The Institute of Energy and the Environment
At the Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis (CMTC), we are uncovering how PFAS—persistent “forever chemicals”—impact human health. I will share findings that PFAS exposure disrupts the gut microbiome, reshaping microbial communities in ways that influence metabolism and increase disease susceptibility. I will highlight how certain bacterial species can sequester PFAS, with beneficial and harmful microbes responding differently, and how these interactions may contribute to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Together, these discoveries reveal new dimensions of PFAS toxicity and its broader implications for human health.
Andrew Patterson | Director (incoming), CMTC