Heather Hamilton Ross

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida
  • PhD, Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • MPT, East Carolina University
  • BA, Exercise and Sport Science,The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • AS, Louisburg College

Scholar Profile

Heather Ross is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Brenau University.  Ross also served as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida and as a member of the Program for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. 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. Dr. Ross’s research interests are centered on the combinatorial approach of neural stem/progenitor cell therapies and rehabilitation strategies following neural insult. Specifically, Dr. Ross is studying whether progenitor cell transplant coupled with cell- and systemic-based modulation, including rehabilitation approaches, can synergize to optimally promote cell engraftment and subsequent motor function following spinal cord injury. Dr. Ross also maintains interests in: 1) The age-related and instructive role of microglia on persistent neurogenesis. 2) The ability of thymidine analogs to target the cancer stem cell and treat primary/recurrent brain cancers. The long-term goal of this work is to further the basic understanding of neural stem/progenitor cell regulation, while pioneering study into the interplay between stem cell biology, neural cell replacement/recruitment therapies, and rehabilitation.