Richard Pilsner

Richard Pilsner, Ph.D., is Professor and Robert J. Sokol, M.D. Endowed Chair of Molecular Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, with additional appointments at the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, CURES P30, and the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Research Focus:

• Paternal environmental contributions to reproductive health via sperm epigenetics
• SEEDS cohort study on preconception phthalates and embryo development
• Novel sperm biomarkers (mtDNAcn, epigenetic clocks, sncRNA) for male infertility and reproductive success
• Intergenerational inheritance of the sperm methylome using mouse models

His recent publications (2020-2021) reveal a consistent theme: integrating environmental epidemiology with cutting-edge epigenetic analyses to understand how male exposures—especially phthalates and PFAS—shape sperm biology and ultimately embryo quality and offspring health. Studies repeatedly highlight mitochondrial DNA copy number and DNA methylation patterns as predictive biomarkers for fertilization, embryo development, and fecundability.

Funding & News Highlights:

• NIH awards totaling $3.4 million to investigate PFAS impacts on male reproduction
• Additional NIH grant to develop sperm mitochondrial biomarkers for reproductive success
• NIEHS Paper of the Month (September 2021) for groundbreaking study on paternal phthalate exposure

Dr. Pilsner teaches graduate courses such as Advanced Topics in Molecular Genetics and Genomics and Principles of Toxicology. He actively mentors trainees and maintains an open, translational research environment bridging bench science and clinical outcomes. Prospective students and postdocs are encouraged to visit www.pilsnerlab.com for opportunities.