Class Notes

When I was a college student majoring in psychology, the name Bernie Weiss was revered throughout the field. Though unassuming, Bernard (Bernie) Weiss ’53 (PhD) was a force of nature.

A member of the Medical Center’s faculty for more than 50 years before his death in January, Bernie will be remembered for his pioneering efforts to track the effects of toxic chemical exposures on behavior and helping create the field of behavioral toxicology. It was he who gave voice to the fact that exposure to chemicals in the environment need not leave holes in the brain to have serious consequences. He emphasized the need to look beyond blatant damage to the brain to recognize behavioral dysfunction that arises from such chemical exposures and contributes to developmental and degenerative brain diseases. When Bernie began focusing on these questions, his was the only lab devoted to this research.

Bernie’s views attracted students and postdocs to his lab and led to research investigating the effects of a breadth of environmental chemicals on an array of behaviors. His team examined the addictive properties of organic solvents, like toluene (used in paint thinner, for example) and methanol. They found sensory and motor dysfunctions produced by methyl-mercury in fish and manganese in drinking water. They linked lead exposure during brain development to impaired cognitive control of behavior and investigated the impacts of the air pollutant ozone on behavioral functions.

Later in his career, Bernie became interested in the neurobehavioral consequences of endocrine disrupters, like phthalates, which are commonly found in plastics and many personal care products. His curiosity led to findings that these chemicals can influence sex-related differences in brain development and behavior.

I was one of those early postdoctoral students attracted to Bernie’s lab by his new ideas. Bernie’s style was not to pigeonhole students and postdocs into his ongoing projects, but to let them pursue their varied interests in the field, providing support, advice, and resources. It was a unique and incredible environment in which to learn, train, and grow.

The breadth of research questions being addressed, the scope of methods and approaches being used, and the translational focus were exciting and thought-provoking. Our research was immediately important and relevant to public health, environmental regulations, and risk assessment. As researchers, this gave us a sense of accomplishment and giving back to the public that few in the scientific community have the opportunity to experience in their lifetime.

I count myself among many whose careers and lives were enriched by having known and been inspired by Bernie. Although he is no longer physically with us, his accomplishments will be remembered, and his words will continue to inspire the field. —Deborah Cory-Slechta

---

Cory-Slechta ’82M (Flw) is a professor and former chair in the Department of Environmental Medicine at the Medical Center.