Carole L. Yauk (Ph.D.)

Research Scientist, Lead Genomics laboratory

Mechanistic Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate

Current research and/or projects

  • Development and application of genomic technologies for human health toxicological risk assessment
  • Development and use of Adverse Outcome Pathways for human health risk assessment
  • Development of novel approaches to identify and characterize heritable genetic effects

Key words

  • Genomics, genetic toxicology, heritable mutation, benchmark dose modeling, tiered testing, biomarker development and validation, adverse outcome pathway

Professional activities / interests

  • Co-chair of the Application of Genomics in Mechanism-based Risk Assessment Technical Committee (Genomics Committee) of the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute
  • Co-chair of Health Canada’s Genomics Working Group
  • Research Oversight Committee for various Genomics projects nationally and internationally
  • Canadian delegate to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Extended Advisory Group on Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics
  • Editorial Board, Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis
  • Editorial Board, Mutation Research Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms
  • Editorial Board, Genes and Environment
  • Collaborator and mentor in the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program entitled ‘Research in Environmental, Analytical Chemistry and Toxicology’ (REACT)

Education and awards

  • Student Education Award for mentoring, Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society
  • Deputy Minister’s Award of Excellence in Leadership, Health Canada
  • Deputy Minister's Most Promising Scientist Award, Health Canada
  • NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow (University of Leicester, Leicester, England)
  • Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Doctoral prize.

Key publications

  • Buick, J.K., Williams, A., Kuo, B., Wills, J.W., Swartz, C.D., Recio, L., Li, H.H., Fornace, A.J., Aubrecht, J., Yauk, C.L. Integration of the TGx-28.65 genomic biomarker with the flow cytometry micronucleus test to assess the genotoxicity of disperse orange and 1,2,4-benzenetriol in human TK6 cells. Mutat Res. 2017 Dec; 806:51-62.
  • Wehmas, L.C., Wood, C.E., Gagne, R., Williams, A., Yauk, C., Gosink, M., Dalmas, D., Hao, R., O’Lone, R., Hester, S. Demodifying RNA for Transcriptomic Analyses of Archival Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Samples. Toxicol Sci. 2017 Dec 7. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfx278
  • Gant, T.W., Sauer, U.G., Zhang, S-D, Chorley, B.N., Hackermüller, J., Perdichizzi, S., Tollefsen, K.E., Tralau, T., van Ravenzwaay, B., Yauk, C., Tong, W., Poole, A., 2017. A generic Transcriptomics Reporting Framework (TRF) for 'omics data processing and analysis. Regulat. Toxicol. Pharmacol. Suppl 1:S36-S45.
  • Li, H., Chen, R., Hyduke, D., Williams, A., Frostschl, R., Ellinger-Ziegelbauer, H., O’Lone, R., Yauk, C., Aubrecht, J., Fornace, A.J. Development and validation of a high-throughput transcriptomic biomarker to address 21st century genetic toxicology needs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. 114(51):E10881-E10889.
  • Chepelev, N.L., Gagné, R., Maynor, T., Kuo, B., Hobbs, C.A., Recio. L., Yauk, C.L. Transcriptional Profiling of Male F344 Rats Suggests the Involvement of Calcium Signaling in the Mode of Action of Acrylamide-induced Thyroid Cancer. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 107(Pt A):186-200.
  • Beal, M.A., Yauk, C.L., Marchetti, F. From Sperm to Offspring: Assessing the Heritable Genetic Consequences of Paternal Smoking and Potential Public Health Impacts. Mutation Research Reviews.  Jul;773:26-50.
  • Farmahin, R., Williams, A., Kuo, B., Chepelev, N.L., Thomas, R.S., Barton-Maclaren, T.S., Curran, I.H., Nong, A., Wade, M.G., Yauk, C.L. Recommended approaches in the application of toxicogenomics to derive points of departure for chemical risk assessment. Archives of Toxicology. May;91(5):2045-2065.
  • O’Brien, J.M., Beal, M.A., Yauk, C.L., Marchetti, F. Next generation sequencing of benzo(a)pyrene-induced lacZ mutants identify a germ cell-specific mutation spectrum. Scientific Reports. 6:36743.
  • Meier, M.J., O’Brien, J.M., Beal, M.A., Allan, B., Yauk, C.L., Marchetti, F. In utero exposure to benzo[a]pyrene increases mutation burden in the soma and sperm of adult mice. Environmental Health Perspectives. 125(1):82-88.