Dr. Brandi K. Ormerod

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University of Florida
Biomedical Engineering
Assistant ProfessorAppointed: 2006
University of Florida
College of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering Department
Assistant ProfessorAppointed: 2006
Professional Headshot of Brandi K. Ormerod

Mailing Address

J. Crayton Pruitt Family Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
130 BME Building
University of Florida
P.O. Box 116131
Gainesville, Florida 32611
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (352) 273-8125
Fax: (352) 392-9791
bormerod@bme.ufl.edu
http://stemcell.bme.ufl.edu/stemcell_files/page0001.htm

Qualifications

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford University, Stem Cell Biology, 2006.
Ph.D., University of British Columbia, Neuroscience, 2003.
B.Sc., Queen's University at Kingston, Psychology (Honors), 1998.

Expertise and Research Interests

My research focusses upon utilizing the adult brain's own regenerative potential to restore function lost with disease or injury. We now know that the entire brain harbors neural stem (aka progenitor) cells that are capable of producing new neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Although astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are produced throughout the adult CNS during adulthood, new neurons are produced only within the hippocampus (a structure important for learning and memory) and the olfactory bulbs (structures important for the sense of smell). I study the behavioral consequences of altering neuron production in the hippocampus to predict what could happen if cells were replaced in areas that are responsible for diseases like Parkinson's or Huntington's and how changes in hormonal or immune status may impact this process. My research also focusses upon trying to understand how to make the appropriate cells to transplant into these areas.

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Biomedical Engineering, Brain Injury, Huntington's Disease, Neuroscience, Parkinson's Disease, Stem Cells.

Additional Terms:

Behavioral Neuroscience, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells.

Languages

(Reading, Writing, Speaking)

English: (Fluent, Fluent, Fluent)

Memberships

Biomedical Engineering Society
Canadian Association for Neuroscience
International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
Society for Neuroscience
Women in Neuroscience

Previous Positions

1996-1997, Queen's University at Kingston, Arts and Science, Psychology, Weisman Bioacoustic Laboratory
1996-1998, Queen's University at Kingston, Arts and Science, Psychology, Beninger Laboratory of Psychopharmacology

Publications

  • Keravala A, Ormerod BK, Palmer TD, Calos MP (Aug 2008) Long-term transgene expression in mouse neural progenitor cells modified with phiC31 integrase., Journal of neuroscience methods, 173 (2), 299-305 Abstract
  • Ormerod BK, Palmer TD, Caldwell MA (Jan 2008) Neurodegeneration and cell replacement., Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 363 (1489), 153-70 Abstract
  • Nagy AI, Ormerod BK, Mazzucco C, Galea LAM (2006) Estradiol-Induced Enhancement in Cell Proliferation is Mediated through Estrogen Receptors in the Dentate Gyrus of Adult Female Rats, Drug Development Research., 66 (2), 142-49
  • Buckwalter MS, Yamane M, Coleman BS, Ormerod BK, Chin JT, Palmer T, Wyss-Coray T (2006) Chronically increased transforming growth factor-beta1 strongly inhibits hippocampal neurogenesis in aged mice, American Journal of Pathology, 169 (1), 154-64
  • Ormerod, B.K., Falconer, E.M., Galea, L.A.M. (2005) Neurogenesis in adult animals, Encyclopedia of Cognitive Sciences, First Edition, England, MacMillan Publishers Ltd, 299-305 pages, ISBN=0-470-01619-1 (bookchapter)
  • Hill MN, Patel S, Carrier EJ, Rademacher DJ, Ormerod BK, Hillard CJ, Gorzalka BB (Mar 2005) Downregulation of endocannabinoid signaling in the hippocampus following chronic unpredictable stress, Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 30 (3), 508-15
  • Ormerod BK, Lee TT, Galea LA (2004) Estradiol enhances neurogenesis in the dentate gyri of adult male meadow voles by increasing the survival of young granule neurons, Neuroscience, 128 (3), 645-54
  • Ormerod BK, Falconer EM, Galea LA (Nov 2003) N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activity and estradiol: separate regulation of cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of adult female meadow vole, The Journal of Endocrinology, 179 (2), 155-63
  • Ormerod BK, Galea LA (Jul 2003) Reproductive status influences the survival of new cells in the dentate gyrus of adult male meadow voles, Neuroscience Letters, 346 (1-2), 25-8
  • Ormerod BK, Lee TT, Galea LA (May 2003) Estradiol initially enhances but subsequently suppresses (via adrenal steroids) granule cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of adult female rats, Journal of Neurobiology, 55 (2), 247-60
  • Ormerod BK, Beninger RJ (Jan 2002) Water maze versus radial maze: differential performance of rats in a spatial delayed match-to-position task and response to scopolamine, Behavioural Brain Research, 128 (2), 139-52
  • Galea LA, Wide JK, Paine TA, Holmes MM, Ormerod BK, Floresco SB (Nov 2001) High levels of estradiol disrupt conditioned place preference learning, stimulus response learning and reference memory but have limited effects on working memory, Behavioural Brain Research, 126 (1-2), 115-26
  • Ormerod, B.K., Galea, L.A.M. (2001) Mechanisms and function of neurogenesis in the adult, Toward a Theory of Neuroplasticity, First Edition, Philadelphia, Psychology Press, 85-100 pages, ISBN=184169021X (bookchapter)
  • Ormerod BK, Galea LA (2001) Reproductive status influences cell proliferation and cell survival in the dentate gyrus of adult female meadow voles: a possible regulatory role for estradiol, Neuroscience, 102 (2), 369-79
  • Beauchamp MH, Ormerod BK, Jhamandas K, Boegman RJ, Beninger RJ (Sep 2000) Neurosteroids and reward: allopregnanolone produces a conditioned place aversion in rats, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 67 (1), 29-35
  • Galea LA, Ormerod BK, Sampath S, Kostaras X, Wilkie DM, Phelps MT (Feb 2000) Spatial working memory and hippocampal size across pregnancy in rats, Hormones and Behavior, 37 (1), 86-95

Profile Details

Last Updated: 7/22/2009

COS Expertise ID #1240478
Reference this profile directly: http://myprofile.cos.com/bormerod