Professor
Department of Life Sciences
Email: emitacek@nyit.edu

Education

Dr. Mitacek received an M.A. (Chemistry, Biology, Crystallography) from the Palackianae University, and Ph.D. (Biological Chemistry) from the University of Prague, followed by the Post-doctoral studies at the University of London, and advanced studies on biochemistry of cancer at the New York University, Institute of Environmental Medicine. He has been a visiting research professor at universities in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bombay, Manila and Bangkok.

Research Interests

His long standing affiliation with the School of Medicine at Stony Brook, SUNY, and the collaboration with the American Health Foundation, along with the universities in Thailand, brought an internationally recognized awareness of risk factors for cancer of the lung, liver, stomach and leukemia. The studies on dietary and tobacco exogenous and endogenous nitrosamines are important in a view of increasing cancer mortality in Asia. The analytical research has been supported by the grants from the U.S. National Cancer Institute. This research has indiciated case-control studies on cancer epidemiology in Southeast Asia, in which the department of Life Science is participating as an ongoing collaboration.

Honors

Honorary Professor in Sciences, National Univeristy of San Maros, Lima, Peru, 1978
Prince Mahidol Medal for Cancer Research, Medical School, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, 1992
Recognition for Research/ Teaching Contributions in Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook (2001, 2002, 2004)
Award for Outstanding Research, Dean's Award; NYIT, School of Health Professions, Behavioral and Life Sciences, 2006

Teaching

Biochemistry at undergraduate and graduate levels. Organic Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Toxicology, Biochemistry of Nutrition, and Biochemistry of Cancer.

Established Eugene J. Mitacek Award for Excellence in Chemistry at NYIT (2007).

Research Focus

Nitrate in drinking water and risk of colorectal cancer and G.I. cancers in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Analytical and epidemiological study. Presently, our research interest is focused on association between colorectal cancer incidence and drinking water contamination with nitrate in Thailand and in Southeast Asia.

Selected Publications

Mitacek EJ, Brunnemann KD, Suttajit M, Caplan LS, Gagna CE, Bhothisuwan K, Siriamornpun S, Hummel CF, Ohshima H, Roy R, Martin N. Geographic distribution of liver and stomach cancers in Thailand in relation to estimated dietary intake of nitrate, nitrite, and nitrosodimethylamine. Nutr Cancer. 2008;60(2):196-203.

Mitacek EJ, Brunnemann KD, Polednak AP, Limsila T, Bhothisuwan K, Hummel CF. Rising leukemia rates in Thailand: the possible role of benzene and related compounds in cigarette smoke. Oncol Rep. 2002 Nov-Dec;9(6):1399-403.

Publications

Dr.Mitacek has published six books, several study guides, co-authored four laboratory manuals, and forty two articles and reports. The information on his latest research report can be found in bibliographic services, including Current Contents/Clinical Medicine, Science Citation Index, Index Medicus/MEDLINE, BIOSIS, and others. Dr. Mitacek is enthusiastic about teaching combined with science research, presented and shared in the classroom.

Memberships in Professional Societies

American Chemical Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The New York Academy of Sciences
American Association of University Professors
Fellow American Institute of Chemists