Trevor M. Penning
University of Pennsylvania · Rehabilitation Medicine
Active 1973–2026
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About
Trevor M. Penning, Ph.D., is the Molinoff Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a member of the Abramson Cancer Center. He serves as the Director of the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology and is involved in multiple leadership roles including Co-Leader of the Tobacco and Environmental Carcinogenesis Program and Director of the Certificate Program in Environmental Health Sciences. His research focuses on steroid hormone transforming aldo-keto reductases, particularly within the aldo-keto reductase superfamily, which contains mammalian hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. These enzymes regulate steroid hormone activity by converting potent hormones into inactive metabolites or vice versa, influencing receptor occupancy and trans-activation, and are considered therapeutic targets. His work includes structure-based inhibitor design targeting enzymes such as AKR1C3, which is involved in intratumoral androgen biosynthesis in castrate resistant prostate cancer, and studies on enzymes like steroid 5beta-reductase (AKR1D1) that play roles in bile-acid biosynthesis. Penning's research employs techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis, x-ray crystallography, kinetics, transfection studies, and siRNA. He has contributed to understanding the metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens by human AKRs, including pathways involving PAHs, nitroarenes, and oil exposure biomarkers. His work also explores the role of AKRs in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis,…
Research topics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Computer Science
- Data Mining
- Biochemistry
- Cancer research
- Engineering
- Genetics
Selected publications
Chemical Research in Toxicology · 2020 · 651 citations
A valuable approach to chemical safety assessment is the use of read-across chemicals to provide safety data to support the assessment of structurally similar chemicals. An inventory of over 6000 discrete organic chemicals used as fragrance materials in consumer products has been clustered into chemical class-based groups for efficient search of read-across sources. We developed a robust, tiered system for chemical classification based on (1) organic functional group, (2) structural similarity a…
Using biochemistry and biophysics to extinguish androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer
Journal of Biological Chemistry · 2020 · 31 citations
Senior authorCorrespondingCastration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) continues to be androgen receptor (AR) driven. Inhibition of AR signaling in CRPC could be advanced using state-of-the-art biophysical and biochemical techniques. Structural characterization of AR and its complexes by cryo-electron microscopy would advance the development of N-terminal domain (NTD) and ligand-binding domain (LBD) antagonists. The structural basis of AR function is unlikely to be determined by any single structure due to the intrinsic d…
Food and Chemical Toxicology · 2025-05-09 · 1 citations
reviewChemical Research in Toxicology · 2025-07-09 · 1 citations
articleSenior authorCorresponding1,8-Dinitropyrene (1,8-DNP) is a diesel exhaust constituent classified as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Its mutagenic properties can be attributed in part through the formation of covalent DNA adducts that result from mononitroreduction (e.g., N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-amino-8-nitropyrene). Recombinant aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) 1C1−1C3 catalyze the nitroreduction of 1,8-DNP, 1-nitropyrene, and 3-nitrobenzanthrone. Although AKR1C1−1C3…
RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, 1-octanol, CAS registry number 111-87-5
Food and Chemical Toxicology · 2025-04-18 · 1 citations
review
Recent grants
Translational Research Training Program in Environmental Health Sciences
NIH · $5.3M · 2012–2027
NIH · $2.2M · 2013
Environmental Health Informatics Core
NIH · $16.5M · 2006–2030
Frequent coauthors
- 1421 shared
M. Bruze
Lund University
- 1418 shared
A.M. Api
Research Institute for Fragrance Materials
- 1417 shared
D. Belsito
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- 1416 shared
A. Lapczynski
Research Institute for Fragrance Materials
- 1416 shared
W. Dekant
University of Würzburg
- 1415 shared
G. Ritacco
Universidade de São Paulo
- 1408 shared
Y. Thakkar
Research Institute for Fragrance Materials
- 1407 shared
C. Deodhar
Research Institute for Fragrance Materials
Labs
Systems Pharmacology and Translational TherapeuticsPI
Education
- 1982
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
Johns Hopkins University
- 1976
PhD/Biochemistry, Physiology & Biochemistry
University of Southampton
- 1972
BSc/Physiology & Biochemistry, Physiology & Biochemistry
University of Southampton
Awards & honors
- Molinoff Professor
- Member, Abramson Cancer Center
- Director Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, U…
- Co-Leader, Tobacco and Environmental Carcinogenesis Program,…
- Director Certificate Program in Environmental Health Science…
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