Matthew D. Rand

Matthew D. Rand, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. His research focuses on the mechanisms of methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity in neural and muscular development, using Drosophila, mice, and human epidemiological studies. Dr. Rand's work integrates transcriptomics, genomic screens, and functional assays to identify genetic and metabolic pathways influencing susceptibility to MeHg exposure.

Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry (University of Vermont, 1995), postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Yale University, and Lund University. Recognized with the UVM Inventor Hall of Fame (2011).

Research highlights include discovering MeHg's impact on neuromuscular junctions and myoblast differentiation, and investigating genetic factors (e.g., GSTP1, KEAP1) moderating toxicity. Collaborates with the Seychelles Child Development Study to link genetic variants to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Active in developing biomarkers for MeHg metabolism and exploring the gut microbiome's role in mercury elimination.

• Lab members include postdocs, graduate students, and technicians (e.g., Lauren Gregory, Jakob Gunderson, Ian Krout).
• Key projects: Methylmercury Metabolism and Elimination Status (MerMES), functional genomics of toxicity pathways, and translational studies in human cohorts.

Publications span over 60 articles in journals like Toxicological Sciences and Archives of Toxicology, emphasizing mechanistic insights and translational applications.