriors at the 10th annual Lab Water Balloon Battle to toss 2,000 water balloons at one another.
It was a traditional time for camaraderie and to beat the heat since 2003. The event, which began at 3 p.m. Friday on the Briggs Hall Lawn, drew scientists from five different labs. Last year the water balloon war lasted 15 minutes, but this year, all the ammunition was gone after 10 minutes.
We welcome faculty, staff, students, children and spouses to participate or watch. The only requirement to participate: They have to help fill the water balloons.
Jiawen awarded the Henry A. Jastro Research Award
July 1, 2012
Our graduate student, Jiawen Xu, has been selected as one of the Henry A. Jastro Research Award recipients for 2012-13. This award is awarded to outstanding graduate students in recognition of their potential to carry out research projects related to the missions of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.