Professor, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rachel Tyndale, PhD, is interested in the general areas of molecular pharmacology, genetics and toxicology; drug metabolism and neuropharmacology. Her specific areas of interest relate to genetic and environmental factors which influence drug dependence.

The cytochromes P450 (CYP) enzyme system is involved in the activation and inactivation of drugs. Genetic defects in these genes can alter drug metabolism and create interindividual differences in drug efficacy, toxicity, and drug dependence. Dr Tyndale investigates these interindividual differences using molecular genetic, pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic approaches, using in vitro, animal, epidemiologic and clinical treatment studies.

In addition, CYPs are present in the central nervous system where they are regulated by drugs of abuse (e.g., alcohol and nicotine). Dr Tyndale investigates the influences of drugs of abuse on brain CYPs, integrating the fields of drug metabolism and receptor neuropharmacology, in order to identify interindividual differences in neurotoxicity and drug response. Her experimental approach principally involves biochemical, protein, and molecular biologic techniques.