Shuk-Mei Ho

Shuk-Mei Ho is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), part of the College of Medicine. She holds a B.Sc. (1974) and Ph.D. (1978) from the University of Hong Kong, followed by postdoctoral training at Boston University (1980). Her research focuses on environmental epigenetics, prostate cancer, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA). She has led or collaborated on NIH-funded studies investigating the effects of environmental exposures on cancer risk, developmental programming, and immune function.

Dr. Ho’s work spans environmental health, cancer biology, and toxicology. Key projects include examining how metals and estrogens influence prostate cancer progression, the epigenetic impacts of prenatal chemical exposure, and the role of nuclear receptors in liver cancer. She has also studied the health effects of e-waste pollution and open burn pit exposure. Her interdisciplinary collaborations involve biostatisticians, biochemists, and clinicians, reflecting her translational research approach.

Her publications highlight contributions to understanding how environmental chemicals reprogram epigenetic landscapes, particularly in developmental contexts. Recent work emphasizes maternal-fetal health, metabolomic changes linked to pollutants, and sex-specific vulnerabilities to asthma and birth outcomes. Dr. Ho’s grants include VA Merit Awards and NIH funding for projects on estrogen therapies, epigenomic effects of environmental estrogens, and prostate cancer stem cells.

• Education:
  • B.Sc., University of Hong Kong, 1974
  • Ph.D., University of Hong Kong, 1978
  • Postdoc, Boston University, 1980
• Key Research Themes:
  • Environmental Epigenetics
  • Prostate Cancer Mechanisms
  • Endocrine Disruptor Toxicity
  • Developmental Origins of Disease
• Notable Grants:
  • VA Merit Award: Metal-induced prostate cancer risk
  • NIH R01: Prostaglandin biosynthesis in lymphangioleiomyomatosis
  • NIH Center for Environmental Genetics (PI)