Bruce M. Chassy

Note:  Dr. Chassy is no longer accepting graduate students

Molecular biology and biotechnology of lactic acid bacteria used in food and dairy applications.

Dr. Chassy's research interests focused on the development of recombinant DNA techniques and HOST-VECTOR systems for the genetic manipulation of food microorganisms, and the regulation and biochemical mechanism of sugar transport mediated by the PEP-PTS. He also worked on control of gene expression and metabolic regulation in lactic acid bacteria used for food fermentation.

Selected Publications

Wayne Parrott, Bruce Chassy, Jim Ligon, Linda Meyer, Jay Petrick, Junguo Zhou, Rod Herman, Bryan Delaney, Marci Levine (2010).  Application of food and feed safety assessment principles to evaluate transgenic approaches to gene modulation in crops. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 8(7):1773-90.

Chassy, B. Can -Omics Inform a Food Safety Assessment? (2010). Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 58(3 Suppl):S62-70. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2010.05.009

Chassy, B.  Food Safety Risks and Consumer Health. (2010). New Biotechnol., 27 (5): 534-544.  doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2010.05.018

Chassy, B. (2007) "The history and future of GMOs in food and agriculture." Cereal Foods World, Vol. 52, 4, Bioengineered foods and genetic engineering. pp 169-172

Courses recently taught:

FSHN 480 - Basic Toxicology

FSHN 471 - Food Microbiology

NUTR 510 - Food Safety, Biotechnology and GMOs

FSHN 595 - Food Safety and Biotechnology

FSHN 593 - Seminar in Foods

FSHN 596 - Seminar in Nutrition

Ph.D. Cornell University (1966)

Dr. Chassy received his A.B. in Chemistry from San Diego State University in 1962, and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Cornell University in 1966. Dr. Chassy worked as a Research Chemist for the National Institute of Dental Research, National Institute of Health for 21 years before he came to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the Head of the Department of Food Science. Following that department's merger with the Division of Foods and Nutrition, Dr. Chassy was appointed Head of the new Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. He served in that role until May 2000 when he became Assistant Dean for Science Communications in ACES. Dr. Chassy has served as a member of a number of professional societies including the FDA Food Advisory Council; Executive Committee and Councilor for the Institute of Food Technologists and past Chair of the IFT Biotechnology Division. He served as a NIH Visiting Professor, received the U.S. Public Health Service Special Recognition Award, was named in Who's Who in Science and Technology, and was an ASM International Visiting Professor. Dr. Chassy has also been a member of Phi Tau Sigma, Sigma Xi, the New York Academy of Science, American Men of Science, and held a Fulbright Distinguished Lectureship in Spain.