Ronald J. Parchem

Ronald J. Parchem, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also a member of the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center and the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on neural development, neural crest cells, stem cells, and cancer biology, with a particular emphasis on molecular mechanisms underlying developmental disorders and oncogenic processes.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
• B.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco

Research Interests: Dr. Parchem’s work integrates developmental biology, molecular genetics, and cancer biology. Key areas include post-transcriptional regulation in neural crest cells, miRNA roles in neural tube closure, and the interplay between metabolism and embryonic development. His recent studies also explore IAPP’s role in diabetes and dementia, as well as KRAS-driven microRNA hijacking in cancer progression.

Publications: His recent work spans topics like noncoding RNA in birth defects, maternal metabolic influences on neural development, and novel therapeutic approaches for type 2 diabetes. These studies highlight interdisciplinary approaches to understanding cellular mechanisms in health and disease.

Labs/Teams: He actively contributes to the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center and the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, fostering collaborative research in translational and basic science.