Heather Ross, PhD, MPT

Heather Ross, PhD, MPT Research Assistant Professor  University of Florida Department of Physical Therapy Box 100154, UFHSC  Gainesville, FL  32610 -0154  Phone: (352) 273-8965 Fax:  (352) 273-6109 Email:hhrunc@ufl.edu

Heather Ross is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida. Dr. Ross earned a PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She then worked as a postdoctoral fellow for Dr. Eric Laywell in the University of Florida’s Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. There, she focused on the role of thymidine analogs in neural stem cells and in cancer cells. Dr. Ross’s research interests are centered on the modulation of neural stem cells and how that ultimately affects downstream function. Current studies involve participation in three projects: 1) DNA and epigenetic alterations in neural stem cells and cancer cells following thymidine analog uptake; and how this may respectively mimic components of aging as well as target primary/recurrent brain tumor. 2) The age-related and instructive role of microglia on persistent neurogenesis. 3) The combinatorial approach of neural stem cell therapies and rehabilitation strategies following neural insult. The long-term goal of these studies is to further the basic understanding of mechanisms behind the modulation of neural stem cells, and to use this information to optimize the translational benefit of neural cell replacement therapies and subsequent patient outcomes. (full CV)