Colleen Cosgrove Hegg

Colleen Cosgrove Hegg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University, with a joint appointment in the Neuroscience Program. Her research focuses on purinergic signaling in olfactory neuroregeneration and environmental toxicant effects on the olfactory system.

• B.A. in Chemistry, Kalamazoo College (1990)
• Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology, University of Wisconsin (1996)

Dr. Hegg investigates how endogenous ATP functions as a neurotrophic factor following pollutant exposure in the olfactory epithelium. Her work spans cellular toxicity mechanisms in the nervous system, glial cell function, and purinergic receptor dynamics in neuroregeneration. Key areas include airborne toxicant impacts, olfactory stem cell aging, and neuroinflammatory responses.

Her publications from 2000–2024 address ATP signaling, cannabinoid modulation, and mycotoxin-induced neuronal apoptosis, primarily in Neuroscience, J Neurophysiol, and Toxicol Sci. Trends highlight environmental neurotoxicology, sensory system repair, and receptor-mediated cellular responses.

Current affiliations include:

• Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, MSU
• Neuroscience Program, MSU