Sun Peck

Sun Peck is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University's School of Engineering, with cross-appointments in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and the Department of Biochemistry. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from Harvard University and an M.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Biochemistry and Music from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) components like glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in musculoskeletal biology, including their roles in development, disease, and regeneration.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Chemical Biology, Harvard University
  • M.S., Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania
  • B.A., Biochemistry and Music, University of Pennsylvania

Her research explores ECM-mediated signaling in diseases such as heterotopic ossification (HO), spinal development, intervertebral disc degeneration, and sepsis-related musculoskeletal complications. Current projects include elucidating ECM contributions to HO, ECM signaling in early spine formation, and developing regenerative therapies for disc degeneration. Collaborations with Dr. Fiona Harrison (Vanderbilt Brain Institute) investigate ECM changes during sepsis.

Scientific Awards:

• NIH F32 Postdoctoral Fellowship (University of Pennsylvania)

Advising & Grants: No advisees listed. Active research supported by NIH F32 funding and collaborative grants with the Vanderbilt Brain Institute.

Labs/Teams: Leads a multidisciplinary lab combining analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology techniques to study ECM dynamics in musculoskeletal systems.