Cathy W Levenson Ph.D.
Professor, Vice Chair & Graduate Program Director
Biosketch
Cathy W. Levenson, PhD, is a Professor who serves as the Vice Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and the Director of the Graduate Program of Biomedical Sciences. She is also a member of the Program in Neuroscience. She currently teaches Biochemistry content in the Medical and Physician Assistant (PA) programs serving as a Course Director for M1 Foundations of Medicine II, M2 Gastrointestinal System, and PA1 Foundations of Clinical Nutrition courses, the Teaching Methodology and Practice course for graduate students, and the Foundations of Medicine course for senior-level undergraduate students in the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences program. Her research expertise spans pre-clinical work designed to study the role of trace metals and cell proliferation in the central nervous system (CNS). This work includes the proliferation of hippocampal stem cells following mild (concussion), moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the role they play in the development and prevention of mood disorders following injury. Her work has also investigated abnormal CNS cell proliferation in collaborative projects at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory to explore the mechanisms responsible for the development of resistance to treatment by brain tumor cells and to develop non-invasive MRI-based biomarkers of chemoresistance in glioma.
Education
Research Associate, Molecular Nutrition, University of Florida 1993
PhD, Dept of Medicine, University of Chicago, 1993
MS, Dept of Nutrition, Florida State University, 1988
BA, Neurobiology, University of Virginia, 1984
Service
Vice Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Director, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program
Chair, Medical Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee
Departmental Faculty Recruitment Committee
Year 1 and 2 Course Directors Committee
Faculty Advisor, Nutrition, Exercise, & Wellness (NEW), Medical Student Interest Group
Faculty Advisor: JHealth, Jewish Pre-Medical Student Association
Honors/Awards
Senior Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (2021)
Honors Thesis Mentor Award (2008).
University Teaching Award (2005).
Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award (1997).
University Teaching Award, Florida State University (1996).
Memberships
Society for Neuroscience
American Society for Nutrition
Courses
Foundations of Medicine II
Gastrointestinal System
Foundations of Clinical Nutrition
Introduction to Biomedical Sciences II
Teaching Methodology & Practice
Frontiers in Medicine
Research Focus
Cell Proliferation in Traumatic Brain Injury:
Depression is the single most common poor outcome associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion. Unfortunately, the usual treatment approaches often fail in patients with TBI-associated depression. Thus, the Levenson Lab is working to identify mechanisms responsible for the development of depression in TBI patients as well as new treatment approaches. We have been focused on the regulation of neuronal stem cell proliferation in the hippocampus after TBI. This work includes the development of a comprehensive mechanistic model of how nutritional interventions work at the level of gene expression, stem cell proliferation and survival, and neuronal differentiation to prevent depression, anxiety and other symptoms associated with TBI.
Cell Proliferation in Brain Tumors:
The lab is also investigating mechanisms associated with the resistance of gliomas, the most common form of central nervous system tumor, to chemotherapeutic treatment. New tools are needed to identify and monitor chemoresistance before and after the initiation of therapy. We are using ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging, metabolomics, and genomics to identify of biomarkers of chemoresistance that have the potential to not only understand the mechanisms responsible for chemoresistance, but also to improve the development of individualized treatment strategies for patients.
Publications
Zhang L, Levenson CW, Salazar VC, Biederman J, Zafonte R, Bhide PG. Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in an awake, unanesthetized mouse model of perinatal nicotine exposure produces transient novelty-seeking and depression-like behaviors. J Neurotrauma. 2022;39(13-14):954-963.
Zhang L, Levenson CW, Salazar V, McCarthy D, Biederman J, Zafonte R, & Bhide P. Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in a perinatal nicotine exposure mouse model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Developmental Neuroscience, 2021;43(1):63-72.
Levenson CW. Zinc and traumatic brain injury: From chelation to supplementation. Medical Sciences (Basel), 2020;8(3):36-47.
Sellappan P, Cote J, Kreth PA, Schepkin VD, Darkazalli A, Morris DR, Alvi FS, & Levenson CW. Variability and uncertainty in the rodent controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury. J Neuroscience Methods, 2019;312:37-42.
Levenson CW, Morgan TJ Jr, Twigg P, Logan TM, & Schepkin VD. Use of MRI, metabolomic, and genomic biomarkers to identify mechanisms of chemoresistance in glioma. Cancer Drug Resistance, 2019; 2:862-876.
Carnevale KJF, Muroski ME, Vakil PN, Foley ME, Laufersky G, Kenworthy R, Zorio DAR, Morgan TJ Jr, Levenson CW, Strouse GF. Selective Uptake Into Drug Resistant Mammalian Cancer by Cell Penetrating Peptide-Mediated Delivery. Bioconjug Chem. 2018;29(10):3273-3284.
Darkazalli A, Vied C, Badger CD, Levenson CW. Human mesenchymal stem cell treatment normalizes cortical gene expression after traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma. 2017;34(1):204-212.
Morris DR, Levenson CW. Neurotoxicity of Zinc. Adv Neurobiol. 2017;18:303-312.
Darkazalli A, Ismail AA, Abad N, Grant SC, Levenson CW. Use of human mesenchymal stem cell treatment to prevent anhedonia in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2016;34(3):433-41.
Cope EC, Morris DR, Gower-Winter SD, Brownstein NC, Levenson CW. Effect of zinc supplementation on neuronal precursor proliferation in the rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury. Experimental Neurology. 2016;279:96-103.
Cathy W. Levenson, PhD, is a Professor who serves as the Vice Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and the Director of the Graduate Program of Biomedical Sciences. She is also a member of the Program in Neuroscience. She currently teaches Biochemistry content in the Medical and Physician Assistant (PA) programs serving as a Course Director for M1 Foundations of Medicine II, M2 Gastrointestinal System, and PA1 Foundations of Clinical Nutrition courses, the Teaching Methodology and Practice course for graduate students, and the Foundations of Medicine course for senior-level undergraduate students in the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences program. Her research expertise spans pre-clinical work designed to study the role of trace metals and cell proliferation in the central nervous system (CNS). This work includes the proliferation of hippocampal stem cells following mild (concussion), moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the role they play in the development and prevention of mood disorders following injury. Her work has also investigated abnormal CNS cell proliferation in collaborative projects at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory to explore the mechanisms responsible for the development of resistance to treatment by brain tumor cells and to develop non-invasive MRI-based biomarkers of chemoresistance in glioma.
Research Associate, Molecular Nutrition, University of Florida 1993
PhD, Dept of Medicine, University of Chicago, 1993
MS, Dept of Nutrition, Florida State University, 1988
BA, Neurobiology, University of Virginia, 1984
Vice Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Director, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program
Chair, Medical Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee
Departmental Faculty Recruitment Committee
Year 1 and 2 Course Directors Committee
Faculty Advisor, Nutrition, Exercise, & Wellness (NEW), Medical Student Interest Group
Faculty Advisor: JHealth, Jewish Pre-Medical Student Association
Senior Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (2021)
Honors Thesis Mentor Award (2008).
University Teaching Award (2005).
Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award (1997).
University Teaching Award, Florida State University (1996).
Society for Neuroscience
American Society for Nutrition
Foundations of Medicine II
Gastrointestinal System
Foundations of Clinical Nutrition
Introduction to Biomedical Sciences II
Teaching Methodology & Practice
Frontiers in Medicine
Cell Proliferation in Traumatic Brain Injury:
Depression is the single most common poor outcome associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion. Unfortunately, the usual treatment approaches often fail in patients with TBI-associated depression. Thus, the Levenson Lab is working to identify mechanisms responsible for the development of depression in TBI patients as well as new treatment approaches. We have been focused on the regulation of neuronal stem cell proliferation in the hippocampus after TBI. This work includes the development of a comprehensive mechanistic model of how nutritional interventions work at the level of gene expression, stem cell proliferation and survival, and neuronal differentiation to prevent depression, anxiety and other symptoms associated with TBI.
Cell Proliferation in Brain Tumors:
The lab is also investigating mechanisms associated with the resistance of gliomas, the most common form of central nervous system tumor, to chemotherapeutic treatment. New tools are needed to identify and monitor chemoresistance before and after the initiation of therapy. We are using ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging, metabolomics, and genomics to identify of biomarkers of chemoresistance that have the potential to not only understand the mechanisms responsible for chemoresistance, but also to improve the development of individualized treatment strategies for patients.
Zhang L, Levenson CW, Salazar VC, Biederman J, Zafonte R, Bhide PG. Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in an awake, unanesthetized mouse model of perinatal nicotine exposure produces transient novelty-seeking and depression-like behaviors. J Neurotrauma. 2022;39(13-14):954-963.
Zhang L, Levenson CW, Salazar V, McCarthy D, Biederman J, Zafonte R, & Bhide P. Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in a perinatal nicotine exposure mouse model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Developmental Neuroscience, 2021;43(1):63-72.
Levenson CW. Zinc and traumatic brain injury: From chelation to supplementation. Medical Sciences (Basel), 2020;8(3):36-47.
Sellappan P, Cote J, Kreth PA, Schepkin VD, Darkazalli A, Morris DR, Alvi FS, & Levenson CW. Variability and uncertainty in the rodent controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury. J Neuroscience Methods, 2019;312:37-42.
Levenson CW, Morgan TJ Jr, Twigg P, Logan TM, & Schepkin VD. Use of MRI, metabolomic, and genomic biomarkers to identify mechanisms of chemoresistance in glioma. Cancer Drug Resistance, 2019; 2:862-876.
Carnevale KJF, Muroski ME, Vakil PN, Foley ME, Laufersky G, Kenworthy R, Zorio DAR, Morgan TJ Jr, Levenson CW, Strouse GF. Selective Uptake Into Drug Resistant Mammalian Cancer by Cell Penetrating Peptide-Mediated Delivery. Bioconjug Chem. 2018;29(10):3273-3284.
Darkazalli A, Vied C, Badger CD, Levenson CW. Human mesenchymal stem cell treatment normalizes cortical gene expression after traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma. 2017;34(1):204-212.
Morris DR, Levenson CW. Neurotoxicity of Zinc. Adv Neurobiol. 2017;18:303-312.
Darkazalli A, Ismail AA, Abad N, Grant SC, Levenson CW. Use of human mesenchymal stem cell treatment to prevent anhedonia in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2016;34(3):433-41.
Cope EC, Morris DR, Gower-Winter SD, Brownstein NC, Levenson CW. Effect of zinc supplementation on neuronal precursor proliferation in the rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury. Experimental Neurology. 2016;279:96-103.