Background
Dr. Stewart completed her undergraduate honors degree in Psychology (Dalhousie University, 1996) and continued on to earn her PhD in Neuroscience (University of British Columbia, 2003) characterizing the neuroanatomy of Area 19. She was immediately recruited to a Post Doctorate Fellowship and Adjunct Faculty position (University of the Virgin Islands, 2004) where she did electrophysiology research on central pattern generators. Recognizing that translational medicine was the ultimate goal of basic science research, she trained in Intraoperative Monitoring to bridge the worlds of basic science and clinical medicine.
Dr. Stewart brought her skills to Miami Children’s Hospital in 2007 and is now associated with the Brain Institute where she is studying cortical epilepsy. In cortical epilepsy, neurons will fire excessively in synchrony, which presents as seizure activity. Dr Stewart’s is focusing her clinical research on in vivo epileptic networks in pediatric patients and further laboratory investigation of the cellular circuits in situ by using cortical slices from brain resections.
Research Experience
 Neuronal Circuits in Epilepsy
Optical Imaging of Intrinsic Signals in Cat Visual Cortex
Mapping Spinocerebellar and Spinoreticular Tracts in the Cat
Thesis Project - Neuroanatomy of Cat Visual Area 19
Temperature Effects on Lobster Central Pattern Generators
Molecular Markers of the Y Visual Pathway
Selective Physiological Elimination of the Y Visual Pathway in the Cat
Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Cell Transformation
NMDA and Olfactory Learning
Expression of c-Fos in Developing Cat Visual Cortex (Honours Thesis)
Development of a New Intelligence Test for Genetically Modified Mice
Gender Differences in Cognitive Processing of Concrete and Abstract Words
Recent Publications
Stewart TH and Matsubara JA (2000). Organization of efferent neurons in area 19: The projection to extrastriate area 21a. Brain Research, 881, 47-56.
Conway B, Boyd JD, Stewart TH and Matsubara (2000). The projection from V1 to extrastriate area 21a: A second patchy efferent pathway that colocalizes with the CO blob columns in cat visual cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 10, 149-159.
RECENT Published Abstracts and Selected Presentations
2008 Stewart TH, Rice KS and Thirumalia S. “Idiopathic” scoliosis: Neuropathy identified during surgery. American Clinical Neurophysiological Society Annual Meeting.
2007 Hall RL and Stewart TH. Phasing of motor neuron bursts by the pyloric central pattern generator of the Caribbean spiny lobster are highly dependent on temperature and cycle frequency. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 36, 407.7
2004 Stewart TH and Hall RL. Effects of temperature acclimation on rhythmic bursting in the
stomatogastric nervous system of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus Argus, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 33, 314.7
2003 Stewart TH. The neuroanatomy of extrastriate area 19: A modular mosaic. Thesis Defence, University of British Columbia.
2002 Stewart TH. Cytochrome oxidase labelling in the primary visual cortex following monocular blockade of Y-input. Department of Ophthalmology Research Seminar Series, University of British Columbia.
2000 Stewart TH and Matsubara JA. Characterization of afferent and intrinsic connections in area 19: Relationship to extrastriate projection bands. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 29, 834.4
1999 Stewart TH. The neuroanatomy of extrastriate cat visual cortex. Department of Anatomy and Physiology Visual Neuroscience Seminar Series, University of Sydney.
RECENT Peer Reviewed Awards
2005 University of the Virgin Islands Merit Award
For outstanding work in the lab: “She is absolutely excellent and her work is beyond reproach. She demonstrates exceptionally high standards and integrity. Dr. Stewart has a galvanic effect on laboratory operations.”
1997 -2002 Medical Research Council of Canada Studentship
Awarded to students who excel in scientific excellence to conduct original and valuable research. (National competition)
2001 University of British Columbia Just Desserts Award
In recognition for an outstanding contribution to student growth and success and a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. (Selected from a campus of approximately 50 000).
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