John LaPres

John LaPres is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University. He serves as Director of the BioMolecular Science Gateway Program, overseeing six graduate programs including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, and Physiology. His research focuses on the PAS protein superfamily, particularly HIF1α and AHR, investigating their roles in mediating toxicity from metals and dioxins. Key areas include mitochondrial function, hypoxia signaling, and transcriptional regulation.

Dr. LaPres holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Northwestern University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin. His work integrates molecular, cellular, and systems-level approaches to understand environmental toxicant interactions with cellular pathways. Recent studies explore crosstalk between AHR and TSPO proteins, impacts of pH regulation on tumor processes, and genetic variability in toxicological responses.

Notable contributions include identifying novel signaling cascades modulating AHR and HIF pathways, and developing methodologies for predicting gene/protein sequences in mouse models. His lab also pioneered the use of peanut butter as an alternative dosing method in toxicity studies to reduce experimental stress.

Research highlights include characterizing HIF-1α’s role in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity and cobalt-induced lung injury, as well as defining AHR’s influence on mitochondrial proteomes. Current projects examine transcriptional cross-talk between hypoxia and dioxin signaling pathways, with implications for understanding disease mechanisms and drug development.