Journal of Drug Metabolism & Toxicology
Open Access

Steven Richard Myers

Biography

Dr. Steven R. Myers is currently Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Dr. Myers research focuses on the development and utilization of biological markers of environmental carcinogen exposure, particularly in smokers and non-smokers. Dr. Myers research undertakes a variety of experiments to assess exposure of human populations to both environmental tobacco smoke as well as other sources of environmental contaminants that potentially can cause developmental, gestational, and postnatal disease. The research of Dr. Myers gains insightful information as to the levels of compounds exposed to individuals, as well as the developing fetus. Through his work in dealing with fetal exposure to tobacco carcinogens during pregnancy, new revelations have been found as to the potential harmful effects of environmental as well as tobacco related carcinogens on the developing fetus. These studies are continuing in coordination with several area hospitals and work is currently investigating relationships between individual carcinogens found in tobacco with specific alterations in enzymes in the mother and in the neonate as well as both DNA and protein damage. Other areas of investigation and Dr. Myers laboratory includes development and application of biomarkers of exposure to environmental carcinogens in a variety of areas of the United States in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency as well as in studies carried out in the Czech Republic as well as in China, both of these areas being some the most polluted areas in the world. A new area of investigation currently under study is the application and utility of breast milk as a biomarker of exposure to a variety of carcinogens resulting from mothers smoking during pregnancy. This area of research will yield exciting new information as to the postnatal effects of tobacco carcinogens on the infant as a consequence of breast feeding.

Research Interest

Carcinogenesis, Environmental Cancers, Tobacco, Biomarkers, Pregnancy, Neonate, Breast Milk, Metabolism of Xenobiotics