Parker Lab
Research in the Parker Lab harnesses the power of proteomic technologies to elucidate mechanisms of vascular pathology and identify putative molecular biomarkers of aneurysm and atherosclerosis.
Aneurysm is an "invisible" condition, often undetected until severe and catastrophic dissection or rupture have occurred. Surgery remains the only treatment for aneurysm but knowing when to intervene surgically for a given patient remains a clinical challenge. Our research is focused on identifying molecular signatures of aneurysm that inform both potential pharmacological treatments to slow aneurysm progression as well as potential circulating biomarkers for both the detection and therapeutic management of aneurysms.
We develop and employ a wide range of technologies, from simple vascular physiology experiments to cutting edge mass spectrometry based proteomic and metabolomic techniques.
While our direct focus is on aneurysms and their consequences, we also apply the power of proteomics to diverse collaborations studying atherosclerosis, fibrosis, ovarian cancer and autoimmune disease.
The Parker Laboratory is affiliated with the Department of Cardiology, Smidt Heart Institute, Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, and Department of Biomedical Sciences.
Personal Statement
I have seen firsthand the power of hypothesis-generating 'omic techniques to provide novel insight into pathology. As a classically trained physiologist, I also believe firmly in the power of hypothesis-driven research, and the careful confirmation and validation of observations produced during discovery experiments. I have over a decade of experience in mass spectrometry, bioinformatics and cardiovascular physiology that I am applying with a passion in order to positively impact clinical management and therapeutic options available for patients with vascular disease.
Sarah J. Parker, PhD, MS
Breakthrough Research Areas
- Molecular profiling of aneurysm tissue from both murine models and human patients
- Clarifying how extracellular matrix, mechanosensing and metabolism pathways intersect during aneurysm pathogenesis
- Defining the proteomic anatomy of normal human arterial tissue and defining cell-type specific proteomic changes during atherosclerosis and aneurysm progression
- Development of human patient induced pluripotent stem cell models of vascular aneurysm
- Streamlining a workflow to test and validate tissue-derived protein biomarker candidates for their detectability and informativeness in the circulation
- Multiomic integration of proteomics with metabolomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic and the genomic landscape
Collaborations & Resources
Internal Collaborations
External Collaborations
- David Herrington, PhD
- Dianna Milewicz, MD
- Yue Wang, PhD
Reagents and Resources
Meet Our Team
Learn more about the scientists, faculty members, investigators and other healthcare professionals of the Parker Laboratory, whose dedicated efforts lead to groundbreaking discoveries.
Publications
Learn more about the recent research publications from the Parker Lab.
Contact the Parker Lab
If you have any questions or would like more information about the research work at the Parker Laboratory, please give us a call.
127 S. San Vicente Blvd, Suite A9300
Los Angeles, CA 90048