Michael Verzi

Michael Verzi is a Professor in the Department of Genetics at Rutgers University, School of Arts and Sciences. He holds the prestigious Duncan and Nancy MacMillan Endowed Chair in Cancer Genomics, reflecting his leadership in gastrointestinal cancer research. His lab investigates transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms governing intestinal development, homeostasis, and disease.

His research interests span Transcriptional Regulation, Intestinal Disease, Cancer Genomics, Epigenetics, Chromatin Biology, and Mouse Genetics. He focuses on how transcription factors such as CDX2, YY1, and SMAD4 assemble into enhanceosomes to regulate gene expression across long genomic distances, particularly in the gut epithelium.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding how transcriptional networks and metabolic changes govern intestinal development and prevent cancer. His work integrates bioinformatics, mouse models, and molecular biology to dissect mechanisms of colitis, colorectal cancer, and stem cell regulation. Themes include WNT signaling, chromatin accessibility, and cellular differentiation.

• Duncan and Nancy MacMillan Endowed Chair in Cancer Genomics
• Faculty1000 paper selection (PNAS, 2014)
• Featured on cover of Molecular and Cellular Biology (2014)

Dr. Verzi has advised numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom appear as co-authors on his publications. His lab is actively funded, including a recent $3.2 million NIH grant as co-principal investigator to study the health impacts of micronanoplastics in the digestive system, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease. This grant underscores his role in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research with public health implications.

His laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms of intestinal gene regulation, utilizing mouse genetics and chromatin profiling to model human diseases. The team explores how environmental factors like micronanoplastics disrupt normal transcriptional programs, contributing to inflammation and oncogenesis.