R. Thomas Zoeller

Professor

Research areas include thyroid hormone action on brain development and environmental disruption of thyroid hormone action.

Current Research
His current research focuses on the role of thyroid hormone in brain development with an emphasis on the fetal brain. These studies have revealed that the fetal (rodent) brain is very sensitive to changes in thyroid hormone action, and that this action is highly complex. Dr. Zoeller’s lab is also works on the mechanisms by which environmental endocrine disruptors can interfere with thyroid hormone action in the developing brain. This work has demonstrated that some chemicals – including PCBs, PBDEs, and BPA, produce effects on thyroid hormone action that are not fully consistent with a reduction in serum thyroid hormone levels. The mechanism(s) by which these chemicals can produce a “mosaic” effect on hormone action is important to address.

Learn more at www.bio.umass.edu/biology/zoeller/

Academic Background

BS Indiana University, 1977
PhD Oregon State University, 1984
Postdoctoral Training National Institute of Mental Health 1984-1988
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 1988

Selected Publications

Zoeller, R.T. Regulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals insufficient to safeguard public health. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab, 2014, Jun; 99(6): 1993-4.

Wadzinski, T.L., Geromini, K., McKinley, Brewer, J., Bansal, R., Abdelouahab, N., Langlois, M.F., et al. Endocrine Disruption in Human Placenta: Expression of the Dioxin-Inducible Enzyme, Cyp1a1, Is Correlated With That of Thyroid Hormone-Regulated Genes. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2014 Oct; 9: jc20142629.

Naveau, E., Pinson, A., Gerard, A., Nguyen, L., Charlier, C., Thome, J.P., et al. Alteration of rat fetal cerebral cortex development after prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls. PLoS One, 2014; 9(3): e91903.

Dong, H., You, S-H, Williams, A., Wade, M.G., Yauk, C.L., Thomas Zoeller, R. Transient Maternal Hypothyroxinemia Potentiates the Transcriptional Response to Exogenous Thyroid Hormone in the Fetal Cerebral Cortex Before the Onset of Fetal Thyroid Function: A Messenger and MicroRNA Profiling Study. Cereb Cortex, 2014, January 15, 2014.

Bansal, R., Tighe, D., Danai, A., Rawn, D.F., Gaertner, D.W., Arnold, D.L., et al. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (DE-71) Interferes With Thyroid Hormone Action Independent of Effects on Circulating Levels of Thyroid Hormone in Male Rats. Endocrinology, 2014, Oct; 155(10): 4104-12.

R. Thomas Zoeller

Institute for Applied Life Sciences