Date: May 10, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:20 PM

Location: Room 2720, UNM Domenici Center for HSE
1001 Stanford Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

Agenda

1. 10:00 – 10:15 Sign-in & Registration
2. 10:15 – 10:20 Introduction
3. 10:20 – 11:00 Presentation 1
4. 11:10 – 11:50 Presentation 2
5. 11:50 – 12:20 Panel discussion
6. 12:20 – 13:20 Lunch

Speaker 1: Dr. Matthew J. Campen

Title: “Plastics are in our brains: What’s next?”

Biography:
Dr. Matthew Campen is a Regents’ Professor in the UNM College of Pharmacy and a nationally recognized expert in environmental toxicology. He directs the New Mexico Center for Metals in Biology and Medicine and holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Campen’s lab has made pioneering discoveries on the accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in human tissues—most notably, the brain. His recent work, published in Nature Medicine, shows that microplastic levels in the human brain are linked to age and possibly neurodegenerative diseases. These findings have captured international media attention, with coverage in CBS News, CNN, and The Guardian. Dr. Campen’s work is at the forefront of understanding how invisible pollutants may influence human health at the molecular level.

Speaker 2: Dr. Xiang Xue

Title: “Unveiling the Hidden Threat: How Microplastics Drive Colorectal Cancer”

Biography:
Dr. Xiang Xue is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. With about 20 years of experience in Toxicology and Gastroenterology, his research focuses on how environmental toxicants, including metals and microplastics, influence gastrointestinal diseases such as colitis and colorectal cancer. Dr. Xue’s work, published in prestigious journals like Nature Metabolism and Advanced Science, has garnered over 4,800 citations. He is a dedicated mentor, having guided over 30 students and postdoctoral fellows. His research is supported by grants from the NIH and UNM, exploring topics like microplastics’ role in cancer progression and novel therapeutic approaches. Dr. Xue also serves as a reviewer for major funding agencies like the NIH, DOD and NSF. His work has earned several honors, including the UNM Health Science Center Excellence in Research Award in 2021.