Lydia M. Hall

Dr. Lydia M. Hall is a veterinary anatomic pathologist and postdoctoral fellow under the direction of Drs. Spinella and Colegrove in the Department of Comparative Biosciences. Her research focuses on investigating the mechanistic role of legacy environmental contaminants in the development of reproductive cancers of the California sea lion (CSL). CSLs have one of the highest rates of cancer, specifically urogenital carcinoma (UGC), recorded in a wild mammal. Legacy contaminants like DDT and PCBs, along with herpesviral infection, are positively associated with UGC development; however, the mechanism of action remains uncertain despite decades of investigation. Interestingly, CSLs in managed care also have relatively high rates of mammary cancer.  Given that these CSLs are either wild-borne or direct descendants of free-ranging CSLs, there is concern that legacy contaminant exposure contributes to cancer in multiple generations through epigenetic mechanisms, similar to what has been observed in laboratory animals and people. During her T32 studies, Dr. Hall will explore the epigenetic impacts of legacy contaminant exposure on the reproductive system of California sea lions from both free-ranging and managed care settings.