Patrick R Hannon

Patrick R Hannon, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, with a joint faculty appointment in Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences. His research focuses on understanding how environmental exposures impact women's reproductive health, particularly investigating how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) cause fertility defects by disrupting ovarian function.

Dr. Hannon's primary research interest lies in how EDCs, particularly phthalates found in common consumer products such as food containers, cosmetics, and building materials, inhibit or impair the process of ovulation. His laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms by which these environmental chemicals disrupt normal ovarian function, with particular emphasis on progesterone signaling, follicular development, and the ovulatory process. His work bridges environmental science, toxicology, and reproductive endocrinology to understand how everyday chemical exposures affect female fertility.

Analysis of Dr. Hannon's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the reproductive toxicity of phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals. His research employs both in vitro human cell models and in vivo animal studies to examine how these environmental exposures disrupt critical processes in female reproduction, particularly ovulation and follicular development. His work has increasingly focused on the effects of chemical mixtures rather than single compounds, reflecting real-world exposure scenarios and the complexity of environmental impacts on reproductive health.

• NIH grant recipient (2022) for research advancing women's reproductive health
• Recognized as an "Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentor" by the University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (2021)

Dr. Hannon leads the Hannon Lab at the University of Kentucky, which is part of the Women's Health Research program within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. His research team investigates the impact of environmental exposures on reproductive health, with a particular focus on how endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in everyday products affect ovarian function and fertility. The lab employs a range of molecular, cellular, and physiological approaches to understand the mechanisms by which these environmental factors contribute to reproductive disorders.