Shuk-Mei Ho
Vice Chancellor of Research & Innovation
Also affiliated: Capital Group (United States) (2006); Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (2021)
Faculty Researcher
Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine
Research Areas
Biomedical Subjects
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Shuk-Mei Ho's research focuses on the impact of environmental exposures on health, particularly concerning genetic and epigenetic alterations. Her work investigates how factors like endocrine-disrupting chemicals and high-fat diets can lead to adverse health outcomes across generations, examining effects on reproductive health, cellular signaling pathways, and metabolic profiles.
Her recent publications explore these themes through studies on endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease triggers, and the multi-generational effects of gestational chemical exposure in animal models. Ho also examines changes in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells following environmental chemical exposure during pregnancy, and investigates the role of specific nuclear receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma development. Her federally funded research, supported by a $468,131 NIH/NIEHS grant, specifically addresses the intergenerational effects of paternal arsenic exposure on sperm quality through RNA modifications.
Ho is affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences as the Vice Chancellor of Research & Innovation and holds faculty positions in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Her collaborations include extensive work with Yuet‐Kin Leung, Kyounghyun Kim, Neville N.C. Tam, and Nancy J. Rusch, all from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Metrics
- h-index: 2
- Publications: 4
- Citations: 23
Selected Publications
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Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta (2025)
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Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns (2025)
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Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: A Looming Threat to Current and Future Generations (2024)
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Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells (2024)
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The Loss of an Orphan Nuclear Receptor NR2E3 Augments Wnt/β‐catenin Signaling via Epigenetic Dysregulation that Enhances Sp1‐β catenin‐p300 Interactions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (2024)
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Challenges in IBD Research 2024: Environmental Triggers (2024)
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Abstract 3011: The loss of an orphan nuclear receptor NR2E3 augments Wnt/β-Catenin signaling via epigenetic dysregulation that links to the Sp1-β catenin-p300 interactions in hepatocellular carcinoma (2024)
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Abstract 6282: Novel androgen related gene network in prostate cancer cell model (2024)
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Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach (2023)
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Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Clinical Implications of Epigenomic versus Genomic Biomarkers in Cancer Care (2023)
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The androgen receptor inhibits transcription of GPER1 by preventing Sp1 and Sp3 from binding to the promoters in prostate cancer cells (2021)
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Three-Generation Study of Male Rats Gestationally Exposed to High Butterfat and Bisphenol A: Impaired Spermatogenesis, Penetrance with Reduced Severity (2021)
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Untangling the Complex Interactions of Open Burn Pit Exposure and Health Outcomes (2021)
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Genetic and epigenetic changes in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis: association with decreased endometrial αvβ3 integrin expression (2021)
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Data integration, analysis, and interpretation of eight academic CLARITY-BPA studies (2020)
Federal Grants 3 $468,131 total
RNA modifications by paternal exposure to arsenic and intergenerational effects on sperm quality
Metal-induced cell-level changes in prostate epithelium and cancer risk
Research Interests
INTRODUCTION I am a globally recognized leader in the fields of Oncology, Toxicology, and Environmental Epigenetics. With a career spanning over three decades and a continuous funding record from the VA, NIH, NSF, and DoD since 1992, my work focuses on the molecular mechanisms driving treatment-resistant cancers and the lasting biological impacts of environmental exposures. Currently, I am a professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and a VA BLR&D Research Career Scientist (IK6) at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. I serve as the Corresponding Principal Investigator on a DoD/CDMRP partnership grant investigating the epigenetic "memory" of burn pit exposures in Veterans, and an NIH/NIEHS funded R01 studying sperm small RNA modifications as mediators of paternal inheritance. My laboratory bridges the gap between basic molecular discovery and translational precision medicine, utilizing high-resolution multi-omics to improve health outcomes for those who have served, as well as the general public. MAJOR RESEARCH THEMES 1. Precision Oncology & Non-Canonical Signaling -My lab is a pioneer in defining the role of estrogen signaling in prostate cancer. We identified the testosterone-to-estrogen ratio as a critical risk factor and characterized the five isoforms of ER-beta (ESR2). Our most recent breakthrough involves GPER1 (GPR30), a membrane-bound receptor we identified as a potent inhibitor of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). 2. Environmental Epigenetics & DOHaD - As a foundational contributor to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), I provided the first evidence that early-life exposure to endocrine disruptors (like BPA) causes life-long epigenetic reprogramming. This research helped shape national and international regulatory policies and continues today through our study of transgenerational health effects and small RNA modifications in reproductive toxicology. 3. The Stem Cell Theory of Cancer - We investigate epithelial stem cells as the "seeds" of malignancy. By studying early molecular and epigenetic "switches" in stem-progenitor cells, we aim to identify the earliest markers of transformation. We utilize single-cell analysis and long-read sequencing to dissect the molecular signatures of cancer stem-like subpopulations across disease stages. 4. Occupational Health & Biomarker Discovery - My research extends to high-risk occupations, identifying molecular "fingerprints" of toxicant exposure. From firefighting to military deployment, we utilize global metabolomics and DNA methylation profiling to develop personalized risk assessments for individuals exposed to airborne hazards and environmental pollutants. IMPACT & RECOGNITIONS 1.Global Ranking: Recognized in the PLoS Biology World-wide Top 2% Author Ranking, placing 912th out of 230,678 researchers globally. 2.Publication Record: Over 260 peer-reviewed publications with >27,000 citations, an h-index of 85, and an i10-index of 232. 3.National Leadership: Served on the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council (NIEHS-NIH) (2017-2020); Current Invited Member, the Urologic Disease in America Contract Management Board (UDA CMB) (2019-present) for NIH/NIDDK; Current Invited Member, External Expert Panel, O’Brien Urology Cooperative Research Centers (U54) Consortium, NIH/NIDDK(2025-present); and participated in over 130 NIH and 30 DoD/CDMRP study sections 4.Academic Leadership: Vice-Chancellor for Research & Innovation at UAMS (2019-2024), Chief Integrity Officer of UAMS (2019-2024),Hayden Family Cancer Research Chair & Director of the Cincinnati Cancer Center (2013-2018), Jacob G. Schmidlapp Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) (2005-2019), Associate Dean for Basic Research at UCMC (2011-2019), Director of the NIEH Facility Core-Center for Environmental Health at UCMC (2007-2019), Director of the Genomics, Epigenomics, and Sequencing Core of the University of Cincinnati (2006-2019), Director of Translational Research in the Department of Surgery and Director of Urological Research at the Division of Urology (1998-2005) at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Associate Dean for Research and Continued Education at Tufts University (1967-1998).
Grants & Funding
As listed on this researcher's institutional profile. Federal awards with verified records are shown above.
- Metallothionein &Cadmium Carcinogenesis in the Prostate NIH Principal Investigator
- NATURE OF LUNG ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE MECHANISM NIH Principal Investigator
- Developmental Reprogramming of Prostate Carcinogenesis by BPA NIH Co-Principal Investigator
- Developmental Exposure to Low-dose Bisphenol A and Human Prostate Cancer Suscepti NIH Co-Principal Investigator
- NSF, RII Track-2 FEC: Facilitating Ubiquitous Technology Utilizing Resilient Eco-friendly Sensors (FUTURE Sensors) National Science Foundation via Louisiana Tech University Principal Investigator
- Test - Long Title NIH/Nat. Cancer Institute via Mayo Clinic Arizona Principal Investigator
- SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE GENE REGULATION IN LUNG INJURY NIH Principal Investigator
- RII Track-2 FEC: Facilitating Ubiquitous Technology Utilizing Resilient Eco-friendly Sensors (FUTURE Sensors) National Science Foundation via Louisiana Tech University Principal Investigator
- Effects of Arsenic on Human Prostate Stem Cells and Prostate Cancer Risk NIH Co-Principal Investigator
- CYP1A1, estrogen metabolism and ovarian carcinogenesis NIH Principal Investigator
- Expanding UAMS Research Capacity to Investigate the Host Response to Infectious Disease NIH/Office of the Director Principal Investigator
- GORDON CONFERENCE ON HORMONAL CARCINOGENESIS NIH Principal Investigator
- SMALL INSTRUMENTATION GRANT NIH Principal Investigator
- Center for Environmental Genetics NIH Co-Principal Investigator
- DNA methylation markers associated with exposure and adverse health outcomes in Veterans exposed to airborne hazards from open burn pits US Department of Defense Principal Investigator
- TOXICANT OR AGING INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN PROSTATE NIH Principal Investigator
- Chronic exposure to Biphenol A and uterine cancer risk markers NIH Principal Investigator
- Estrogen-based combinatorial therapies for castration-resistant prostate cancer NIH Principal Investigator
- Progesterone-mediated protection against ovarian cancer NIH Principal Investigator
- MECHANISM OF HORMONAL CARCINOGENESIS IN THE RAT PROSTATE NIH Principal Investigator
- The 18th Annual Meeting of the SBUR: Epigenetics and GU Disorders NIH Principal Investigator
- Prostatic Differentiation and Sex Hormone Metabolism NIH Principal Investigator
- Development Modulation of Mouse Uterine Tumorigenesis NIH Principal Investigator
- Epigenetic Basis for Prostate Carcinogenesis following Early Estrogenic Exposures NIH Co-Principal Investigator
- BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT NIH Principal Investigator
- Estrogen Receptor-beta and Prostate Function NIH Principal Investigator
- Training in Systems Pharmacology and Toxicology (T-SPaT) NIH Co-Investigator
- TRANSGENIC MODELS FOR LUNG BIOLOGY AND DISEASE NIH Principal Investigator
- Hormone-induced inflammation and prostate cancer NIH Principal Investigator
- Research Career Scientist Award Veterans' Administration (VA HSRD) Principal Investigator
- Kettering Lab Renovation to enhance PHS-supported environmental health research NIH Principal Investigator
- Susceptible Window of High Fat Diet/Bisphenol A Programming of Breast Cancer Risk NIH Principal Investigator
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- The Loss of an Orphan Nuclear Receptor NR2E3 Augments Wnt/β‐catenin Signaling via Epigenetic Dysregulation that Enhances Sp1‐β catenin‐p300 Interactions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Three-Generation Study of Male Rats Gestationally Exposed to High Butterfat and Bisphenol A: Impaired Spermatogenesis, Penetrance with Reduced Severity
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- The androgen receptor inhibits transcription of GPER1 by preventing Sp1 and Sp3 from binding to the promoters in prostate cancer cells
Showing 5 of 12 shared publications
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta
- Gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetic alterations in the placenta and cord blood mononuclear cells
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Epigenetic signatures of maternal-fetal health: insights from cord blood and placenta
- The Loss of an Orphan Nuclear Receptor NR2E3 Augments Wnt/β‐catenin Signaling via Epigenetic Dysregulation that Enhances Sp1‐β catenin‐p300 Interactions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- The androgen receptor inhibits transcription of GPER1 by preventing Sp1 and Sp3 from binding to the promoters in prostate cancer cells
- Abstract 3011: The loss of an orphan nuclear receptor NR2E3 augments Wnt/β-Catenin signaling via epigenetic dysregulation that links to the Sp1-β catenin-p300 interactions in hepatocellular carcinoma
- Three-Generation Study of Male Rats Gestationally Exposed to High Butterfat and Bisphenol A: Impaired Spermatogenesis, Penetrance with Reduced Severity
- Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Clinical Implications of Epigenomic versus Genomic Biomarkers in Cancer Care
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
- Maternal and newborn metabolomic changes associated with urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentrations at delivery: an untargeted approach
- Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns
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