Dr. Gary Perdew

Biography

Gary H. Perdew is the H. Thomas Dorothy Willits Hallowell Chair at the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Penn State University. His research interests primarily focus on the molecular mechanisms of toxicity, including the signaling pathways associated with dioxin-mediated responses and the regulation of cellular homeostasis by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). He leads investigations into how AhR mediates gene expression and the biological impacts of persistent exposure to environmental pollutants. Dr. Perdew's laboratory explores dietary chemicals that activate AhR and examines differences in human versus rodent AhR activity. His research employs various molecular techniques to understand the critical target genes regulated by AhR that lead to toxicity, using DNA microarray analysis in transgenic mouse models. Dr. Perdew is particularly interested in how modulation of AhR can influence metabolic processes in cancer, focusing on head and neck cancer and the role of AhR antagonists in altering metastatic potential. His work has significant implications for drug development and understanding the long-term health effects of industrial pollutants.

Research Interests

Experience