GEORGETTE M. GAFFORD, PH.D. Emory University Yerkes National Primate Research Center 954 Gatewood Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329 Home 404 520 6308 ٠ Work 404 727 7997 Email [email protected] EMPLOYMENT 2014 Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Associate Principal Investigator: Kerry Ressler, MD, Ph.D. 2008 Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow Principal Investigator: Kerry Ressler, MD, Ph.D. EDUCATION 2008 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Ph.D: Experimental Psychology Major: Neuroscience Minors: Conditioning and Learning, Cognition and Perception Advisor: Fred J Helmstetter, Ph.D. Dissertation Thesis: Molecular Mechanisms of Recent and Remote Memory 2004 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee M.S: Experimental Psychology Major: Neuroscience Minors: Conditioning and Learning, Cognition and Perception Advisor: Fred J Helmstetter, Ph.D. Master’s Thesis: Role of alpha 5 containing GABA receptors in memory. 1999 University of Nevada, Las Vegas B.A: Psychology Major: Psychology Minor: Sociology COMPLETED RESEARCH SUPPORT 2010-2013 NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship, NIH (F32 MH 090785). 2008 - 2010 Center for Behavioral Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellowship, Co-Mentor: Michael Davis, PhD, NSF (IBN-987675) 1 PUBLICATIONS McCullough, KM, Gafford, GM, Zimmermann KS, Ressler, KJ (In Preparation) Dopamine receptor 2 neurons in the amygdala are engaged in fear extinction. Gafford GM, Zimmermann KS, Andero R, Ressler, KJ (In Preparation for Biological Psychiatry) Support for a phosphodiesterase and phosphatase sensitive mechanism within in the amygdala important for fear extinction. Gafford, GM and Ressler KJ (2015) Mouse models of fear related disorders - cell-type specific manipulations within the amygdala. Neuroscience (invited review). Gafford, GM and Ressler KJ (2015) GABA and NMDA Receptors in CRF Neurons have opposing effects in fear acquisition and anxiety in Central Amygdala vs. Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis, Hormones and Behavior. Advanced Online Publication, doi: 10.1016/j.yhbehav-2015.04.001. Gafford GM, Jasnow, AJ, Ressler, KJ (2014) Grin1 Receptor Deletion within CRF Neurons Enhances Fear Memory. PLoS One. 9(10):e111009. Gafford GM, Parsons RG, Helmstetter FJ. (2013) Memory accuracy predicts hippocampal mTOR pathway activation following retrieval of contextual fear memory. Hippocampus. 23(9):842-7. Gafford GM, Guo JD, Flandreau EI, Hazra R, Rainnie DG, Ressler KJ. (2012) Cell-type specific deletion of GABA(A)α1 in corticotropin-releasing factor-containing neurons enhances anxiety and disrupts fear extinction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Oct 2;109(40):16330-5. Jarome TJ, Kwapis JL, Werner CT, Parsons RG, Gafford GM, Helmstetter FJ. (2012) The timing of multiple retrieval events can alter GluR1 phosphorylation and the requirement for protein synthesis in fear memory reconsolidation. Learn Mem. Jun 20;19(7):300-6. Gafford GM, Parsons RG, Helmstetter FJ. (2011) Consolidation and reconsolidation of contextual fear memory requires mammalian target of rapamycin-dependent translation in the dorsal hippocampus. Neuroscience. May 19;182:98-104. Gafford, GM & Ressler, KJ (2011) Fear conditioning and extinction as a model of PTSD in mice. In T. Gould (Ed.) Mood and Anxiety Related Phenotypes in Mice Neuromethods (pp 171184).New York: Humana Press. Lonergan ME, Gafford GM, Jarome TJ, Helmstetter FJ. (2010) Time-dependent expression of Arc and zif268 after acquisition of fear conditioning. Neural Plast. 2010:139891. Parsons RG, Gafford GM, Helmstetter FJ (2010) Regulation of extinction-related plasticity by opioid receptors in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter. Front Behav Neurosci. 4. pii: 44. Helmstetter, FJ, Parsons, RG, Gafford. GM (2008) Macromolecular synthesis, distributed synaptic plasticity, and fear conditioning. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (invited review), 89, 324-337. 2 Parsons, RG*, Gafford. GM*, Helmstetter, FJ (2006) Translational control via the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is critical for the formation and stability of long term fear memory in amygdala neurons. The Journal of Neuroscience, 26, 12977-12983. (* Both authors contributed equally to this publication). Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, Baruch, DE, Riedner, BA, Helmstetter, FJ (2006). Long term stability of fear memory depends on the synthesis of protein but not mRNA in the amygdala. European Journal of Neuroscience, 23, 1853-1859. Parsons, RG, Riedner, BA, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2006) The formation of auditory fear memory requires the synthesis of protein and mRNA in the auditory thalamus. Neuroscience, 141, 1163-1170. Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Helmstetter, FJ (2005) Effects of post training hippocampal injections of midazolam on fear conditioning. Learning and Memory, 12, 573-578. POSTER PRESENTATIONS Gafford, GM, Dias B, Ressler, KJ (2014) Identifying the translational profile of corticotropin releasing factor neurons in central amygdala during fear conditioning. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC Gafford, GM, Ressler, KJ (2013) Functional and molecular characterization of CRF neurons within the central amygdala. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA Gafford, GM, Guo, J, Rainnie, D, Ressler, KJ (2012) GABAergic and Glutamatergic regulation of Corticotropin Releasing Factor neurons differentially contributes to anxiety and fear behavior. Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA Gafford, GM, Ressler, KJ (2011) Enhanced anxiety and disrupted fear extinction with CRF neuron-specific deletion of GABA receptors. Gordon Conference: The Amygdala in Health and Disease, Waterville, ME; Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C. Gafford, GM, Andero, R, Zimmermann, KS, Ressler, KJ (2010) Differential contribution of amygdala kinase and phosphatase pathways to extinction of auditory fear memory. The Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA Gafford, GM, Andero, R, Zimmermann, KS, Ressler, KJ (2010) Differential contribution of amygdala phosphodiesterase and phosphatase pathways to consolidation of extinction of auditory fear. The Pavlovian Society, Baltimore MD Andero, R, Heldt, S, Gafford, GM, Armario, A, Ressler, KJ (2010) Immobilization exposure followed by conditioned fear causes long-term PTSD-like symptoms in mice. The Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA Werner, CT, Jarome, TJ, Kwapis, JL, Parsons, RG, Gafford, G M, Helmstetter FJ (2010) The timing of multiple retrieval events can reverse synaptic GluR1 phosphorylation and alter the 3 requirement for protein synthesis in fear memory reconsolidation. The Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA Gafford, GM, Chen, ZJ, Jasnow, A, Heldt, S, Martin, E, Owens, M, Wisden, W, Rainnie, D, Ressler, KJ (2009) Enhanced anxiety in transgenic mice with crf neuron-specific deletion of GABA receptors. The Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL Gafford, G.M., Parsons, R.G., Helmstetter, F.J. (2008) Expression of PP1 and the mTOR signaling pathway after retrieval of recent and remote context fear memory. The Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C. Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2008) Dissociation of the neural mechanisms supporting the extinction of fear conditioning in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray and basolateral amygdala. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington, D.C. Jarome TJ, Kwapis, JL, Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2008) Altered gene expression and a change in the requirements for protein synthesis following multiple retrieval events in fear memory reconsolidation. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington, D.C. Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Helmstetter, FJ (2007) Involvement of mTOR-dependent translation in retrieval of recent and remote fear memory. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2007) AMPA receptors in the amygdala and ventral periaqueductal gray regulate the expression and extinction of conditional fear. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA Lonergan, ME, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2007) The temporal expression of Arc and zif268 differs in brain structures during fear memory formation. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Lonergan, ME, Helmstetter, FJ (2006) Intra-amygdala infusion of rapamycin blocks the time-dependent increase in phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase after fear learning. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Atlanta, GA Helmstetter, FJ, Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM (2006) Plasticity in the auditory thalamus is necessary for the consolidation of auditory fear memory. Poster presented at The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Atlanta, GA Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2006) Blockade of protein synthesis in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray attenuates the formation of fear memory in rats. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Atlanta, GA Lonergan, ME, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2006) Temporal expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated (Arc) protein following pavlovian fear conditioning. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Atlanta, GA 4 Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Lonergan, ME, Helmstetter, FJ (2005) The Role of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Kinase Pathway in Consolidation of Contextual Fear Memory. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington, D.C. Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Lonergan, ME, Helmstetter, FJ (2005) Fear Memory and the Importance of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Kinase Pathway. The Pavlovian Society Meeting, Anaheim, CA. Parsons, RG, Riedner, BA, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2005)The Formation of Auditory Fear Memory Requires the Synthesis of Protein and mRNA in the Medial Geniculate Nucleus of the Thalamus. The Pavlovian Society Meeting, Anaheim, CA. Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Helmstetter, FJ (2004). Consolidation, but not reconsolidation, of contextual fear memory is disrupted by rapamycin and an inhibitor of mRNA synthesis in the dorsal hippocampus. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA. Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2004). Consolidation of Fear Memory depends on a Rapamycin Sensitive Pathway in the Amygdala. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA. Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Helmstetter, FJ (2003). Post training manipulations of 5 subunit containing GABAA receptors in contextual fear conditioning. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, New Orleans, LA Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Helmstetter, FJ. (2003) GABAA Receptors in the Dorsal Hippocampus and Contextual Fear Conditioning. The Pavlovian Society Meeting, Indianapolis, IN. Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2003) Reconsolidation of auditory fear memory is independent of transcription in the amygdala. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, New Orleans, LA Baruch, DE, Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, F J Helmstetter (2003) The role of hippocampal protein synthesis in the acquisition and consolidation of contextual fear memory. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, New Orleans, LA Gafford, GM, Parsons, RG, Powell, SK, Swain, RA, Helmstetter, FJ (2002). Down regulation of 5 subunit containing GABA receptors results in contextual fear conditioning deficits. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Orlando, FL. Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2002). Role of the anterior cingulate cortex in Pavlovian fear conditioning in rats. The Midwestern Psychological Association Conference, Chicago, IL. Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2001). Contributions of anterior cingulate cortex to cued and contextual fear conditioning. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA. Parsons, RG, Gafford, GM, Helmstetter, FJ (2002). Consolidation and reconsolidation of contextual fear memory: different requirements for protein and mRNA synthesis. The Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Orlando, FL. 5 AWARDS AND HONORS 2012 Atlanta Chapter, Society for Neuroscience Poster Presentation Award 2011 Gordon Conference on Amygdala Health and Disease Poster Presentation Award. 2001, 2004 University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Student Association Committee, Travel Award – Society for Neuroscience Conference 2002 Anthony Fazio Research Award 2001 Student Leadership Award, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee 1998 Student Scholarship Award in recognition of outstanding research presented at the Western Psychological Association Convention. 1998 Psi Chi Research Travel Award, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1998 Outstanding Undergraduate Award, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Psychology Department 1999 Commencement Honors, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1997 Student Achievement Scholarship, University of Nevada, Las Vegas TEACHING/MENTORING/OUTREACH EXPERIENCE 2014 – 2015 Coordinator, ACSFN Lending Library 2014 Facilitator, Fernbank Museum, Science of Fear Exhibit 2013 Judge, Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium 2013 Judge, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Poster Competition 2011-2012 Facilitator, ACSFN Brain Awareness Week 2010 – 2014 Mentor, SIRE program, Emory University 2008 – 2009 Mentor, Leila Myrick- Rotation student, Emory University 2005 Guest Lecturer, Advanced Physiological Psychology, UW-Milwaukee Topic:Learning & Memory 2004 Guest Lecturer, Advanced Physiological Psychology, UW-Milwaukee Topic: Learning & Memory 6 2002 Guest Lecturer, Advanced Physiological Psychology, UW-Milwaukee Topic: Learning & Memory 2001 - 2006 Lab Instructor, Advanced Physiological Psychology, UW-Milwaukee 2000 -2001 Teaching Assistant, Personality Psychology, Physiological Psychology , UWMilwaukee INVITED COLLOQUIA Gafford GM. Cell-type specific deletion of GABA(A)α1 in corticotropin-releasing factorcontaining neurons enhances anxiety and disrupts fear extinction. Postdoctoral Symposium, Emory University (2012) Gafford GM. Differential contribution of amygdala kinase and phosphatase pathways to extinction of auditory fear memory. Behavioral Neuroscience & Psychiatric Disorders Symposium, Emory University (2010) Gafford, GM. Translational control by mTOR contributes to the formation and stability of memory in the hippocampus. Seminar in Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (2007). Gafford, GM. The role of the mTOR pathway in Fear Memory Formation. Seminar in Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (2006). Gafford, GM. Consolidation and Reconsolidation of contextual fear memory in the dorsal hippocampus. Biology Brown Bag, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (2005) Gafford, GM. The role of the immediate early gene Zif268 in learning and memory. Cognitive Neuroscience Brown Bag, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (2004). Gafford, GM. Role of 5 Subunit Containing GABA Receptors in Memory. Cognitive Neuroscience Brown Bag, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (2003). SERVICE 2009 – 2011 Organizer, Behavioral Neuroscience & Psychiatric Disorder Seminar 2012 Postdoctoral Executive Committee, Emory University 2011-2013 Postdoctoral Social Committee, Emory University 2009 - Present Emory Sustainability Committee RECENT COURSEWORK AND WORKSHOPS 2015 Writing an Effective Teaching Statement, Office of Postdoc Education, Emory University 7 2015 Effective CV, Biosketch and Resume Strategies, Office of Postdoc Education, Emory University 2009 Postdoctoral Ethics Course Office of Postdoc Education, Emory University 2014 Lab Management Course, Office of Postdoc Education, Emory University 2011 Basic Mechanisms of Neurological Disease, Neurology Dept, Emory University JOURNALS REFEREED 2012 – Present Neurobiology of Learning and Memory; Neuroscience 8
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