The overall focus of my research is development of methods to assess the role of the environment in human health. I am currently pursuing two lines of research within this broad framework:

1. Health implications of thermal environment in humans: We are conducting research to evaluate if there are differences in vulnerability to extreme heat events in urban versus rural settings in Alabama. We have examined non-accidental mortality and preterm birth during extreme heat events between 1990-2010 and are currently exploring how heat exposure differs in urban and rural environments. 

2. Development of alternative methods for evaluating developmental toxicity: We are exploring the utility of Daphnia pulex as a whole animal, invertebrate model system for human health research. We are currently testing the life history parameter effects of combinations of thermal, chemical, and nutritional exposures early in life.

Selected Publications:

Kent ST, McClure LA, Zaitchik BF, Smith TT, JM Gohlke. (2014). Heat Waves and Health Outcomes in Alabama (USA): The Importance of Heat Wave Definition. Environ Health Perspect. 122(2): 151-8 PMCID: PMC3914868

Kent, ST, LA McClure, BF Zaitchik, JM Gohlke. (2013).  Area-level risk factors for adverse birth outcomes: trends in urban and rural settings. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 13: 129. PMCID: PMC3688345

Bernhard, MC, MB Evans, ST Kent, E Johnson, SL Threadgill, SB Tyson, SM Becker, JM Gohlke. (2013). Identifying environmental health priorities in underserved populations: a study of rural versus urban communities. Public Health 127(11):994-1004 PMCID: PMC3851598

Smith, TT, BF Zaitchik, JM Gohlke. (2012). Heat waves in the United States: definitions, patterns and trends. Climatic Change 118 (3-4): 811-825. PMCID: PMC3711804

Gohlke JM, D Doke, M Tipre, M Leader, T Fitzgerald. 2011. A review of seafood safety after the Deepwater Horizon blowout. Environ Health Perspect. Environ Health Perspect. 119(8): 1062-9 PMCID: PMC3237364

Gohlke JM, Thomas R, Woodward A, Campbell-Lendrum D, Prüss-Ustün A, Hales S, Portier CJ. (2011). Estimating the Global Public Health Implications of Electricity and Coal Consumption. Environ Health Perspect. 119(6): 821-6. PMCID: PMC3114817

Gohlke JM, Stockton PS, Sieber S, Foley J, Portier CJ. (2009). AhR-mediated gene expression in the developing mouse telencephalon. Reproductive Toxicology 28(3):321-8.

Gohlke J.M., R. Thomas, Y. Zhang, M.C. Rosenstein, A.P. Davis, C. Murphy, C.J. Mattingly, K.G. Becker, C.J. Portier (2009). The Genetic and Environmental Pathways to Complex Diseases. BMC Systems Biology 3: 46.

Thomas R, J.M. Gohlke , F. Parham, C.J. Portier (2009). Choosing the right path: Enhancement of biologically-relevant sets of genes or proteins using pathway structure. Genome Biology 10(4):R44.

Gohlke, J.M., O Armant, FM Parham, MV Smith, D Castro, L Nguyen, JS Parker, G Gradwohl, CJ Portier, F Guillemot. (2008). A Gene Regulatory Network for Telencephalon Development Combining Experimental and Bioinformatics Approaches. BMC Biology 6(1): 15.