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Curriculum Vitae
Gretchen Thomsen
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8700 Beverly Blvd. AHSP A8405
Los Angeles, CA 90048
[email protected]
EDUCATION
2011
Ph.D., Neuroscience; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
2006
Master of Science, Forensic Science; John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
2002
Bachelor of Science, Comprehensive Science; Villanova University.
Minors: Chemistry, Mathematics
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2015-present
Research Scientist I; Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
My current research focus combines neuroscience and regenerative medicine in
order to understand mechanisms of disease and neurological disorders such as ALS
and traumatic brain injury with the goal of developing therapeutic treatments.
2012-2015
Postdoctoral Research; Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center. Understanding and therapeutically targeting the upper motor neuron
component of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
2006-2011
Doctoral Dissertation Research; Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA
Endogenous stem and progenitor cell responses of the subventricular zone and
cortex following traumatic brain injury.
2004-2006
Assistant Research Scientist II; Dept. of Neuroscience, Columbia
University/NYS Psychiatric Institute
Glutamatergic mechanisms in the brain using mice deficient for the enzyme
phosphate-activated glutaminase (GLS1).
2003-2006
Masters Thesis Research; John Jay College
Adulteration of Chinese herbs with synthetic drugs in New York City.
2001-2002
Research Assistant; Dept. of Genetics/Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania
Locating and identifying various mouse gene mutations affecting sleep and circadian
behavior.
2000-2002
Undergraduate Chemical Research; Villanova University
Applying solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) and GC MS techniques to the
research of tobacco products and the South Pacific herb Kava Kava.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2008
Teacher’s Assistant; UCLA
Instruction of discussion sessions for the course Neuroscience M101A From Molecules to
Mind: Cellular and Systems Neuroscience.
2003-2006
Adjunct Laboratory Instructor; John Jay College
Instruction of 2 to 3 undergraduate laboratory sections per semester (3 semesters per
year: fall, spring and summer) for the course Concepts in Forensic Science.
2002-2004
CUNY Research Foundation Instructor;
John Jay College/Martin Luther King H.S.
Teaching Fundamentals in Forensic Science to accelerated high school students.
2002-2003
Laboratory Technician/Teacher’s Assistant; John Jay College
Preparation of chemical solutions, setting up and testing laboratory experiments for
college lab courses including General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Advanced
Criminalistics.
High School Outreach
2014-present
Short-term educational experience in research (STEER) program guest
lecturer/poster presenter, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
2010-present
Annual guest lecturer: Notre Dame High School, Honors Biology Courses
DISTINCTIONS
2014
Standing Ovation Award for Quality Service, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
2014
Malaniak Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Research
2014
California ALS Research Summit Poster Competition: 2nd place
2010
Finalist: International Neurotrauma Society Student Poster Competition
2007
UCLA Affiliates Scholarship; UCLA, IDP Neuroscience
2006
Chancellor’s Prize Recipient; UCLA IDP Neuroscience
2002
Member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society;
Rho Beta Chapter
2001
Finalist: Clare Luce Booth Scholarship;
For a woman excelling in the sciences
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
2004-present
Society for Neuroscience
2007-2011
Graduate Women in Science
2006-2011
National Neurotrauma Society
2003-2006
American Academy of Forensic Science
MENTORING
Direct Supervisor:
2016
2016-present
2015-present
Julia Alexander, Minor in Research Intern, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Noell Cho, Research Laboratory Assistant, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Patricia Haro-Lopez, Research Laboratory Assistant, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
2015-2016
2015
2013-2015
2013
2013
2013
2007-2011
Annie Ma, Research Laboratory Assistant, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Livia Wyss, intern, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Mor Alkaslasi, intern, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Shakay Amirkhanyan, summer intern, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Sam Famenini, intern, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Truc Ta, intern, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Jessica Harnisch, research assistant, UCLA
GUEST LECTURES
January, 2016
CA ALS Research Summit “Ask the Experts” Guest Speaker
May, 2015
Cedars-Sinai Graduate and Postdoctoral Society Guest Speaker
October, 2014
UCLA Levine Laboratory Guest Speaker
February, 2014
Cedars-Sinai Graduate and Postdoctoral Society Guest Speaker
January, 2014
Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute “Research in Progress” Seminar
April, 2013
Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute “Research in Progress” Seminar
January, 2012
UCLA Stem Cell Focus Group Guest Speaker
September, 2011
UCLA Graduate Student Retreat Guest Speaker
September, 2009
International Neurotrauma Conference, Santa Barbara, CA
June, 2008
University of California Neurotrauma Conference, Carmel, CA
March, 2008
UCLA Stem Cell Focus Group Guest Speaker
October, 2007
University of California Neurotrauma Conference, Santa Barbara, CA
PREVIOUS GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS
2010
(F31) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for
Individual Predoctoral Fellows in PhD Programs
2007
Graduate Research Mentorship Fellowship; UCLA, IDP Neuroscience
CURRENT FUNDING
2015-2017
ALS Finding a Cure (P.I. Svendsen)
$563, 012
Combined stem cell and gene therapy for upper motor neurons in ALS
Role: Co-Investigator
2016-2018
ALS Finding a Cure
$624,628
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and its potential link to ALS
Role: Co-PI
PENDING FUNDING
2016-2021
R01 RNS097612A
NIH/NINDS
Direct Costs: $1,502,695.00
Title: Exploring Electrophysiological Properties of the Brain in ALS Using Two
Experimental Models.
Role: PI
2016-2018
R21 NS095156-01
NIH/NINDS
Direct Costs: $500,000.00
Title: Elucidating the role of the motor cortex in ALS through distinct temporal
and cellular knockdown of mutant SOD1.
Role: PI
PATENTS
March 1, 2016: Diagnosis and treatment of chronic traumatic encephalopathy – Serial # 62/302,037
PUBLICATIONS
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
1) Thomsen, G.M., Ma, A., Ko, A., Harada, M.Y., Wyss, L., Haro, P., Vit, J.P., Shelest, O., Rhee, P.,
Svendsen, C.N., Ley, E.J. (2016). A model of recurrent concussion that leads to long-term motor
deficits, CTE-like tauopathy and exacerbation of an ALS phenotype. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. in
press.
2) Ko, A., Harada, M.Y., Murry, J.S., Nuno, M., Barmparas, G., Ma, A., Thomsen, G.M., Ley, E.J.
(2016). Heart Rate in Pediatric Trauma: Rethink Your Strategy. J Surg Res. Apr;201(2):334-9.
3) Ko, A., Harada, M.Y., Barmparas, G., Thomsen, G.M., Alban, R.F., Bloom, B., Chung, R., Melo,
N., Marguiles, D.R., Ley, E.J. (2016). Early Propranolol after Traumatic Brain Injury is Associated
with Lower Mortality. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. J Trauma Acute Care Surg.
Apr;80(4):637-42.
4) Liou, D.Z., Ko, A., Volod, O., Barmparas, G., Harada, M.Y., Martin, M.J., Salim, A., Dhillon, N.,
Thomsen, G.M., Ley, E.J. (2016). Thromboelastography after Murine TBI and Implications of
Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Knockout. Neurocritical Care. Neurocrit Care. Aug;25(1):145-52.
5) Mingote S, Masson J, Gellman C, Thomsen GM, Lin C, Merker RJ, Gaisler-Salomon I, Wang Y,
Ernst R, Hen R and Rayport S (2015). Genetic pharmacotherapy as an early CNS drug development
strategy: testing glutaminase inhibition for schizophrenia treatment in adult mice. Front. Syst.
Neurosci. 9:165.
6) Thomsen, G.M., Vit, J-P., Lamb, A., Gowing, G., Shelest, O., Alkaslasi, M., Ley, E., Svendsen,
C.N. (2015). Acute traumatic brain injury does not exacerbate ALS in the SOD1G93A rat model.
eNeuro. Jul 3;2(3).
7) Thomsen, G.M., Gowing, G., Latter, J., Chen, M., Vit, J-P, Staggenborg, K., Avalos, P., Alkaslasi,
M., Ferraiuolo, L., Likhite, S., Kaspar, B.K., Svendsen, C.N. (2014). Delayed disease onset and
extended survival in the SOD1G93A rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after suppression of
mutant SOD1 in the motor cortex. J Neurosci. Nov 19 34(47):15587-600.
8) Thomsen, G.M., Gowing, G.G., Svendsen, S., Svendsen, C.N. (2014) The past, present, and future
of clinical trials for ALS. Experimental Neurology. Dec 26 2PB:127-137. Review.
9) Thomsen, G.M., Le Belle, J.E., Kornblum, H.I., Harris, N.G. (2014). Traumatic brain injury reveals
novel cell lineage relationships within the subventricular zone. Stem Cell Research, Jul;13(1):48-60.
10) Gaisler-Salomon, I., Miller, G.M., Chuma, N., Lee, S., et al. (2009). Glutaminase-deficient mice
display hippocampal hypoactivity, insensitivity to pro-psychotic drugs and potentiated latent
inhibition: relevance to schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology. Sep; 34(10): 2305-22
11) Miller, G.M. and Stripp, R. (2007). The potential toxicity of Chinese herbal/patent medicines: A
study of western pharmaceuticals contained within samples collected from New York City’s
Chinatown. Journal of Legal Medicine. Sep 9(5): 258-264.
12) Masson, J., Darmon, M., Conjard, A., Chuhma, N., Ropert, N., Thoby-Brisson, M., Foutz, A.,
Parrot, S., Miller, G.M., Hamon, M., Hen, R., Rayport, S. (2006). Genetic deletion of brain/kidney
phosphate-activated glutaminase (GLS1) impairs glutamatergic synaptic transmission, alters
respiratory patterns, and results in neonatal death. Journal of Neuroscience. 26(17): 4660-4671.
MANUSCRIPTS SUBMITTED/IN PREPARATION
1) Thomsen, G.M., Alkaslasi, M., Vit, J.P., Lawless, G., Godoy, M., Gowing, G., Shelest, O.,
Svendsen, C.N. Systemic injection of AAV9-GDNF provides modest functional improvements in
the SOD1G93A ALS rat but has adverse associated side effects. Submitted, Gene Therapy.
2) Thomsen, G.M., Ma, A., Ko, A., Harada, M.Y., Wyss, L., Haro, P., Vit, J.P., Shelest, O., Rhee, P.,
Svendsen, C.N., Ley, E.J. Clinical correlates to assist with CTE diagnosis: Insights from a novel
rodent repeat TBI model. (Submitted, Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery)
3) Harada, M.Y., Ko, A., Barmparas, G., Smith, E., Thomsen, G.M., Ley, E.J. 10-Year Trend in
Crystalloid Resuscitation: Reduced Volume and Lower Mortality. Submitted to Journal of American
College of Surgeons. (In preparation)
4) Thomsen, G.M., Le Belle, J.E., Kornblum, H.I., Harris, N.G. The early cortical response to
traumatic brain injury is multifaceted but does not involve the proliferation of GFAP-derived SVZ
progenitors. (In preparation).
5) Thomsen, G.M., Annie M. Ma, Pablo Avalos, Mor Alkaslasi, Livia Wyss, Jean-Philippe Vit, Marlesa
Godoy, Patrick Suezaki, Oksana Shelest, Krys Bankiewicz and Clive N. Svendsen. Transplantation
of neural progenitor cells expressing GDNF into the motor cortex as a strategy to treat amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis. (In preparation)
ABSTRACTS
Presented Abstracts
1) Thomsen, G.M., Ma, A., Ko, A., Harada, M.Y., Wyss, L., Haro, P., Vit, J.P., Shelest, O., Rhee, P.,
Svendsen, C.N., Ley, E.J. Clinical correlates to assist with CTE diagnosis: Insights from a novel
rodent repeat TBI model. Podium Presentation: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma,
September, 2016.
2) Thomsen, G.M., Ma, A., Ko, A., Harada, M.Y., Wyss, L., Haro, P., Vit, J.P., Shelest, O., Rhee, P.,
Svendsen, C.N., Ley, E.J. (2016). A model of recurrent concussion that leads to long-term motor
deficits, CTE-like tauopathy and exacerbation of an ALS phenotype. Podium Presentation: Western
Trauma Association (WTA) conference, 2016.
3) Barmparas, G., Sun, B., Ko, A., Harada, M., Burch, K., Hotz, H., Marqulies, D.R., Thomsen, G.M.,
Ley, E.J. Early positive cultures predict increased mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury.
Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) conference, 2016.
4) Ko, A., Barmparas, G., Sun, B., Smith, E., Li, T., Harada, M., Hotz, H., Marqulies, D.R., Thomsen,
G.M., Ley, E.J. 10-year analysis of crystalloid resuscitation after traumatic brain injury. Eastern
Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) conference, 2016.
5) Thomsen, G.M., Holley, S., Gowing, G., Vit, J-P., Shelest, O., Rushton, D., Suezaki, P., Levine, M.,
Svendsen, C.N. Investigating upper motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 26th
International Symposium on ALS/MND, 2015.
6) Thomsen, G.M., Gowing, G., Vit., J-P., Shelest, O., Rushton, D., Suezaki, P., Svendsen, C.N.
Transplantation of human neural progenitor cells expressing GDNF into the motor cortex as a
therapeutic strategy for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Society for Neuroscience, 2015.
7) Rushton, D., Thomsen, G.M., Holley, S., Gowing, G., Vit, J-P., Shelest, O., Suezaki, P., Levine, M.,
Svendsen, C.N. Exploring electrophysiological properties of upper motor neurons and astrocytes in
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Society for Neuroscience, 2015.
8) Thomsen, G.M. and Svendsen, C.N. (2015). Update: ALS and the brain hypothesis. California ALS
Research Summit poster presentation.
9) Thomsen, G.M., Gowing, G., Avalos, P., Latter, J., Staggenborg, K., Paradis, R., Chen, M., Lin, A.,
Kaspar, B., Svendsen, C.N. (2014). Evidence for a dying forward process of ALS in the SOD1G93A
rat. California ALS Research Summit poster presentation.
10) Thomsen, G.M., Gowing, G., Avalos, P., Latter, J., Staggenborg, K., Paradis, R., Chen, M., Lin, A.,
Kaspar, B., Svendsen, C.N. (2013). Evidence for a dying forward process of ALS in the SOD1G93A
rat. Society for Neuroscience poster presentation.
11) Thomsen, G.M., Gowing, G., Avalos, P., Latter, J., Staggenborg, K., Lin, A., Svendsen, C.N.
(2013). ALS: The brain hypothesis. Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute Retreat poster
presentation.
12) Thomsen, G.M., Gowing, G., Svendsen, C.N. (2012). Understanding and therapeutically targeting
the upper motor neuron component of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cedars-Sinai Regenerative
Medicine Institute Retreat poster presentation.
13) Thomsen, G.M., Gowing, G., Avalos, P., Latter, J. Staggenborg, K., Lin, A., Svendsen, C.N. (2012).
A study of corticospinal motor neurons in a rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Society for
Neuroscience poster presentation.
14) Miller, G.M., Le Belle, J.E., Kornblum, H.I., Hovda, D.A., Harris, N.G. (2011). Non-proliferative
Expansion of SVZ astrocyte and activated stem cell populations occurs as EGFR+ cells become less
proliferative after brain injury. National Neurotrauma Society poster presentation.
15) Miller, G.M., Le Belle, J.E., Kornblum, H.I., Hovda, D.A., Harris, N.G. (2010). Cortical injury
stimulates proliferation of subventricular zone transit-amplifying cells and increases stem cell
activation. Society for Neuroscience poster presentation.
16) Miller, G.M., Le Belle, J.E., Kornblum, H.I., Hovda, D.A., Harris, N.G. (2010). Early effects of
traumatic brain injury on SVZ stem cell proliferation.
UCLA Stem Cell Symposium poster
presentation.
17) Miller, G.M., Le Belle, J.E., Kornblum, H.I., Hovda, D.A., Harris, N.G. (2009). Endogenous neural
stem and progenitor cells are stimulated to divide and generate new cortical cells following traumatic
brain injury. International Neurotrauma Society poster presentation.
18) Miller, G.M., Le Belle, J.E., Kornblum, H.I., Hovda, D.A., Harris, N.G. (2008). Increased
proliferation of two populations of dividing cells after trauma: A closer look at the neurogenic
response of the subventricular zone after traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma Abstract.
19) Miller, G.M., Le Belle, J.E., Kornblum, H.I., Hovda, D.A., Harris, N.G. (2007). Stimulation of
normally quiescent type B cells in the adult mouse SVZ after traumatic brain injury. Society for
Neuroscience poster presentation.
20) Gaisler-Salomon, I., Miller, G.M., Chuhma, N., Lewandowski, N.M., Masson, J., Hamon, M., Hen,
R., Sibelle, E., Moore, H., Small, S., Rayport, S. (2007). Altered hippocampal function and decreased
sensitivity to pro-psychotic drugs in glutaminase-deficient mice. Society for Neuroscience poster
presentation.
21) Miller, G. M., Sibille, E., Rayport, S.G. (2005). Genotype effects on developmental and regional
glutaminase expression. Society for Neuroscience poster presentation.
22) Galloway, M.P., O’Leary-Moore, S.K., Seraji-Bozorgzad, N., Moore, H.M., Miller, G.M., Rayport,
S.G. 2005. Probing the nature of MR-visible neurochemicals using transgenic mice lacking
glutaminase and high-resolution magic angle spinning ‘H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Society
for Neuroscience poster presentation.
23) Miller, G.M., Stripp, R. (2005). A study of adulteration of Chinese herbal/patent medicines
collected from New York City’s Chinatown with western pharmaceuticals. American Academy of
Forensic Science poster presentation.
Accepted Abstracts
1) Thomsen, G.M., Ma, A., Avalos, P., Haro, P., Shelest, O., Svendsen, C.N., (2016). Therapeutically
targeting the motor cortex in ALS using human neural progenitor cells expressing GDNF. Society
for Neuroscience.
2) Ma, A., Ko, A., Harada, M., Avalos, P., Dhillon, N., Haro, P., Shelest, O., Svendsen, C.N., Ley, E.J.,
Thomsen, G.M. (2016). Exacerbation of ALS phenotype in SOD1 rats following repeat traumatic
brain injury. Society for Neuroscience.