Max Costa PhD

Dr. Costa is the Professor & Chairman of the Department of Environmental Medicine at New York University School of Medicine. In addition, he also holds multiple positions that include Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at New York University School of Medicine, Program Leader, Environmental & Molecular carcinogenesis at NYU Cancer Center, and Director of Core Center of Excellence in Environmental Health Sciences from NIEHS. Dr. Costa has been working in the area of epigenetics and cancer for over 20 years. He has studied how carcinogenic metals affect the epigenetic program through the inhibition of histone demethylases. In particular, Dr. Costa has studied how Arsenic, Nickel, and Chromate alter histone posttranslational modifications in chromatin using cell culture and in human PBMCs. Dr. Costa has also conducted ChIP-Seq using several histone marks and RNA-Seq following carcinogenic metal treatment of cells. He has been working on the mechanism of metal carcinogenesis for over 40 years. Dr. Costa has published around 400 peer-reviewed papers in journals of international repute and is a recipient of many prestigious awards including the Kenneth Morgareidge Award for outstanding contribution to toxicology, Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the metals specialty section of the Society of Toxicology, Salt Lake City 2010.