Keenan Research Centre
Scientist Profiles
Thomas G. Parker
MD, University of Western Ontario; FRCP(C) (internal medicine, cardiology), University of Toronto
Affiliations
Physician-in-Chief, St. Michael's Hospital
Wallace G. Chalmers Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
Scientist in the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital
Clinical Specialty
Cardiology
Research Interests
Myocardial infarction, cell therapy, gene expression, S100 calcium-binding proteins, apoptosis, cardiac hypertrophy
Selected Publications
Research Activities
Our research focuses on the molecular regulation of cardiac-specific gene expression in cardiac hypertrophy and failure. This has involved studies of transcriptional control of gene expression in cultured cardiac muscle, analysis of the molecular response to myocardial infarction, elucidation of signal transduction pathways involved in muscle growth and gene expression, and the identification of novel molecules that regulate cardiac hypertrophy and myocyte apoptosis. We apply transgenic and gene knockout strategies in mice to study the molecular physiology of these novel molecules, with a focus on the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins. Ours was the first group to define a role for these proteins in cardiac pathophysiology. We also explore the capacity of bone marrow-derived stem cells to regenerate cardiac structure and function following myocardial infarction.
Other Activities
- Associate Director, Clinician-Scientist Training Program, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Educational Activities
I am a faculty member of the Institute of Medical Science and accept both M.Sc. and PhD students.
Contact
Phone: 416-864-5271
Fax: 416-864-5989
E-mail: ParkerTG@smh.ca
