Professor Dr. Richard Eisenstein

Biography

Richard Eisenstein is a Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences with a focus on Cellular Genetic Toxicology and Iron Regulation. His research interests include the molecular regulation of iron metabolism, synthesis, transport, and storage proteins. Iron is critical to cell viability and plays an essential role in various physiological processes including respiration and cell division. However, excess iron can become toxic and produce potentially lethal oxidizing agents. Eisenstein's work investigates how organisms utilize specific iron-binding proteins to maximize the benefits of iron while minimizing its toxic effects. He studies genetic and nutritional perturbations in iron metabolism that can impair health, affecting one-third of the world's population. His research emphasizes understanding the pathways that regulate Iron Regulatory Proteins (IRPs) and their roles in modulating iron metabolism, considering how different conditions affect IRP activity and the translation stability of IRE-containing mRNAs. Eisenstein is dedicated to elucidating the mechanisms by which IRPs selectively regulate translation and to exploring the physiological implications of this regulation on iron metabolism and other related processes.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards