Dr. Christian Khalil is an associate professor of environmental toxicology and health. Prior to joining LAU in 2014, he was an assistant professor in environmental toxicology in addition to his role as program authority for the Master of Environmental Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia since 2002. Since 2010, he was the director of the International Environmental Services (IES), a training and consulting organization based in Australia. He also has an honorary appointment with the Australian Catholic University (ACU), Australia. 

Christian’s hobbies include basketball, fishing and swimming.

Research Interests and Projects

Dr. Khalil’s research team previously investigated:

1. In vitro toxicology methods development for application to products testing (raw materials, cosmetic formulation);
2. Nanoparticles toxicity on human derived cell cultures and human skin;
3. Toxicity of welding fumes in vitro and in vivo, occupational exposure context;
4. Chemical mixtures, their synergistic interactions and cytotoxicity;
5. Toxicity assessment of environmental pollutants released into an aquatic environment;
6. Investigation of the effect of altered NAD levels on DNA repair and survival in fibroblasts & keratinocytes (skin) cells following oxidative and U.V. damage.

He is also interested in a range of environmental research areas in Lebanon involving toxicology:

1. The application of mammalian cells in screening environmental stressors in soils and river systems.
2. The toxicity of artificial sun tanning chemicals on humans and their genotoxic and immunologic potential;
3. The toxicity of ultraviolet light exposure in human skin and skin-derived cells;
4. The toxicity of nargile smoke;
5. Diesel generators emissions toxicity;
6. Municipal leachates toxicity using in vitro systems;
7. The toxicity of car exhaust fumes on human lungs - an in vitro approach;
8. Toxicity of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

SDGs Research Mapping

Dr. Christian Khalil conducts research relevant to the following SDGs:

Selected Publications

1. Khalifeh, M. et al. Nicotine induces resilience to chronic social defeat stress in a mouse model of water pipe tobacco exposure by activating BDNF signaling. Behavioural brain research 382, 112499 (2020).
2. Khalil, C., Chahine, J. B., Chahla, B., Hobeika, T. & Khnayzer, R. S. Characterization and cytotoxicity assessment of nargile smoke using dynamic exposure. Inhalation toxicology 31, 343-356 (2019).
3. Khalil, C., Al Hageh, C., Korfali, S. & Khnayzer, R. S. Municipal leachates health risks: chemical and cytotoxicity assessment from regulated and unregulated municipal dumpsites in Lebanon. Chemosphere 208, 1-13 (2018).
4. Khalil, C. Human skin explants an in vitro approach for assessing UVB induced damage. Toxicology in Vitro (2018).
5. Al Hageh, C. et al. A long-lived cuprous bis-phenanthroline complex for the photodynamic therapy of cancer. Dalton Transactions 47, 4959-4967 (2018).
6. Khalil, C. & Shebaby, W. UVB damage onset and progression 24 h post exposure in human-derived skin cells. Toxicology reports 4, 441-449 (2017).
7. Khalil, C., Khnayzer, R. & El Hajjeh, C. Toxicology and Pharmacology. Toxicology 2017 (2017).
8. Khalil, C. In vitro UVB induced cellular damage assessment using primary human skin derived fibroblasts. MOJ Toxicology 1, 20 (2015).
9. Siti Hajar, Y., Intasiri, A., Winder, C. & Khalil, C. In vitro cytotoxicity of mild steel and stainless steel welding fumes using human-derived cells. Health 4, 20-36 (2013).
10. Ghauri, B., Mansha, M. & Khalil, C. Characterization of cytotoxicity of airborne particulates from urban areas of Lahore. Journal of Environmental Sciences 24, 2028-2034 (2012).

Academic Degrees

• PhD in  Environmental Toxicology and Health, University of New South Wales, Australia  
• MS in Environmental Studies, , University of New South Wales, Australia  
• BS in Biology, Haigazian University,  Lebanon.