Gary H. Perdew

Gary H. Perdew is the H. Thomas & Dorothy Willits Hallowell Chair of Agricultural Sciences and Director of the Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis at Penn State University. He holds a B.S. in Food Science from the University of Maryland, M.S. in Food Biochemistry from Oregon State University, and a Ph.D. in Food Toxicology from Oregon State University, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin. His research focuses on the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), exploring its role in toxicology, carcinogenesis, and metabolic regulation, particularly in barrier tissues like the intestine and skin. His work has led to collaborations with pharmaceutical companies developing AHR-targeted therapies.

Key honors include the NIH R35 RIVER Outstanding Investigator Award (2019–2025), Penn State Faculty Scholar Medal (2002), and Distinguished Professor title (2004–2006). He teaches BMB 433: Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology and serves on NIH study sections. His lab investigates AHR’s dual role in cancer progression and immune modulation, aiming to develop treatments for inflammatory diseases and cancer. Ongoing projects include AHR antagonists in clinical trials and microbiome interactions with xenobiotic responses.

Perdew’s research bridges environmental toxicology, cancer biology, and translational medicine, with over 150 publications and an impact index of 65. His lab also explores AHR’s role in metabolic homeostasis, gut microbiota dynamics, and evolutionary differences in receptor function across species.