RICHARD SCHWARTZ

ABOUT

Richard Schwartz is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. His research focuses on mammary tumorigenesis, with studies investigating the associated effects of a high-fat diet, oxybenzone, and inflammatory and immune processes.

Dr. Schwartz received his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received postdoctoral training at the University of California San Diego, California Institute of Technology, and the University of California Los Angeles.

RESEARCH

The Schwartz Lab investigates the impacts of a high-fat diet and oxybenzone on mammary tumorigenesis, the role of inflammatory and immune processes in mammary tumorigenesis, and the roles of estrogen and progesterone in regulating the expression of proinflammatory genes in mammary epithelial cells and inflammatory processes in the mammary gland. Dr. Schwartz’s team has demonstrated a pubertal window to the promotional effects of a high-fat diet in both DMBA-induced and p53-KO-mediated mammary tumorigenesis in a BALB/c mouse model. Further, oxybenzone, a sunscreen chemical, can interact with diet to promote tumorigenesis. Their work also shows roles for estrogen, progesterone, and amphiregulin in the recruitment of macrophages and eosinophils to the developing mammary gland.

RICHARD SCHWARTZ
CONTACT

schwart9@msu.edu
Office: 517.884.5317
Website