The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine would like to welcome our newest research faculty member, Erica Sparkenbaugh, PhD! Dr. Sparkenbaugh joins as a Research Assistant Professor. Dr. Sparkenbaugh is also a member of the Pathobiology and Translational Sciences (PBTS) Graduate Program within the BBSP at UNC
Dr. Sparkenbaugh received her BS in Biology from Allegheny College (Meadville, PA) and completed her PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Michigan State University.
First arriving at UNC to complete her post-doctoral research, Dr. Sparkenbaugh has been with the university since 2012 and a member of the research faculty since 2016. She brings with her the Sparkenbaugh Lab, which aims to investigate the interplay between the coagulation cascade and inflammation in animal models of disease. The lab takes a multidisciplinary approach to research and its translational research program focuses on hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. These are blood disorders caused by mutations in hemoglobin genes and affect red blood cells. The primary complications of sickle cell disease are anemia and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), as well as chronic inflammation and coagulation activation. The lab studies how this drives end-organ damage. A significant aspect of the labs research program also addresses women’s health and pregnancy complications associated with blood diseases.
Welcome Dr. Sparkenbaugh!