Park F. Cho-Park, MD, PhD

faculty photo
Assistant Professor of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics
Member, Chronobiology and Sleep Institute
Member, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
Member, Abramson Cancer Center
Member, Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET)
Department: Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics
Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information
Smilow Center for Translational Research
Room 10-104, Building 421
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-573-1190
Fax: 215-573-9135
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Description of Research Expertise

The laboratory’s long term research goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of Proteostasis and how alterations in this process contribute to normal biological and disease processes. Although much is known about the role of transcriptional and translational control of gene expression in various human disorders, the extent to which protein degradation contributes to disease processes remains vastly unexplored.

Key to understanding protein degradation is to elucidate the mechanisms by which the 26S proteasome is regulated in vivo. While it is known that regulation of proteasome activity is intrinsically linked to its local availability and protein-protein interaction profile, detailed mechanistic insights are still lacking. Further complicating things, we know virtually nothing of the intimate relationship that must exist between different components of the cellular protein homeostasis pathway, and the effects of environmental stresses on these processes. For example, dietary restriction, aging and environmental stresses have all been linked to proteasome deregulation through an unknown mechanism. Therefore, knowledge gained from our future endeavors will not only advance the basic understanding of protein homeostasis in the broader context of biology, but will also open up new therapeutic opportunities against those diseases that arise secondary to accumulation of misfolded “toxic” proteins such as cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. As a first step towards this goal, we will take advantage of the laboratory’s unique set of skills in clinical medicine, biochemistry, cell & molecular biology, and Drosophila and Mouse genetics, to further extend these lines of work using a multi-pronged interdisciplinary approach.

Awards/Honors
2017 - The Thomas B. and Jeannette E. Laws McCabe Award
2015 - NIH Pathway-to-Independence Award (K99/R00)
2014 & 2015 - Blavatnik Young Scientist Award Nominee
2013 - Kimberly Lawrence-Netter Cancer Research Award

Group Members
Park F. Cho-Park (Assistant Professor of Pharmacology)
Lusia Park (Senior Fellow)
John Cho (Fellow)
Gwan Ui Hong (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Laura Romano (PhD Student)


Open Positions
We are always looking for creative and energetic individuals to become a part of our life/family. If you are interested in pursuing research and/or have experience in Mechanistic Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Drosophila and Mouse Genetics, please contact us at pacho@pennmedicine.upenn.edu and we will get back to you as soon as we possibly can.

Selected Publications

Jung, IY., Narayan, V., McDonald, S., Rech, AJ., Hong, G., Davis, MM., Boesteanu, AC., Barber-Rotenberg, JS., Plesa, G., Lacey, SF., Jadlowsky, JK., Siegel, DL., Prostate Cancer Cellular Therapy Program Investigators, Cho-Park, PF., Berger, SL., Haas, NB., and Fraietta, JA. : BLIMP1 and NR4A3 Transcription Factors Reciprocally Regulate Tumor directed CAR T-cell Stemness and Exhaustion. Science Translational Medicine 15(670), Nov 2022.

Kim J., Hong, G., Mazaleuskaya, L., Hsu, J., Rosario-Berrios, D., Grosser, T., Cho-Park, P.F., and Cormode, D.: Ultrasmall Antioxidant Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Regulation of Acute Inflammation. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 13(51): 60852-60864, 2021.

Cho-Park, P.F. and Steller H.: Proteasome regulation by ADP-ribosylation. Cell 153(3): 614-627, 2013.

Cho-Park, Y.A., Perez, D.L., Milligan, T.A., and Cho, P.F.: Radiographic evolution of a rapidly reversible leukoencephalopathy due to metronidazole. Neurology: Clinical Practice 3: 272-274, 2013.

Cho, P.F., Gamberi, C., Cho-Park, Y.A., Cho-Park, I.B., Lasko, P., and Sonenberg, N.: Cap-dependent translational inhibition establishes two opposing morphogen gradients in Drosophila embryos. Curr Biol 16(20): 2035-2041, 2006.

Bellsolell, L.*, Cho-Park, P.F.*, Poulin, F., Sonenberg, N., and Burley, S.K.: Two structurally atypical HEAT domains in the C-terminal portion of human eIF4G support binding to eIF4A and Mnk1. Structure 14(5): 913-923, 2006 Notes: *Equal contribution.

Cho, P.F., Poulin, F., Cho-Park, Y.A., Cho-Park, I.B., Chicoine, J.D., Lasko, P., and Sonenberg, N.: A new paradigm for translational control: inhibition via 5'-3' mRNA tethering by Bicoid and the eIF4E cognate 4EHP. Cell 121(3): 411-423, 2005.

Lasko, P., Cho-P., Poulin F., and Sonenberg, N.: Contrasting mechanisms of regulating translation of specific Drosophila germline mRNAs at the level of 5'-cap structure binding. Biochem Soc Trans. 33(Pt 6): 1544-1546, 2005.

Poulin, F., Cho, P.F., Cho‐Park, Y.A., Cho‐Park, I.B., Chicoine, J.D., Lasko, P., and Sonenberg, N.: Inhibition of caudal translation by Bicoid via 5’‐3’ tethering of the mRNA by an eIF4E‐cognate protein, d4EHP. Dev Biol 283: 589, 2005.

Boivin, D.B., James, F.O., Wu, A., Cho-Park, P.F., Xiong, H., and Sun Z.S.: Circadian clock genes oscillate in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Blood 102(12): 4143-4145, 2003.

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Last updated: 03/01/2024
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