Dr. Patterson studies the metabolism of drugs and foreign compounds by the human body and how chemicals in diets or nutrients derived from diets influence health and disease. Much of his research involves the use of metabolomics tools. Dr. Patterson was a Research Fellow of the National Cancer Institute, and he served on the National Academies’ committee responsible for planning the workshop “Getting the Most from Microbiome Research in the Next Decade.” Dr. Patterson earned his PhD in genetics from the George Washington University.