Superfund Research Program

May 2025

Wang conducting an experiment in the lab

Meichen Wang, Ph.D., former Texas A&M University (TAMU) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center trainee was recently featured in an NIEHS Grantee Highlight. As a doctoral student TAMU SRP, Wang collaborated with Tim Phillips, Ph.D., to develop edible, clay-based sorbents that bind to contaminants like PFAS that may be hidden in food, thus preventing dietary exposure.

The sorbents were designed to protect people most at risk for exposure to environmental contaminants, like first responders and survivors of natural disasters. However, through animal studies in her post doc, Wang also found administering the sorbents protected mothers and their offspring from adverse health effects of ingested PFAS.

“The sorbent material could be a promising intervention approach to reduce PFAS exposure and toxicity,” she said. “Eventually, I hope to test the sorbent intervention in human populations for their efficacy and safe dosage, and to translate them for temporary use.”

Learn more about Wang’s work in this NIEHS Grantee Highlight.