Wolfgang Dekant, PhD

Dr. Wolfgang Dekant is Professor of Toxicology at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Würzburg.

Prof. Dekant has a track record of internationally acclaimed research on the biotransformation of xenobiotics and studies related to interactions of biologically reactive intermediates with cellular macromolecules and function. Part of this is based on the application of in vitro models (freshly isolated cell preparations, cell culture, subcellular fractions and isolated perfused organs) to study mechanisms of toxicity. His research focuses on the application of mechanistic toxicology to risk assessment of synthetic chemicals. Most aspects of the work performed use analytical procedures (gas chromatography / mass spectrometry and HPLC) to quantify xenobiotic metabolites in biological systems ranging from enzymatic incubations to occupationally exposed humans. Moreover, his research uses biochemical methods to characterize enzymes involved in the biotransformation of xenobiotics. Funding has come from the European Union, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, the Umweltbundesamt, the US EPA, the US HEI, industry and a number of foundations.

Prof. Dekant was a member of the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecology and the Environment (CSTEE) of the European Union, the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER), the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) and the Food Additives Panel of EFSA.

He is Editor of Toxicology Letters, associate editor of Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology and was a member of the editorial board of Chemical Research in Toxicology, Toxicological Sciences, and Xenobiotica. In this capacity and in activities for national and international organizations such as the WHO (ICPS, JECFA) or the US EPA, he regularly peer reviews publications and other scientific work.