Phone: (706) 721-7958
Fax: (706)-721-2347

Email: dgearhart@mcg.edu

Office: CB-3604


Grant Support | Honors & Awards | Invited Research | Selected Publications |

Title: Parkinson's Disease Toxins
Source: Health 1st Foundation (Atlanta, GA)
Type: MCG Foundation Fund (# 7959)
Position: Principal Investigator
Amount: $15,000
Dates: 03/1/2001 - open-ended

Title: Do ß-Carboline-Treated Mice Show Signs of Parkinson's Disease?
Source: The American Legion
Type: Research Support
Position: Principal Investigator
Amount: $10,000
Dates: 07/01/2002 - 6/30/2003

Title: Toxins, Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase, & Oxidative Stress
Source: Medical College of Georgia Research Institute
Type: Combined Intramural Grants Program
Position: Principal Investigator
Amount: $20,000
Dates: 2/14/2002 - 8/31/02

Title: N-Methylated ß-Carbolines & Oxidative Damage (F32NS10723)
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type: Individual National Research Service Award (Mentor: William D. Hill, Ph.D.)
Position: Principal Investigator
Amount: $106,788 total
Dates: 04/01/1999 - 03/31/2002

Title: Identification of Proteins and Enzymes That Facilitate the Toxic Properties of MPP+-Like N-Methylated ß-Carbolinium Cations
Source: The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA)
Type: Research Grant
Position: Principal Investigator
Amount: $35,000
Dates: 09/01/2000 - 08/31/2001

Title: Environmental & Endogenous ß-Carbolines: Parkinson-Inducing Toxins?
Source: VA Network 7 Research & Affiliations Service Line
Type: Junior Investigator, Research Career Development Award
Mentors: Dr. David Hess and Dr. William Hill
Amount: $50,000 (two year salary supplement)
Dates: 07/01/2000 - 06/30/2002

• Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (1977).
• The Rho Chi Society: National Pharmaceutical Honor Society (1979).
• Women in Neuroscience Travel Award (1997).
• NIH National Research Service Award (1999 - 2002).

"Biological Properties of Norharman and Its N-Methylated Derivatives: Possible Relevance to the Pathobiology of Parkinson's Disease", presented at:

• Mercer University College of Pharmacy, Atlanta GA (May 2002)
• University of South Alabama, Mobile AL (May 2002)
• Texas Tech Health Science University, Amarillo TX (July 2002)
• Auburn University, Auburn AL (July 2002)
• University of Georgia, Athens GA (December 2002)
• Emory University, Atlanta GA (April 2003)
• Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS (April 2003)
• University of South Carolina - Aiken, Aiken, SC (May 2003)

Abstracts

Hill, W.D., D.A. Gearhart, F. Kutlar, A. Kutlar, R.C. Green, E. Zamrini, A. Doetsch, J. Rogers, T. Beach, A. Roher, and R. Chorsky. Xmn1 G- g -globin polymorphism interacts with ApoE4 and associates with Alzheimer's disease. Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science 30:329 (2000).

Hill, W.D., D.A. Gearhart, F. Kutlar, A. Kutlar, R.C. Green, E. Zamrini, A. Doetsch, J. Rogers, T. Beach, and A. Roher. Xmn1 G- g -globin polymorphism interacts with ApoE4 and associates with Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of Aging 21:S206 (2000).

Gearhart, D.A., J.W. Beach, W.D. Hill. Expression of transporters for dopamine or norepinephrine confers a susceptibility to cytotoxicity mediated by MPP+-like N-methylated b-carbolines. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts Vol. 26, Part 1, p. 1025 (2000).

Gearhart, D.A. and P.F. Toole. Identification of brain proteins that interact with proposed parkinsonian-inducing toxins, N-methylated b-carbolinium cations. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts Vol. 27, Program No. 654.19 (2001).

Perry, R.T., W.D. Hill, H. Weiner, L. Harrell, D.A. Gearhart, F. Kutlar, A. Kutlar, D. Blacker, R.E. Tanzi, M.G. McGinnis, S.S. Bassett, and R.C.P. Go. A strong association of the XmnI promoter polymorphism of the fetal hemoglobin gene (HBG2) to Alzheimer's disease in NIMH sibling dataset. American Society of Human Genetics, Program No. 91.10 (October 2002).

Ozcan, O., D.A. Gearhart, C. Chang, D.C. Hess, W.D. Hill. Ab1-42 interaction with free methemoglobin mediates endothelial cell damage. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts Vol. 28, Program No. 91.10 (November 2002).

Ozcan, O., D. Gearhart, W.D. Hill. Ab1-42 interaction with hemoglobin causes increased heme release: a potential source of free radical damage to cerebral microvasculature. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 35: S160-S160 (2003).

Gearhart, D.A. and P.F. Toole. Uptake, toxicity, and subcellular localization of N-methylated norharman derivatives in neuroblastoma cells. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts Vol. 29, Program No. 535.11 (November 2003).

Ozcan, O., D.A. Gearhart, F. Kutlar, W.D. Hill. b-Amyloid induces RBC lysis and may contribute to Alzheimer s disease vascular pathology. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts Vol. 30, Program No. 218.20 (October 2004).

Gearhart, D.A., M.L. Middlemore, A.V. Terry. Development of ELISA methods to quantify cholinergic markers in rat brain lysates. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts Vol. 30, Program No. 695.8 (October 2004).

Terry, A., D. Gearhart, E. Hohnadel, L. Middlemore, L. Davis, S. Warsi, S. Mahadik. Chronic exposure to typical or atypical antipsychotics: effects on nerve growth factor, cholinergic neurons, and spatial learning in rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts Vol. 30, Program No. 350.11 (October 2004).

Hohnadel, E.J., C.M. Hernandez, D.A. Gearhart, A.V. Terry. Effect of repeated nicotine exposure on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor density in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts Vol. 30, Program No. 48.2 (October 2004).

Terry, A. V., D. Gearhart, S. Mahadik, S. Warsi, L. Davis. Chronic exposure to typical or atypical antipsychotics in rodents: temporal effects on central alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. International Congress on Schizophrenia Research. Control ID: 115890 (April 2005).

Gearhart, D.A., M.L. Middlemore, J.J. Buccafusco, D. Sickles, M.A. Prendergast, A.V. Terry. Repeated exposure of rats to subthreshold doses of chlorpyrifos impairs spatial learning and decreases levels of ""cholinergic proteins"" in memory-associated brain regions. Program No. 106.2. 2005 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.

Prendergast, M.A., R.L. Self, M.M. Mullins, J.J. Buccafusco, D.A. Sickles, D.A. Gearhart, A.V. Terry, Jr. Hippocampal dendritic injury precedes somatic injury caused by exposure to chlorpyrifos oxon. Program No. 884.14. 2005 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.

Terry, A.V., D.A. Gearhart, S.P. Mahadik, J.L. Waller. Chronic exposure to typical or atypical antipsychotics in rodents: effects on central muscarinic-acetylcholine receptors. Program No 1023.5. 2005 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.