Natalia Tretyakova

Natalia Tretyakova is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. With a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1997) and prior degrees from Moscow State University (Master's 1990, Bachelor's 1985), she has established herself as a leading researcher in chemical toxicology and DNA adduct research.

Her research focuses on the chemical and biological aspects of DNA damage caused by environmental carcinogens, with particular expertise in mass spectrometry analysis of DNA and protein adducts. Dr. Tretyakova's work bridges chemistry, toxicology, and molecular biology to understand how environmental exposures lead to genetic damage and potentially cancer. She leads the Tretyakova Research Group which is actively involved in cutting-edge research on epigenetic modifications, DNA repair mechanisms, and biomarker development for environmental exposures.

Dr. Tretyakova's publication record demonstrates consistent productivity and impact, with over 150 publications spanning from 1994 to the present. Her research shows a clear trajectory from fundamental chemical characterization of DNA adducts to increasingly complex biological questions about how these modifications affect cellular function and contribute to disease.

• Distinguished McKnight University Professor
• Preceptor, Medical Scientist Training Program (Combined MD/PhD Training Program)
• Faculty, PhD Program in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics

Her work has significant implications for understanding cancer etiology, developing better risk assessment strategies for environmental chemicals, and potentially identifying molecular targets for cancer prevention.