Helinor Jane Johnston

Prof Helinor Johnston is a Professor (of toxicology) who joined Heriot-Watt University in January 2011. Helinor has diverse research interests and focuses mainly (but not exclusively) on assessing the harmful effects that particles (e.g. nanomaterials and particulate air pollution) have on human health. Prior to joining Heriot-Watt, Helinor was a scientific advisor (2009-2010) in the Chemicals and Nanotechnologies division of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). At Defra she was responsible for research concerned with the environmental impacts of nanomaterials, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Helinor completed a post-doc in 2009, at Edinburgh Napier University that reviewed the available published literature on the toxicity of nanoparticles to humans, through participation in the FP7 funded project ENRHES (Engineered Nanoparticles-Review of Health and Environmental Safety). Prior to this she completed her PhD entitled ‘Evaluating the uptake, intracellular fate and functional consequences of hepatocyte exposure, to a range of nanoparticles in vitro’ in 2008 at Edinburgh Napier University. Helinor's PhD was conducted as part of the FP6 funded project PARTICLE_RISK. This project was responsible for assessing the health risks associated with exposure to nanoparticles. The adverse effects of a particle panel, that had varied physico-chemical characteristics was assessed at a number of target sites. Helinor was responsible for determining the impacts of nanoparticle exposure on the liver. Helinor completed her undergraduate degree at King’s College London, in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2005.