Dr. Jack Parent
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Our laboratory applies stem cell and neurobiology approaches to study mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis (the development of epilepsy) in acquired and genetic epilepsies, as well as related neurodevelopmental disorders. To model genetic epilepsies, we use patient or CRISPR gene edited human pluripotent stem cell (hPSCs)-derived neurons and cerebral organoids, along with genetic mouse models. We apply functional assays to 2-D and 3-D hPSC cultures, including calcium imaging and multielectrode array recordings. The lab also seeks to develop precision therapies for epilepsy, and studies mechanisms of and biomarkers for SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), the most devastating complication of epilepsy, using patient-derived cardiac myocytes and a novel rabbit model of Dravet syndrome in collaboration with Dr. Lori Isom.
The Parent laboratory has developed novel brain organoid models (single rosette cortical organoids and single rosette medial ganglionic eminence organoids) and methods for organoid cryopreservation (vitrification). Separate from the laboratory, Dr. Parent directs the Human Stem Cell and Gene Editing Core to assist other laboratories in disease modeling with hPSCs. Our goals are to 1) elucidate mechanisms of mammalian (including human) brain development; 2) discover disease mechanisms underlying severe childhood genetic epilepsies and related neurodevelopmental disorders; 3) identify causes of and biomarkers for SUDEP; and 4) develop precision therapies for the epilepsies. |
Sources of Funding
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Recent News
Miranda Walker successfully defended her thesis in August of 2026 and will be heading to the University of Montreal and CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center for her postdoctoral fellowship!! Congratulations, Miranda!!
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Carmen Varela presenting her research findings with a poster at the December, 2025 American Epilepsy Society Meeting in Atlanta. Carmen successfully defended her dissertation work in March, 2026 and is starting a postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF!! Congratulations, Carmen!!
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Julie Ziobro is making great progress on her K08 grant entitled "Mechanisms of PCDH19 Clustering Epilepsy", and she is serving as the Chair of an American Epilepsy Society Task Force on Disease Modifying Therapies (12/2025-12/2026).
Jack Parent began a 1-year term as President of the American Epilepsy Society (AES) in December of 2025. He received the traditional transfer of the gavel by outgoing AES President Howard Goodkin.
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Jack Parent and Lori Isom recently completed work on an NIH Epilepsy Centers Without Walls U54 Grant (in July, 2026) as co-Principal Investigators. This highly collaborative project, entitled Epilepsy Multi-platform Variant Prediction (EpiMVP), used in vitro and in vivo models and a machine learning-driven prediction tool to determine the pathogenicity of genetic variants of uncertain significance (VUS) for a specific set of epilepsy genes. They collaborated on the project with many outstanding investigators and institutions, including Gemma Carvill (Northwestern), M. Elizabeth Ross (Weill-Cornell), Scott Baraban (UCSF), Heather Mefford (St. Jude's), Santiago Schnell (Notre Dame), Vanessa Aguiar-Pulido (Miami), Yu Wang (University of Michigan-UM), Louis Dang (UM) and Michael Uhler (UM and now Boston Children's Hospital).
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