Olivia Parks, PhD

Why did you choose the University of Pittsburgh?

I chose the University of Pittsburgh to pursue an MD/PhD because I valued the emphasis Pitt places on basic science research translatable into the clinical setting. The rigorous bench research combined with the incredibly supportive community of faculty and students made Pitt the ideal place to pursue my career goals.

Education & Training

  • PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2024
  • University of Pittsburgh, BS, 2018

Research Interests

immunology, infectious disease

Publications

1.         Lin X, Gaudino SJ, Jang KK, Bahadur T, Banerjee A, Beaupre M, Chu T, Wong HT, Singh A, Chang K, Kempen C, Axelrad J, Huang H, Khalid S, Shah, V, Eskiocak O, Parks OB, Berisha A, McAleer J, Good M, Hoshino M, Beyaz S, Blumberg R, Bialkowska AB, Gaffen S, Kolls JK, Yang VY, Cadwell K, Kumar P. IL-17RA signaling via Lgr5 ISC and ATOH1 respectively regulates intestinal secretory cell lineage commitment and mucosal host defense. Immunity. DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.12.016. PMID: 35081371 

2.         Mihi B, Gong Q, Nolan LS, Gale SE, Goree M, Hu E, Lanik WE, Rimer JM, Liu V, Parks OB, Lewis AN, Agrawal P, Laury ML, Kumar P, Bidani SS, Luke CJ, Kolls JK, Good M. Interleukin-22 signaling attenuates necrotizing enterocolitis by promoting epithelial cell regeneration. Cell            Reports Medicine. 2021 Jun 15;2(6):100320. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100320 PMID: 34195684

3.         Cooksey KE*, Parks OB*, Lewis AN*, Good M. Feeding strategies in the patient with necrotizing enterocolitis. In: Necrotizing enterocolitis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Edited by David Hackam, MD, PhD. United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis Publishing, 2021, ISBN-13: 978-1138343245; ISBN-10: 1138343242 *Denotes equal contribution.

4. Nolan L, Parks OB, Good M. 2019. Immunomodulating Features of Maternal Breast Milk and Protection Against Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Nutrients. PMID: 31861718 PMCID: PMC7019368.     

5. Parks OB*, Kothamasu KS*, Ziemba MJ, Benner M, Christinziano M, Kantz, S, Leger D, Li J, Patel D, Rabuse W, Sutton S, Wilson A, Baireddy P, Kamat A, Callas M, Borges M, Scalia M, Klenk E, Scherer G, Martinez M, Grubb S, Kaufmann N, Pruitt JN, Keiser CN. 2017. Increased cuticular bacterial load can alter aggressiveness in a funnel-weaving spider. Current Zoology. doi: 10.1093/cz/zox064. PMID: 30403200. PMCID: PMC6280096 *Denotes equal contribution

6. Parks OB, Pociask DP, Hodzic Z, Kolls JK, Good M. 2016. Interleukin-22 signaling in the regulation of intestinal health and disease. Front. Cell Dev. Biol;3:85. PMID: 26793707. PMCID: PMC4710696.

7. Eddens T, Parks OB, Williams JV. Neonatal immune responses to respiratory viruses. Frontiers in Immunology DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.863149.

8. Parks OB, Keith M, Squires J, Venkat V, Mahmood B. Case Report: Liver microabscesses in the context of eosinophilic colitis and the premature gut. ACG Case Reports. DOI: 10.14309/crj.0000000000000817

Abstracts

Parks OB, Eddens TE, Sojati J, Lan J, Byersdorfer CA, Williams JV. CD8+ T cell impairment drives             severe human metapneumovirus    infection in aged mice. Poster Presentation. American Association     of Immunologists (AAI), Portland, OR. 

Parks OB, Lan J, Zhang Y, Williams JV. Age-dependent differences in the immune response to human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Oral and Poster Presentations. American Association of Immunologists (AAI) 2021. Virtual meeting.

Parks OB, Keith M, Squires J, Mahmood B. Liver micro-abscesses in a preterm infant presenting with eosinophilic colitis. Clinical Case Presentation Finalist. Eastern Society of Pediatric Research (ESPR) 2021, Virtual meeting.

Parks OB, Zhang Y, Miranda-Katz M, Williams JV. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the aged host. Poster Presentation. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) Retreat 2019, Pittsburgh, PA.

Parks OB, Rutledge T, Baranowski T, Lin PL. Using NanoString & MSD to assess the airway immune response to Mtb and subsequent SIV coinfection. Poster Presentation. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) Retreat 2018, Pittsburgh, PA.

Parks OB, Bolock A, Congrong M, Hodzic Z, Koll JK, Good M. Interleukin-22RA1 Signaling Protects Against Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) and Regulates Secretory Cell Development. Oral Presentation. Pediatric Academic Society (PAS) 2017, San Francisco, CA.         

Parks OB, Ma C, Kumar P, Horne W, Kolls JK, Good M. Interleukin-22 signaling attenuates intestinal inflammation and promotes differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Poster Presentation. Pediatric Academic Society (PAS) 2016, Baltimore, MD.      

Parks OB, Ma C, Kumar P, Horne W, Kolls JK, Good M. Interleukin-22 signaling attenuates intestinal inflammation and promotes differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Oral Presentation. Eastern Society of Pediatric Research (ESPR) 2016, Philadelphia, PA.          

Good M, Parks OB, Hodzic Z, Ma C, Bolock A, Kumar P, Horne W, Kolls JK. Interleukin-22Ra1 signaling attenuates the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis and enhances differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Poster Presentation, University of Pittsburgh Science 2016 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Pittsburgh, PA.          

Parks OB, Ma C, Kumar P, Kolls JK, Good M. The Role of IL-22 Signaling on the Secretory Cells Within The Intestine. Poster Presentation. University of Pittsburgh Science 2015 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Pittsburgh, PA.

Parks OB, Ma C, Kumar P, Kolls JK, Good M. The role of IL-22 Signaling on the Secretory Cells Within the Intestine. Poster Presentation. Summer Research Internship Program 2015. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Pittsburgh, PA.

Parks OB, Yanowitz T. Efficacy of a Sepsis Protocol in Limiting Antibiotic Days Among Babies Without Bacteremia at Magee-Womens Hospital NICU. Poster Presentation. Eastern Society of Pediatric Research (ESPR) 2014, Philadelphia, PA.