Patrick McGowan

Patrick McGowan is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto. His research employs molecular biology, behavioural neuroscience, and functional genomics to investigate phenotype development, with a focus on epigenetic mechanisms influencing glucocorticoid signaling pathways and the impact of early-life environmental adversity on brain and behaviour.

Research Focus:
McGowan's lab studies how social factors, infections, toxins, and disease alter glucocorticoid signaling—a key environmental sensor affecting stress response and inflammation. A parallel focus examines epigenetic reprogramming from early-life adversity, using diverse models (lab animals, wild populations, humans) to explore neurobehavioral outcomes.

Laboratory:
The McGowan Lab integrates functional genomics with behavioural analysis to decode gene-environment interactions, emphasizing translational neuroscience across species.