Parks Research Lab Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog English English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Translation is unavailable for Internet Explorer Cedars-Sinai Home 1-800-CEDARS-1 1-800-CEDARS-1 Close Find a Doctor Locations Programs & Services Health Library Patient & Visitors Community My CS-Link RESEARCH clear Go Close Navigation Links Academics Faculty Development Community Engagement Calendar Research Research Areas Research Labs Departments & Institutes Find Clinical Trials Research Cores Research Administration Basic Science Research Clinical & Translational Research Center (CTRC) Technology & Innovations News & Breakthroughs Education Graduate Medical Education Continuing Medical Education Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Professional Training Programs Medical Students Campus Life Office of the Dean Simulation Center Medical Library Program in the History of Medicine About Us All Education Programs Departments & Institutes Faculty Directory Parks Lab Research in the Parks Laboratory focuses on the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in immunity, tissue repair and fibrosis. With an emphasis on models of lung and skin diseases, the Parks Lab has determined that individual MMPs control distinct, nonoverlapping functions in antimicrobial defense, epithelial repair and differentiation, leukocyte influx and activation, and resolution of fibrosis. The Parks Laboratory is affiliated with the Women's Guild Lung Institute and the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Personal Statement I am a basic scientist studying tissue repair, extracellular matrix, immunity and host-pathogen interactions with emphases on lung diseases and the function of specific matrix metalloproteinases. I received my doctorate in anatomy and cell biology in 1982 from the Medical College of Wisconsin and did postdoctoral training in cancer biology at Michigan State University, and in lung biology at Washington University in St. Louis. I remained at Washington University for nearly 20 years, rising through the ranks to become professor of Pediatrics, Cell Biology & Physiology, and Medicine. I also was director of the Developmental Lung Biology Program, which supported scientific cores, educational events, symposia and fellowships promoting lung-related research. In 2004, I was recruited to the University of Washington in Seattle, where I established and directed the Center for Lung Biology and held the Endowed Chair in Pulmonary Disease Research. I moved to Cedars-Sinai in 2013." Williams Parks, PhD Breakthrough Research Areas MMP-Mediated Control of Macrophage Activation MMP Control of Neutrophil Influx and Activation Allosteric Control of proMMP Activation Internal Collaborations Arditi Laboratory Chen Laboratory Hogaboam Laboratory Immunology and Infectious Diseases Research Jiang Laboratory Noble Laboratory Stephen Shiao, MD Barry Stripp, PhD Women's Guild Lung Institute Research Meet Our Team Learn more about the scientists, faculty members, investigators and other healthcare professionals of the Parks Laboratory, whose dedicated efforts lead to groundbreaking discoveries. View Our Team Publications Macrophage MMP10 regulates TLR7-mediated tolerance. Rohani MG, Dimitrova E, Beppu A, Wang Y, Jefferies CA, Parks WC. Front Immunol. 2018 Dec 4;9:2817. Macrophages, wound healing and fibrosis: recent insights. Smigiel KS, Parks WC. Curr Rheumat Rep. 2018 Mar 17;20(4):17. Filamentous bacteriophage produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa alters the inflammatory response and promotes noninvasive infection in vivo. Secor PR, Michaels LA, Smigiel KS, Rohani MG, Jennings LK, Hisert KB, Arrigoni A, Braun KR, Birkland TP, Lai Y, Hallstrand TS, Bollyky PL, Singh PK, Parks WC. Infect Immun. 2016 Dec 29;85(1). pii: e00648-00616. Contact the Parks Lab 127 S. San Vicente Blvd. Pavilion, A9403 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Lab 310-248-7646 Send A Message Office 424-315-4304 Send A Message Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility