Jack Harkema

Jack Harkema is a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University (MSU), affiliated with the College of Veterinary Medicine and the departments of Pathobiology & Diagnostic Investigation and Pharmacology & Toxicology. He serves as Director of the Laboratory for Environmental and Toxicologic Pathology and leads the Environmental & Integrative Toxicological Sciences Training Program. Dr. Harkema holds a DVM from MSU, a PhD in Pathology from UC Davis, and has over 30 years of academic experience mentoring students in respiratory toxicology and disease modeling.

• Education: DVM (MSU), PhD (UC Davis), M.S. and B.S. in Biology

His research focuses on environmental toxicants' effects on respiratory and autoimmune diseases, including mechanisms of lung injury from pollutants like particulate matter, ozone, and silica. Key areas include asthma pathogenesis, lupus flaring suppression via omega-3 fatty acids, and gene-environment interactions in chronic diseases.

Recent studies highlight the role of dietary interventions in modulating autoimmune responses and the neuroinflammatory impacts of wildfire smoke. Collaborations span 20+ MSU units and 100+ international labs, yielding 290+ publications.

• Awards: University Distinguished Professor (MSU), American Thoracic Society Fellow

Grants include NIH-funded projects on silica-triggered autoimmunity, ozone-asthma interactions, and viral susceptibility in genetically diverse mice. He advises on policy for particulate matter standards and has pioneered models linking environmental exposures to systemic diseases like diabetes and lupus.