Photo By Megan Mudersbach | Dr. Karen Mumy, Director, Environmental Health Effects Laboratory, Naval Medical...... read more read more
Dr. Karen Mumy, Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton’s (NAMRU-Dayton) Director of the Environmental Health Effects Laboratory (EHEL), is a board-certified toxicologist with the American Board of Toxicology and a member of many scientific societies, including the Society of Toxicology and the American Society for Microbiology. Her areas of expertise include toxicology, chemical exposure, health effects of exposure, environmental exposures, microbiology, cellular biology, inflammation, and the microbiome. A member of the research team since 2009, she uses her multifaceted background to think outside the box and creatively tackle military research needs.
“Every day on the job is different and all of my professional efforts are ultimately channeled into ensuring that EHEL succeeds in its mission,” said Mumy.
As EHEL director, Mumy leads the Navy’s largest basic science research lab that focuses on exposure effects and toxicology. The lab is made up of over 40 active duty, civilian and contractor personnel who focus on deciphering and addressing the health effects of service members exposed to environmental stressors and hazards. While the lab’s mission hasn’t changed drastically since its inception in 1959, Mumy has seen it broaden due to the scientific advancements and methodologies allowing researchers to look at things now that were not possible even just ten years ago.
Despite the demands of high-level duties, she makes sure to commit time to advise her team.
“One of the parts of my job that I love [is that] I get to spend a lot of time with the scientists,” said Mumy.
Interacting with her team strengthens Mumy’s already strong appreciation of collaboration and the value of different perspectives and research backgrounds.
“Being a leader through this experience, one thing that I have always appreciated…is the diversity of the research team,” said Mumy, “We’ve brought on so many people in the last year, and they all come from their own little niche areas. But, when you put them together with somebody else’s niche, they can do things that you just would never see coming.”
Further emphasizing, Mumy remarks, “You put brilliant minds with other brilliant minds, and the ideas that they come up with and the ways to answer a question…it’s fascinating to watch”. She adds, “As individuals-they’re fantastic on their own-but you put them together and it’s mind-blowing.”
As a leader, Mumy spends a lot of time thinking not only about the present state of her laboratory, but also its future.
“EHEL is in a wonderful position right now because we have brought on so much talent and just flat-out genius. We have very, very talented researchers that are up-to-date on recent methodology and state-of-the art techniques, and we’ve worked hard to acquire the newest instrumentation to be able to answer questions,” said Mumy.
She sees the lab’s ability to protect the warfighter not only from long-term or long-lasting effects, but also from short-term issues that could affect warfighter’s quality of life or operational performance. This is key in a field that historically has focused more on long-term illnesses, such as cancer.
“Certainly we are aiming to protect against cancers, but we are also heavily focused on recognizing other risks associated with exposures, such as those that may lead to things like memory impairments, hearing loss, depression or anxiety,” said Mumy, “These are such a big part of a service member’s wellbeing when they come home, and these are just a few of the many areas that I’m very proud of.”
In an effort to “maintain a pulse regarding what the up and coming issues are” Mumy and eleven scientists from the Environmental Health Effects Laboratory are attending the 58th Annual Society of Toxicology (SOT) meeting in Baltimore, March 10-14. SOT brings national and global scientists together to share influential research in the field of toxicology.
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.12.2019 17:50 |
| Story ID: | 313992 |
| Location: | WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 399 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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