Kara L. Lynch, PhD
Research and Clinical Interests
My research interests are in the areas of clinical chemistry, toxicology and pharmacogenetics. In the area of clinical chemistry, we are involved in translational research studies aimed at the clinical evaluation of novel biomarkers or biomarker panels to diagnosis, treat and monitor disease. In toxicology, my research is centered on the use of mass spectrometry to detect small molecules in human samples. Our research studies are focused on uncovering trends in drug misuse and drug adulteration and understanding the clinical implications of these trends. We are also involved in the development and implementation of new mass spectrometry methods in the clinical laboratory. In the area of pharmacogenetics, we are interested in understanding how various pharmaceutical drugs trigger adverse drug reactions. Currently, we are studying the pharmacogenetics of drugs that can cause severe cutaneous adverse reactions. In the future, we plan to study how polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters influence an individual's susceptibility to drug-induced toxicity.
Selected Publications
- Lynch, KL, Dominy, SS, Graf, J and AH Kral. Detection of Levamisole Exposure in Cocaine Users by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry. J Anal Tox 35(3):176-178, 2011.
- Kostenko, L, Kjer-Nielsen L, Nicholson, I, Hudson, F, Lucas, A, Foley, B, Chen, K, Lynch, K, Nguyen, J, Wu, AHB, Tait, BD, Holdsworth, R, Mallal, S, Rossjohn, J, Bharadwaj, M and J McCluskey. Rapid screening for the detection of HLA-B57 and B58 in prevention of drug hypersensitivity. Tissue Antigens (ahead of print), 2011.
- Lung, D, Lynch, K, Agrawal, S, Armenian, P and K Banh. Adult female with rash on lower extremities. Ann Emerg Med 57(3): 307-311, 2011.
- French D, Gorgi AW, Ihenetu KU, Weeks MA, Lynch KL, Wu AH. Vitamin D status of county hospital patients assessed by the DiaSorin LIAISON® 25-hydroxyvitamin D assay. Clin Chim Acta 412(3-4):258-62, 2010.
- Lynch, KL, Breaud, A, Wu, AHB and W. Clarke. Performance Evaluation of three Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Broad Spectrum Drug Testing in the Clinical Laboratory. Clin Chim Acta 411(19-20):1474-81, 2010.
- Lynch, KL and AHB Wu. Renal Function. In: M. L. Bishop, E. P. Foby, L. E. Schoeff, eds. Clinical Chemistry: Principles, Procedures, Correlations, 6th ed. Baltimore: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2009.
- Assistant Clinical Professor, Associate Division Chief, Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory, SFGH
- Laboratory Medicine
- Division: Chemistry
Specialty Areas
- Clinical Chemistry
- Clinical Toxicology
- Pharmacogenetics
- Mass Spectrometry
Contact Information
- kara.lynch@
ucsf.edu - Phone: (415) 206-5477
- Fax: (415) 206-3045
- SFGH Clinical Laboratory
- 1001 Potrero Ave. NH2M
- San Francisco, CA 94110
Hospital Affiliation(s)
- San Francisco General