Judit Marsillach
Acting Assistant Professor
Medical Genetics

Faculty Information

Biography

Judit Marsillach comes from Reus, a small city in Catalonia, Spain. Her educational background includes a degree in Biochemistry from the University Autonoma of Barcelona and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University Rovira i Virgili, both in Spain. It was her advisor, Dr. Jordi Camps who introduced her to the world of paraoxonases. Her dissertation focused on paraoxonase-1 in chronic liver disease, although she also showed that high-density lipoproteins appears to serve as a delivery vehicle for paraoxonase-1, a change in the mindset for paraoxonase-1 function. In 2009 she moved to Seattle thanks to a postdoctoral fellowship from the Government of Catalonia. She worked under Dr. Clem Furlong’s mentorship in the Division of Medical Genetics of the University of Washington. Her research focused on proteomics measurements of post-translationally modified biomarkers of organophosphorus exposure, paraoxonases-1 and -2 in neurotoxicity, and paraoxonase-3 in autoimmune diseases. In 2014 she joined the Division of Medical Genetics at the University of Washington as junior faculty, where she continues her passion in paraoxonases.

In her free time, Judit enjoys traveling, photography and playing with her puppy Vincent.

Education & Training: 
B.S. in Biochemistry
University Autonoma of Barcelona
Spain
2004
PhD in Biochemistry
University Rovira i Virgili
Spain
2009
Postdoctoral degree
University of Washington
Seattle WA
2014
Honors: 
FI Predoctoral fellowship, Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government), Spain
2005-2008
Best oral communication award, VII Catalan conference of clinical laboratory sciences, Tarragona, Spain
2006
Bert N La Du Jr Memorial Traveling Fellowship, 2nd International Conference on Paraoxonases, Hajdúszoboszló, Hungary
2006
Best poster communication, Doctoral Students Conference, Barcelona, Spain
2007
Doctoral Thesis Award 2007, Grup Sagessa, Amposta, Spain
2008
Beatriu de Pinos Postdoctoral fellowship, Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government), Spain
2009-2011
Selected young researcher to attend the 61st Meeting of Nobel Laureates, Lindau, Germany
2011
Best postdoctoral poster communication (first place), Neurotoxicology Specialty Section, 53rd SOT Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ
2014
Finalist for the 2015 BioanalysisZone Young Investigator Award
2015
Mentee at the NIH-funded National Research in Mentoring Network – Proposal Preparation Program (NRMN-P3), University of Minneapolis, MN
2016
Invited speaker at the 5th International Congress on Lipid Metabolism & Atherosclerosis, Seoul, Korea
2016
Contact
Email: 
jmarsi@uw.edu
Phone: 
(206) 685-3638
Mailing Address: 

University of Washington

Health Sciences Building, Room I-204A

Medical Genetics, Box 357720

Seattle, WA 98195-7720

Research & Clinical Interests
Research Interests: 

A wide variety of degenerative processes, syndromes and diseases, have been associated with oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a biological response to endogenous and exogenous exposures. Numerous environmental chemicals and drugs can initiate or exacerbate oxidative stress leading to the development of adverse outcomes. The antioxidant defense systems play a key role preventing oxidative stress damage and slowing down the progression of pathological conditions.

My research interests focus on oxidative stress and the role of paraoxonases 1, 2 and 3 in preventing chronic human disease. My current research projects include:

  • Proteomics analysis of biomarkers of organophosphorus exposures
  • Paraoxonases-1 and -2 in neurotoxicity caused by heavy metal exposures
  • Study of paraoxonase-1 as a biomarker of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease
  • Study of a novel homocysteine thiolactonase in induced hyperhomocysteinemia
  • Butyrylcholinesterase polymorphisms in Gulf War Syndrome patients
  • Paraoxonase-2 and -3 in mitochondrial diseases
Publications
Publications: 

1. Marsillach J, Mackness B, Mackness M, Riu F, Beltrán R, Joven J, Camps J. Immunohistochemical analysis of paraoxonases-1, 2, and 3 expression in normal mouse tissues. Free Radic Biol Med. 2008;45:146-57.

2. Marsillach J, Aragones G, Beltran R, Caballeria J, Pedro-Botet JC, Morcillo-Suárez C, Navarro A, Joven J, Camps J. The measurement of the lactonase activity of paraoxonase-1 in the clinical evaluation of patients with chronic liver impairment. Clin Biochem. 2009;42:91-8.

3. Marsillach J, Richter RJ, Kim JH, Stevens RC, MacCoss MJ, Tomazela D, Suzuki SM, Schopfer LM, Lockridge O, Furlong CE. Biomarkers of organophosphorus (OP) exposures in humans. Neurotoxicology 2011;32:656-60.

4. Marsillach J, Hsieh EJ, Richter RJ, Maccoss MJ, Furlong CE. Proteomic analysis of adducted butyrylcholinesterase for biomonitoring organophosphorus exposures. Chem Biol Interact 2013;203:85-90.

5. Marsillach J, Suzuki SM, Richter RJ, McDonald MG, Rademacher PM, MacCoss MJ, Hsieh EJ, Rettie AE, Furlong CE. Human valacyclovir hydrolase/biphenyl hydrolase-like protein is a highly efficient homocysteine thiolactonase. PLoS One. 2014;9:e110054.

6. Marsillach J, Becker JO, Vaisar T, Hahn BH, Brunzell JD, Furlong CE, deBoer IH, McMahon MAA, Hoofnagle AN; DCCT/EDIC Research Group. Paraoxonase-3 is depleted from the high density lipoproteins of autoimmune disease patients with subclinical atherosclerosis. J Proteome Res. 2015;14:2046-54.

7. Furlong CE, Marsillach J, Jarvik GP, Costa LG. Paraoxonases-1, -2 and -3: What are their functions? Chem Biol Interact. 2016;259:51-62.

 

Complete list of published work: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/judit.marsillach%20lopez.1/bibliography/45009263/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending