Vasiliki Mourikes

Vicki Mourikes is a DVM-PhD predoctoral fellow in Dr. Jodi Flaws’ laboratory in the Department of Comparative Biosciences. Her overall goal is to assess the potential for endocrine disruption and adverse health outcomes by neonicotinoid pesticides using a female mouse model. Neonicotinoids are found across all agricultural systems, as well as in flea and tick preventatives that we apply to our pets. Their ubiquitous and rapidly increasing use results in chronic exposure of non-target species including humans, fish, birds, and pollinators. Vicki is characterizing the toxic endpoints and mechanisms of toxicity of imidacloprid, the most popular neonicotinoid, on the ovary. She is also identifying mechanisms of imidacloprid detoxification within the ovary.