Georgette Gafford

Dynamic researcher with extensive experience at Emory University, excelling in molecular techniques. Proven track record in grant writing and training diverse teams. Adept at lab management and safety compliance, fostering a collaborative environment to drive innovative research outcomes. Passionate about advancing scientific knowledge.

• NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Institute of Health, F32 MH 090785, 2010-2013
• Center for Behavioral Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Science Foundation, IBN-987675, 2008-2010

• Mentor, SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) and ION (Institute on Neuroscience), Emory University, 2010-2015
• Guest lecturer, Advanced Physiological Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2008
• Teaching assistant, Personality Psychology, Physiological Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2004-2006
• Lab Instructor, Advanced Physiological Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2005, 2006

• Hu, R, White, T, Qu, H, Zhang, Z, Brockman, M, Valdivia, A, Joseph, G, Gafford, G, Burton, S, Taylor, W.R., Levit, R, Bassit, L, Derdeyn, C.A, Lassègue, B, Griendling, K and Hernandes, M., 2025, Poldip2 deficiency attenuates disease severity in a mouse model of COVID-19, In Preparation
• Ou, Z, Dolmatova, E, Mandavilli, R, Qu, H, Gafford, GM, White, T, Valdivia, A, Lassègue, B, Hernandes, M, and Griendling, K., 2022, Myeloid Poldip2 Contributes to the Development of Pulmonary Inflammation by Regulating Neutrophil Adhesion in a Murine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome., J Am Heart Assoc., 05/17, 11, 10
• Rutkowski TP, Purcell, RG, Pollak, R, Grewenow, S, Gafford GM, Malone, T., Khan, U, Schroeder, J., Epstein, M., Bassell, G., Warren S., Weinshenker D., Caspary T., Mulle J., 2021, Behavioral changes and growth deficits in a CRISPR engineered mouse model of the schizophrenia-associated 3q29 deletion., Mol Psychiatry., 26, 3, 772-783
• McCullough KM, Daskalakis NP, Gafford G, Morrison FG, Ressler KJ., 2018, Cell-Type Specific Interrogation of CeA Drd2 Neurons to Identify Targets for Pharmacological Modulation of Fear Extinction., Transl Psychiatry., 8, 1, 164
• Rutkowski TP, Schroeder, J., Gafford GM, Warren S., Weinshenker D., Caspary T., Mulle J., 2017, Unraveling the genetic architecture of copy number variants associated with schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders., J. Neurosci Res., 95, 5, 1144-1160
• Gafford, G.M. and Ressler KJ, 2016, Mouse models of fear related disorders - cell-type specific manipulations within the amygdala., Neuroscience, 321, 108-120, invited review
• Gafford, G.M. and Ressler KJ, 2015, GABA and NMDA Receptors in CRF Neurons have opposing effects in fear acquisition and anxiety in Central Amgydala vs. Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis., Hormones and Behavior, 76, 136-142, invited review
• 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, 842-847
• 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., 10/02, 109, 40, 16330-16335
• 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., 05/19, 182, 98–104
• Gafford. G.M
• Parsons, R.G.
• Helmstetter, F.J., 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.
• Gafford, G.M., Parsons, R.G., Helmstetter, F.J., 2005, Effects of post training hippocampal injections of midazolam on fear conditioning., Learning and Memory, 12, 573-578

1. Good Clinical Laboratory Practice, GxP training

2. EHSO Shipping and Transport of Biological Materials, CITI Program

3. FDA Inspections of GMP facilities: How to Be Inspection Ready, CITI Program

4. Export Compliance, CITI Program

5. Biosafety, EHSO, Emory University

6. Research Lab safety, EHSO, Emory University

7. Bloodborne Pathogens for Research, EHSO, Emory University