Dietary intake represents a major route of human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), yet effective interventions to mitigate this exposure are limited, especially during vulnerable periods, such as pregnancy, lactation, and early development. Dr. Meichen Wang’s research focuses on developing edible, clay-based sorbents to sequester PFAS within the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing systemic absorption and associated toxicity. Her interdisciplinary team employs a combination of adsorption analyses, in vitro cell models, bioassays, and rodent models to validate the efficacy and safety of the sorbent strategy to protect human health from these persistent contaminants.

Meichen Wang, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees in toxicology from Texas A&M University and completed postdoctoral training on environmental remediation, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund and K99 programs. Her current research focuses on developing edible clay-based sorbents that mitigate dietary exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and prevent their toxicities during critical windows, such as pregnancy, lactation, and early development. Her work has resulted in 50 peer-reviewed publications, a patent for clay technologies, and a license for technology transfer. Her work aims to bridge fundamental toxicology and practical interventions to establish clay sorbents as a primary dietary barrier that reduces internal chemical burden and prevents chronic diseases.

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