Early in his career, Dr. Gilbert spent 15 years with Health Canada, where his research focused on the neurobehavioral effects of low-level exposure to lead, mercury, and caffeine on the developing nervous system. In 1990 he joined the DEOHS Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences faculty to continue his research into low-level effects of methylmercury. He went on to become President and part owner of the Redmond-based biotechnology pre-clinical research company, Biosupport, LTD. Biosupport merged with SNBL USA where he served as President of the SNBL USA operation.
After SNBL, Dr. Gilbert turned his attention to finding ways to inform and educate the public and policy makers about the health effects of common chemicals. This effort has taken many forms, including the publication of his free e-book, A Small Dose of Toxicology- The Health Effects of Common Chemicals, published in 2004. The book has been translated into Spanish, German, Arabic, and Chinese and can be downloaded here. His Milestones of Toxicology history poster has been translated into 19 languages.
He also created Toxipedia, a free, online resource on toxicology, exploring and revealing the human and environmental health effects of chemicals, drugs, and consumer products. Dr. Gilbert continues to blog, lecture, and create tools to make toxicological information accessible to all.
Beyond just toxicology, Dr. Gilbert remains ever-interested in the intersection of history, ethics and science and has devoted time to highlighting both the detrimental and the instrumental in efforts to summon a more life-sustaining world.
He co-curated a traveling art and science exhibition entitled Particles on the Wall, which unites the arts and sciences to explore the health and environmental impact of past and present work at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation (www.particlesonthewall.org). He was deeply involved in developing the interactive, online International Women Peacemakers poster with a database of over 2000 women (www.womeninpeace.org).
Most recently he's begun studying and lecturing about walls. He cataloged the many kinds and purpose of walls with a look at how walls have impacted public health throughout history. (www.voicesthroughwalls.org).
