DeMarco, Mari
PhD, DABCC
Academic Rank(s): Clinical Professor, UBC, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Clinical Chemist, Providence Health Care
Affiliation(s): St. Paul’s Hospital / HLI
Research and Scholarly Interests: Development of new biofluid diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. Advancing clinical diagnostics for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia. New methodological approaches for identification and quantitation of protein biomarkers of health and disease, with a focus on clinical mass spectrometric analysis of peptide and protein biomarkers.
Clinical Interests: Clinical chemistry, with a particular emphasis on the clinical mass spectrometric analysis of peptide and protein biomarkers. Implementation of novel diagnostic tests in patient care, focusing on improving tools for timely diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Bridging basic biomedical science, analytical chemistry, and laboratory medicine to impact patient care.
Dr. DeMarco received a BSc in Honours Biochemistry and a minor in Mathematics from Mercyhurst University. She earned a PhD from the University of Washington in Medicinal Chemistry, as part of the Biomolecular Structure and Design Program. She subsequently completed a Clinical Chemistry fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis.
Dr. DeMarco’s research group is interested in technology development and implement of novel diagnostic tests for use in patient care, with an emphasis on clinical mass spectrometric analysis of peptide and protein biomarkers. While the group works in various areas of medicine, a major focus is on neurodegenerative diseases. The group aims to create better tools for timely diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal degeneration, and related disorders, and make these tools easily accessible to those that need them. New tests are needed to improve our understanding of disease pathology and progression, support clinical trials for new therapeutics, and help provide timely and accurate diagnoses. This research is accomplished in close collaboration with clinicians and scientists at UBC’s Clinic for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders.
Clinical Chemist, St Paul’s Hospital
Clinical Professor, University of British Columbia
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar
Academic Background
- Clinical Chemistry Fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine. 2013
- Postdoctoral Fellowship (Complex Carbohydrate Research Center), University of Georgia. 2010
- PhD (Medicinal Chemistry, Biomolecular Structure and Design Program), University of Washington. 2006
- BSc (Honors Biochemistry), Mercyhurst College. 2001
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Mari DeMarco recently received the 2022 Award for Research Excellence from the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists and the 2022 Bereman Award for Innovative Clinical Proteomics from the Association for Mass Spectrometry & Advances in the Clinical Lab
Publications
Research Interest
Engaged in Clinical Research?: Yes
Research Interests: Protein misfolding diseases and development of novel clinical diagnostics
Research Specialization Keywords: clinical assay development, clinical chemistry, immunoassays, mass
spectrometry, protein misfolding & amyloid formation, translational medicine
Research Centres: Providence Health Care Research Institute, The James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research
Technological Applications: Clinical biological analyses
Disciplines Trained In: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pathology, Statistics
Research Disciplines: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pathology
Areas of Research: Biomedical Technologies, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Pathology, Proteins, Proteomics
Fields of Application: Biomedical Aspects of Human Health, Pathogenesis and Treatment of Diseases
Dr. DeMarco’s lab at St. Paul’s Hospital collaborates closely with clinicians and scientists to translate new biomedical discoveries into patient care, especially in the realm of neurodegenerative diseases
Current Projects In My Lab Include
Teaching Interest
- Laboratory based teaching