Trevor M. Penning

Trevor M. Penning is the Molinoff Professor in the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He is a key member of the Abramson Cancer Center, where he serves as Co-Leader of the Tobacco and Environmental Carcinogenesis Program. He also directs the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology and the Certificate Program in Environmental Health Sciences, and co-directs the Translational Research Training Program in Environmental Health Sciences. Additionally, he is a member of the Center for Women's Health and Reproductive Medicine.

• Graduate Group Affiliations: Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Pharmacology

Dr. Penning’s research centers on the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily, with a focus on their roles in steroid hormone metabolism and the metabolic activation of environmental carcinogens. His work has major implications for understanding and treating castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), endocrine disruption, and environmental disease. Techniques employed in his lab include site-directed mutagenesis, x-ray crystallography, enzyme kinetics, cell culture, mass spectrometry, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.

His recent publications highlight a strong trend in targeting AKR enzymes, particularly AKR1C3, for cancer therapy and understanding environmental toxin activation. Research spans from structural enzymology to translational models of disease, including PCOS and lung cell responses to pollutants. There is a clear emphasis on developing inhibitors and degraders for therapeutic applications and identifying human biomarkers of exposure.

Dr. Penning has received prestigious recognition through named professorships and leadership of major research centers, though specific awards are not listed. His roles as program director and co-leader indicate significant grant funding and national recognition in environmental health and cancer research.

He actively mentors trainees, including postdoctoral fellow Dr. Catia Marques and predoctoral fellow Andrea Andress Huacachino. His laboratory is well-staffed with a laboratory manager and research specialist, and he leads structured training programs, demonstrating a strong commitment to education and workforce development in translational environmental health sciences.

Dr. Penning leads the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology and a dedicated research team focused on AKR enzymes, utilizing cutting-edge biochemical and molecular techniques to explore disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.