Mitzi Nagarkatti

Mitzi Nagarkatti, Ph.D., is a Carolina Distinguished Professor and Department Chair of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. She also holds the SmartState Endowed Chair of the Center for Cancer Drug Discovery, highlighting her leadership in both academic administration and cutting-edge research.

Her research interests span a broad and interdisciplinary range, including:

• Inflammation and autoimmune diseases
• Cancer immunology and immunotherapy
• Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology
• Biodefense and acute lung injury
• Microbiome and gut-lung axis
• Epigenetics and microRNA regulation
• Complementary and alternative medicine (e.g., resveratrol, cannabinoids)

Dr. Nagarkatti’s recent publications reflect a strong focus on the interplay between the immune system, the microbiome, and environmental or pharmacological agents. Her work integrates epigenomic and genomic approaches, in silico modeling, and ex vivo cultures to unravel molecular mechanisms in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, colitis, obesity, PTSD, and cancer. A recurring theme is the modulation of immune responses through natural compounds and receptor signaling pathways, particularly involving cannabinoids and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).

She has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including R01 and P01 grants, supporting her research in inflammation, cancer, and complementary medicine. Her lab is highly collaborative, often co-publishing with her husband and research partner, Prakash Nagarkatti.

• R01 AI129788
• R01 AT06888
• R01 MH094755
• P01 AT003961
• P20 GM103641
• R01 ES009098

Dr. Nagarkatti leads a research team investigating novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, with a particular emphasis on reducing toxicity in cancer treatments and understanding transgenerational immunotoxic effects of environmental pollutants.