Richard T Di Giulio
Sally Kleberg Professor of Environmental Toxicology
Dr. Di Giulio serves as Director of Duke University's Integrated Toxicology Program and the Superfund Basic Research Center.
Dr. Di Giulio's research is concerned with basic studies of mechanisms of contaminant metabolism, adaptation and toxicity, and with the development of mechanistically-based indices of exposure and toxicity that can be employed in biomonitoring. The long term goals of this research are to bridge the gap between mechanistic toxicological research and the development of useful tools for environmental assessment, and to elucidate linkages between human and ecosystem health. The bulk of Dr. Di Giulio's work employs a comparative approach with aquatic animals, particularly fishes, as models. Of particular concern are mechanisms of oxidative metabolism of aromatic hydrocarbons, mechanisms of free radical production and antioxidant defense, and mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis, developmental perturbations and adaptations to contaminated environments by fishes.
Appointments and Affiliations
- Sally Kleberg Professor of Environmental Toxicology
- Professor of Environmental Toxicology
- Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Contact Information
- Office Location: A346B Lev Sci Res Ctr, Durham, NC 27708
- Office Phone: (919) 613-8024
- Email Address: richd@duke.edu
Education
- Ph.D. Virginia Polytech Institute and State University, 1982
- M.S. Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, 1978
- B.A. University of Texas at Austin, 1972
Courses Taught
- ENVIRON 393: Research Independent Study
- ENVIRON 394: Research Independent Study
- ENVIRON 501: Environmental Toxicology
- ENVIRON 593: Independent Studies and Projects
- ENVIRON 899: Master's Project
- ENVIRON 997: Duke Environmental Leadership: Independent Studies and Projects
- ENVIRON 999: Duke Environmental Leadership: Master's Project
In the News
- From Clean Up To Cutting Edge Research (Nov 3, 2017 | Nicholas School of the Environment)
- Superfund Center Wins Five-Year Renewal (Jul 11, 2017)
- Synthetic Chemicals Understudied Drivers of Environmental Change (Jan 24, 2017 | Nicholas School of the Environment)
- Blocking Key Gene Reduces Cigarette Smoke Toxicity in Fish Embryos (Sep 19, 2016)
- Duke Awards Distinguished Professorships, Inducts New Bass Society Members (May 5, 2016)
- An Unexpected Direction (Nov 10, 2014)
- Duke And UNC Superfund Research Centers Hosting Visiting Journalists (Mar 10, 2014)
- Mining Appalachia has permanent effects on its landscape (Jan 28, 2014 | Duke Research Blog)
Representative Publications
- Gearhart-Serna, LM; Davis, JB; Jayasundara, N; Jolly, MK; Sauer, SJ; Levine, H; Di Giulio, RT; Devi, GR, Exposure to a Naturally Occurring Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Mixture Triggers an Aggressive Phenotype in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Cells, International Journal of Toxicology, vol 38 no. 1 (2019), pp. 37-38 [abs].
- Gearhart-Serna, LM; Davis, JB; Jayasundara, N; Jolly, MK; Sauer, SJ; Levine, H; Di Giulio, RT; Devi, GR, Exposure to a Naturally Occurring Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Mixture Triggers an Aggressive Phenotype in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Cells, International Journal of Toxicology, vol 38 no. 1 (2019), pp. 37-38 [abs].
- Brandt, JE; Lauer, NE; Vengosh, A; Bernhardt, ES; Di Giulio, RT, Strontium Isotope Ratios in Fish Otoliths as Biogenic Tracers of Coal Combustion Residual Inputs to Freshwater Ecosystems, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, vol 5 no. 12 (2018), pp. 718-723 [10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00477] [abs].
- Pitt, JA; Trevisan, R; Massarsky, A; Kozal, JS; Levin, ED; Di Giulio, RT, Maternal transfer of nanoplastics to offspring in zebrafish (Danio rerio): A case study with nanopolystyrene., The Science of the Total Environment, vol 643 (2018), pp. 324-334 [10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.186] [abs].
- Massarsky, A; Jayasundara, N; Glazer, L; Levin, ED; Prasad, GL; Di Giulio, RT, Outcomes of developmental exposure to total particulate matter from cigarette smoke in zebrafish (Danio rerio)., Neurotoxicology, vol 68 (2018), pp. 101-114 [10.1016/j.neuro.2018.07.003] [abs].