Research Professor of Environmental Toxicology in the Division of Environmental Science and Policy
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
- Research Professor of Environmental Toxicology in the Division of Environmental Science and Policy
Contact Information
- Office Location: A346B Lev Sci Res Ctr, Durham, NC 27708
- Email Address: richd@duke.edu
- Websites:
Education
- B.A. University of Texas, Austin, 1972
- M.S. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 1978
- Ph.D. Virginia Polytech Institute and State University, 1982
In the News
- Direct Impact: NIH Funding and the Duke Superfund Research Center (Mar 22, 2022)
- From Clean Up To Cutting Edge Research (Nov 3, 2017 | Nicholas School of the En…
- Superfund Center Wins Five-Year Renewal (Jul 11, 2017)
- Synthetic Chemicals Understudied Drivers of Environmental Change (Jan 24, 2017 …
- Blocking Key Gene Reduces Cigarette Smoke Toxicity in Fish Embryos (Sep 19, 201…
- Duke Awards Distinguished Professorships, Inducts New Bass Society Members (May…
- An Unexpected Direction (Nov 10, 2014)
- Duke And UNC Superfund Research Centers Hosting Visiting Journalists (Mar 10, 2…
- Mining Appalachia has permanent effects on its landscape (Jan 28, 2014 | Duke R…
Representative Publications
- Trevisan, Rafael, Rose Trimpey-Warhaftig, Kimberly Gaston, Lynette Butron, Shaza Gaballah, and Richard T. Di Giulio. “Polystyrene nanoplastics impact the bioenergetics of developing zebrafish and limit molecular and physiological adaptive responses to acute temperature stress.” The Science of the Total Environment 958 (January 2025): 178026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178026.
- Carrothers, Samantha, Rafael Trevisan, Nishad Jayasundara, Nicole Pelletier, Emma Weeks, Joel N. Meyer, Richard Di Giulio, and Caren Weinhouse. “An epigenetic memory at the CYP1A gene in cancer-resistant, pollution-adapted killifish.” Scientific Reports 15, no. 1 (January 2025): 3033. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82740-w.
- Harishchandra, Akila, Richard T. Di Giulio, and Nishad Jayasundara. “Transcriptomic and Methylomic Analyses Show Significant Shifts in Biosynthetic Processes and Reduced Intrapopulation Gene Expression Variance in PAH-Adapted Atlantic Killifish.” Environmental Science & Technology 58, no. 47 (November 2024): 20859–72. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c06845.
- Timme-Laragy, A. R., R. T. Di Giulio, and J. N. Meyer. “Reactive Oxygen Species and Redox Stress.” In Toxicology of Fishes, 121–55, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003160694-4.
- Jasperse, Lindsay, Richard T. Di Giulio, and Nishad Jayasundara. “Bioenergetic Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Resistance Manifest Later in Life in Offspring of Fundulus heteroclitus from the Elizabeth River.” Environmental Science & Technology 57, no. 42 (October 2023): 15806–15. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c03610.