저는 현재 로체스터 대학 의과대학에서 조교수로 재직 중인 박혜령입니다. 제 연구 분야는 임신 중 유전적 요인과 환경적 요인이 태아의 뇌 발달에 미치는 상호작용을 연구하는 것입니다. 특히, 태아의 신경 발생 과정에서 태반의 역할에 큰 관심을 가지고 연구하고 있습니다. 태반은 임신 유지 및 태아와 모체 간의 물질 교환과 수송에 필수적인 기능을 합니다. 그러나 태반은 출산과 동시에 그 기능이 종료되어 그동안 뇌 인지 발달에 미치는 영향에 대한 연구가 부족했습니다. 따라서 저희 연구실은 태반과 태반유래 소포체가 신경 줄기 세포 기능과 뇌 인지 발달에 미치는 새로운 역할을 밝히고자 합니다. 이를 위해 분자생물학, 세포생물학, 생화학, 기능 유전체학, 유전학, 생명정보학, 역학 등 다양한 분야의 실험 방법을 사용하고 있습니다.

Hae-Ryung Park, Ph.D. (박혜령) 

Assistant Professor, Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, USA 

Employment 

01. 2021 - Present  Assistant Professor(tenure-track), Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, USA

10. 2015 - 01. 2021  Postdoctoral Research Associate, Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Havard University, MA, USA

08. 2014 - 09. 2019  Postdoctoral Research Fellow,  University of Michigan, MI, USA

Education 

09. 2010 - 08. 2014  Ph.D., Toxicology, University of Michigan, MI, USA  

03. 2008 - 02. 2010 M.S., Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

03. 2003 - 02. 2007  B.S, Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea 

PROJECTS

Mechanisms underlying the effect of metal exposures on neurodevelopment

Disruption of neurodevelopment and cognitive function early in life due to environmental exposures can have lifelong impacts. The fetal period is a time of heightened vulnerability. Mechanism of early susceptibility is not fully understood, but may be explained, in part, by environmental impact on neural stem cells (NSCs). As the progenitor cells of the central nervous system, NSCs play an essential role in shaping the developing brain and disruption of this process by environmental exposure may lead to deficits later in life. Prenatal or postnatal exposure to environmental perturbation such as malnutrition, pollution, and heavy metals has been associated with low IQ and impaired neurobehavioral and cognitive functions. However, the molecular mechanisms by which environmental factors impact NSC function and early brain development remain poorly understood.

Learn more about Mechanisms underlying the effect of metal exposures on neurodevelopment

Roles of placenta/placenta-derived extracellular vesicles on brain development

Placental trophoblasts are a major cell type of placenta and play important roles in many critical processes during pregnancy, including implantation, hormone production and regulation, immune protection of the fetus, and nutrient supply. The cells also play an important role in mediating the communication between the mother and the fetus including fetal brain development. The cells actively release extracellular vesicles (EVs), nano-sized (.05-1 μm) membrane-bound vesicles, into the maternal and the fetal circulation. EVs shuttle cargoes of bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, from trophoblasts to the recipient cells, modifying gene expression and biology in the cells. Growing evidence indicates that EVs reach fetal neural cells after crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Learn more about Roles of placenta/placenta-derived extracellular vesicles on brain development

Functional association of genetic variants with neurodevelopment in children

This project is aimed to investigate the association of genetic variants with neurodevelopmental outcomes in children and to test the functional effects of the genetic variants in NSC function utilizing CRISPR-based single base editing technique. Furthermore, the effect of genetic variants in the regulation of NSC responses to metal exposure will be determined. I hypothesize that genes or microRNAs, which are identified as functionally important in neural stem cell function, will have genetic polymorphisms that associate with metal-impaired neurodevelopment in susceptible children. In collaboration with genetic epidemiologists, we will identify SNPs of most common variations in target genes/microRNAs then test the association between these SNPs and neurodevelopmental outcomes

Learn more about Functional association of genetic variants with neurodevelopment in children

1. 1. Eric Daniel Van Buren, David Azzara, Javier Rangel-Moreno, Maria de la Luz Garcia-Hernandez, Shawn Murphy, Ethan D. Cohen, Ethan Lewis, Xihong Lin, Hae-Ryung Park+ “Single-Cell RNA Sequencing analysis of mouse placenta under prenatal environmental stress” (Manuscript in revision) 

1. 2. Hae-Ryung Park*^,+, Sean Harris*^,+, Erica Boldenow, David M. Aronoff, Rita Loch-Caruso “ The Antioxidant N-Acetyl Cysteine Inhibits Cytokine and Prostaglandin Release in Human Extraplacental Membranes Stimulated with LTA or Live Group B streptococcus” American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, Volume91, Issue 1 January 2024. *^,+ Co-first and Co-corresponding authors 

1. 3. Hae-Ryung Park+, David Azzara, Ethan D. Cohen, Steven R. Boomhower, Avantika R. Diwadkar, Blanca E. Himes, Michael A. O'Reilly, and Quan Lu “Identification of Novel NRF2-Dependent Genes as Regulators of Lead and Arsenic Toxicity in Neural Progenitor Cells” Journal of Hazardous Materials. Volume 463, 132906, 2024. +Corresponding author

1. 4. Hae-Ryung Park*^,+, Kelly A. Hogan*, Sean M Harris, Mark C. Chames, and Rita Loch-Caruso “Group B streptococcus induces cellular senescence in human amnion epithelial cells through a partial IL-1-mediated mechanism” Biology of Reproduction. 2024 Feb 10;110(2):329-338. *Co-first authors, +Corresponding author

1. 5. Hae-Ryung Park, Jose Vallarino, Michael O’Sullivan, Charlotte Wirth, Ronald Panganiban, Gabrielle Webb, Maya Shumyatcher, Blanca E. Himes, Jin-Ah Park, David C. Christiani, Joseph Allen and Quan Lu. “Electronic cigarette smoke reduces ribosomal protein gene expression to impair protein synthesis in primary human airway epithelial cells” Scientific Reports. 11, Article number: 17517. 2021. 

1. 6. Hae-Ryung Park, Ryan Sun, Ronald Panganiban, David C. Christiani, and Quan Lu, “MicroRNA-124 Reduces Arsenic induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Neurotoxicity and is Linked with Neurodevelopment in Children” Scientific Reports, 10,

1. 7. Hae-Ryung Park+, Elana Elkin, Marisol Castillo-Csatrejon, and Rita Loch-Caruso. “Brominated diphenyl ether-47 differentially regulates cellular migration and invasion in a human first trimester trophoblast cell line” Reproductive Toxicology, 93 :191-198. 2020 +Corresponding author 

1. 8. Ronald Panganiban*, Hae-Ryung Park*, Maoyun Sun, Maya Shumyatcher, Blanca Himes, and Quan Lu, “Genome-wide CRISPR Screen Identifies Suppressors of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response and Associated Cell Death” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 117(27):13384-13393. 2019 *Co-first authors 

1. 9. Hae-Ryung Park, Michael O’Sullivan, Jose Vallarino, Maya Shumyatcher, Blanca E. Himes, Jin-Ah Park, David C. Christiani, Joseph Allen and Quan Lu. “Transcriptomic response of primary human airway epithelial cells to flavoring chemicals in electronic cigarettes” Scientific Reports, 9, Article number: 1400. 2019. 

(2024 현재) 

PI : Hae-ryung Park 

Research Technician : David Azzara 

PhD Student : Ethan Lewis

Undergraduate Student : Kara Stachura

we are looking for hiring members! 

Research Interest:

Identify new targets susceptible to environmental perturbation in relevance with neurodevelopment or neurodegenerative diseases by utilizing functional genetics/genomics (RNAi and CRISPR screens and Next-Generation sequencing), and molecular benchwork. Discover the link between genetic polymorphism of the targets and neurological diseases. Explore novel roles of extracellular vesicles (EV) in receptor signaling and cell communication. Identify EV-encapsulated biomolecules released by the placenta in response to environmental perturbation. Explore the roles of placenta-derived EVs on neurodevelopment or neurodegeneration

Contact:  Hae-ryung_Park@URMC.Rochester.edu

Homepage : https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/labs/park.aspx

제 연구는 유전적 요인과 환경적 요인의 상호작용이 태아의 뇌발달의 미치는 영향의 메커니즘을 규명하고, 특히 그동안 관심을 받지 못했던 태반과, 태반유래 소포의 새로운 역할을 밝힐 것으로 예상됩니다. 또한 뇌발달질환을 진단할 수 있는 새로운 지표물질 (Biomarker)을 발견하고, 궁극적으로는 예방 또는 치료할 수 있는 방법을 모색하는데 기여할 것으로 기대합니다. 

우리 대학이 위치한 로체스터 지역은 뉴욕 주 북부에 있으며, 오대호 중 하나인 온타리오호와 가까운 아름다운 곳입니다. 로체스터 대학은 200년 이상의 역사를 가진 연구중심 대학으로, 13명의 노벨상 수상자를 배출했습니다. 태반과 뇌 신경발달 연구에 관심이 있거나 저희 연구실에 대해 궁금한 점이 있는 분들은 언제든지 이메일로 문의해 주세요.