Heather Cathcart
Heather Cathcart
Professor
School of Arts and Sciences
When engaging undergraduate college students, Dr. Cathcart thinks back to her humble beginning and first year at Armstrong Atlantic State University. The first three quarters were critical to her future success as a first-generation college graduate. It was indeed a momentum year for her and while she learned much from the content in the courses taught, Dr. Cathcart learned more in the laboratory, when interacting with faculty outside of class and on her own. The reason she came to ABAC as a faculty member was because she wanted to mentor and guide the next generation of undergraduate students and provide them with skills and knowledge that transcends the lecture content. She aims to be a wealth of knowledge and an impartial sounding board for all students.
SCIE 1003 Medical Terminology
BIOL 2251 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 2252 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 4150 Neuroscience
BIOL 4250 Animal Physiology
BIOL 4900 Senior Project
BIOL 2251 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 2252 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 4150 Neuroscience
BIOL 4250 Animal Physiology
BIOL 4900 Senior Project
EDUCATION:
Post-doctoral, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee
Mentor: Dr. Rebecca M. Sappington
Research Focus: The role of soluble Interleukin-6 receptor in the protection of retinal ganglion cells in murine models of glaucoma.
Graduate Doctorate, PhD Biomedical Sciences, Augusta University in
Augusta, Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Sally S. Atherton
Dissertation: Infiltrating Cells, Interferon-gamma and Intraocular Spread of HSV-1 after Anterior Chamber Injection
Graduate Master’s, MS Biology, Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Sara N. Bennett
Thesis: Characterization and Genetic Analysis of the Morphological Mutant Crisp-5 of Neurospora crassa
College, BS Biology (cum laude), Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus) in Savannah, Georgia
ABSTRACTS:
1. Cook D., McKinnon A., Falcone J. and Cathcart H.M. The Secrets in the Leaves: Memory Retention in C. elegans. American Association of Anatomists, Experimental Biology, Orlando, Fl April 2019
2. McKinnon A., Cook D., Posey K. and Cathcart H.M. Taurine: A Rescuer of Neurodegenerative Dysfunction? American Association of Anatomists, Experimental Biology, Orlando, FL April 2019
3. Cook D., McKinnon A., Guerrero K., Falcone J., and Cathcart H.M.
The Secrets in the Leaves: Separation of Gingko biloba Flavonoids.
ABAC STEPS Symposium, Tifton, Georgia. April 2018
4. Watkins T., Falcone J., and Cathcart H.M. Antioxidants Against Alzheimer’s: Effect of Ginkgo biloba Analytes on APL-1 in C. elegans
Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference, Milledgeville, Georgia. October 2017
5. Green A., Watkins T., and Cathcart H.M. Nose Goes: Alzheimer’s Olfaction and C. elegans Chemotaxis. Association of Southeastern Biologists, Montgomery, Alabama. April 2017
6. Watkins T., Green A., Falcone J., and Cathcart H.M. Antioxidants=Anti-Alzheimer’s? Affects of Antioxidants on APL-1 in C. elegans. Association of Southeastern Biologists, Montgomery, Alabama. April 2017
7. Cathcart H.M., Battle A., Thomas M. and Thurber C. Neurologic and Genetic Analysis of Ginkgo biloba Extract Effects in Caenorhabditis elegans. The Allied Genetics Conference, Orlando, Florida. July, 2016
8. Battle A., Thomas M., Cathcart H.M. and Thurber C. A Needle in a Transcriptomic Haystack: Using RNA-Seq to Identify Differential Expression in GBE Treated C. elegans. Association of Southeastern Biologists, Concord, North Carolina. April, 2016
9. Thomas M., Battle A., Thurber C., and Cathcart H.M. Neurons and Nematodes: The Use of Ginkgo biloba extract to Rescue Neurologically Derived Defects in C. elegans. Association of Southeastern Biologists, Concord, North Carolina. April, 2016
10. Formby C., Cathcart H.M., and LeMosy E.K. Loss of extracellular protein X causes altered sensory neuron function in Drosophila.
251st American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, California. March, 2016
11. Formby C., Cathcart H.M., and LeMosy E.K. Loss of extracellular protein X causes altered sensory neuron function in Drosophila.
Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Memphis, Tennessee. November, 2015
12. Formby C., Cathcart H.M., and LeMosy E.K. Loss of extracellular protein Swim causes altered sensory neuron function in Drosophila. STAR Program, Augusta University. Augusta, Georgia. July, 2015.
Post-doctoral, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee
Mentor: Dr. Rebecca M. Sappington
Research Focus: The role of soluble Interleukin-6 receptor in the protection of retinal ganglion cells in murine models of glaucoma.
Graduate Doctorate, PhD Biomedical Sciences, Augusta University in
Augusta, Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Sally S. Atherton
Dissertation: Infiltrating Cells, Interferon-gamma and Intraocular Spread of HSV-1 after Anterior Chamber Injection
Graduate Master’s, MS Biology, Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Sara N. Bennett
Thesis: Characterization and Genetic Analysis of the Morphological Mutant Crisp-5 of Neurospora crassa
College, BS Biology (cum laude), Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus) in Savannah, Georgia
ABSTRACTS:
1. Cook D., McKinnon A., Falcone J. and Cathcart H.M. The Secrets in the Leaves: Memory Retention in C. elegans. American Association of Anatomists, Experimental Biology, Orlando, Fl April 2019
2. McKinnon A., Cook D., Posey K. and Cathcart H.M. Taurine: A Rescuer of Neurodegenerative Dysfunction? American Association of Anatomists, Experimental Biology, Orlando, FL April 2019
3. Cook D., McKinnon A., Guerrero K., Falcone J., and Cathcart H.M.
The Secrets in the Leaves: Separation of Gingko biloba Flavonoids.
ABAC STEPS Symposium, Tifton, Georgia. April 2018
4. Watkins T., Falcone J., and Cathcart H.M. Antioxidants Against Alzheimer’s: Effect of Ginkgo biloba Analytes on APL-1 in C. elegans
Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference, Milledgeville, Georgia. October 2017
5. Green A., Watkins T., and Cathcart H.M. Nose Goes: Alzheimer’s Olfaction and C. elegans Chemotaxis. Association of Southeastern Biologists, Montgomery, Alabama. April 2017
6. Watkins T., Green A., Falcone J., and Cathcart H.M. Antioxidants=Anti-Alzheimer’s? Affects of Antioxidants on APL-1 in C. elegans. Association of Southeastern Biologists, Montgomery, Alabama. April 2017
7. Cathcart H.M., Battle A., Thomas M. and Thurber C. Neurologic and Genetic Analysis of Ginkgo biloba Extract Effects in Caenorhabditis elegans. The Allied Genetics Conference, Orlando, Florida. July, 2016
8. Battle A., Thomas M., Cathcart H.M. and Thurber C. A Needle in a Transcriptomic Haystack: Using RNA-Seq to Identify Differential Expression in GBE Treated C. elegans. Association of Southeastern Biologists, Concord, North Carolina. April, 2016
9. Thomas M., Battle A., Thurber C., and Cathcart H.M. Neurons and Nematodes: The Use of Ginkgo biloba extract to Rescue Neurologically Derived Defects in C. elegans. Association of Southeastern Biologists, Concord, North Carolina. April, 2016
10. Formby C., Cathcart H.M., and LeMosy E.K. Loss of extracellular protein X causes altered sensory neuron function in Drosophila.
251st American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, California. March, 2016
11. Formby C., Cathcart H.M., and LeMosy E.K. Loss of extracellular protein X causes altered sensory neuron function in Drosophila.
Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Memphis, Tennessee. November, 2015
12. Formby C., Cathcart H.M., and LeMosy E.K. Loss of extracellular protein Swim causes altered sensory neuron function in Drosophila. STAR Program, Augusta University. Augusta, Georgia. July, 2015.
Interested in research?
My research involves investigation of memory and neurological recovery using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). C. elegans is a small nonparasitic soil-dwelling roundworm, that can be housed and manipulated like a microorganism, and is easily adaptable to neurological research. The nematodes are transparent, making it easy to view the 302 neurons in their nervous system and to observe the cell differentiation patterns from birth. These organisms have been used to study various neurological conditions including chemotaxis, learning, memory, addiction and depression, in addition to neurodegenerative diseases. C. elegans was the first multi-cellular organism to have its whole genome sequenced and has many genes that correspond to those found in the human genome. Many of these genes are orthologs, genes found in two different species that evolved from the same ancestral gene and have conserved function.
Specific Projects:
1. Quantification of quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin from Gingko biloba leaf extract
2. Comparing the touch-withdrawal response of wild type (N2) and Alzheimer’s like mutant C. elegans (ynIs79; over-expressing amyloid precursor-like protein) following exposure to known concentrations of taurine, quercetin, kaempferol or rutin
3. Designing and using 3D printed mazes to compare memory of wild type and Alzheimer’s like mutant C. elegans following exposure to taurine, quercetin, kaempferol or rutin
4. Quantification of apl-1 protein in N2 and ynIs79 C. elegans by Western blot analysis
5. Other?
My research involves investigation of memory and neurological recovery using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). C. elegans is a small nonparasitic soil-dwelling roundworm, that can be housed and manipulated like a microorganism, and is easily adaptable to neurological research. The nematodes are transparent, making it easy to view the 302 neurons in their nervous system and to observe the cell differentiation patterns from birth. These organisms have been used to study various neurological conditions including chemotaxis, learning, memory, addiction and depression, in addition to neurodegenerative diseases. C. elegans was the first multi-cellular organism to have its whole genome sequenced and has many genes that correspond to those found in the human genome. Many of these genes are orthologs, genes found in two different species that evolved from the same ancestral gene and have conserved function.
Specific Projects:
1. Quantification of quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin from Gingko biloba leaf extract
2. Comparing the touch-withdrawal response of wild type (N2) and Alzheimer’s like mutant C. elegans (ynIs79; over-expressing amyloid precursor-like protein) following exposure to known concentrations of taurine, quercetin, kaempferol or rutin
3. Designing and using 3D printed mazes to compare memory of wild type and Alzheimer’s like mutant C. elegans following exposure to taurine, quercetin, kaempferol or rutin
4. Quantification of apl-1 protein in N2 and ynIs79 C. elegans by Western blot analysis
5. Other?
