Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
Assistant Professor
Biography
Dr. Karl B. Shpargel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Georgia. His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms that regulate development and disease, with particular emphasis on chromatin-modifying enzymes, enhancer function, skeletal development, and craniofacial disorders. Prior to joining UGA, he served as Research Associate Professor in Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he led NIH-funded studies investigating chromatin regulation in neural crest and skeletal cell differentiation.
Dr. Shpargel earned his Ph.D. in Genetics from Case Western Reserve University and completed postdoctoral training in Genetics at UNC Chapel Hill. He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications with collaborative research spanning various fields of medicine including skeletal biology, cardiovascular development, neuroscience, and immunology.
Education
- PhD, Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, 2006
- BS, Biology, Penn State University, 1999
Teaching
- VPHY 3101/3107D: Elements of Physiology Seminar
- VPHY 3107L: Integrated Concepts of Physiology Lab
Research Interests
The Shpargel laboratory uses genetic and genomic approaches to investigate developmental disorders caused by defects in chromatin regulation. By leveraging genome-wide analyses, they are generating new hypotheses about how chromatin-modifying enzymes contribute to human disease. The lab’s long-term goal is to translate these discoveries into therapeutic strategies that improve patient outcomes.
Publications
