Dr. Ronis’ research program is split into two primary areas of focus: one is related to developmental toxicology and the second is related to health consequences related to early nutrition. He has been funded by NIH to develop and characterize a series of in vivo animal models of drug and pollutant toxicity, with a particular emphasis on developmental exposures. More recently he has concentrated on development of rodent models for alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, and alcohol effects on bone turnover. These projects involve multidisciplinary basic science studies encompassing whole animal physiology, nutrition and endocrinology; pathology, neuroendocrinology, sex steroid biochemistry, cytochrome P450 biochemistry, and molecular biological techniques. The goal of these studies is to better understand molecular basis for the toxic actions of alcohol, drugs and pollutants which might uncover therapeutic targets and to determine the effects of nutritional status on pathological outcomes in exposed populations. Additional projects examine the effects of early nutrition on development of long-term chronic diseases of adulthood such as cancer, obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).