OMB No. 0925-0001 and 0925-0002 (Rev. 10/15 Approved Through 10/31/2018)

NAME: Holmes, Courtney

eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login): holmesc

POSITION TITLE: Biologist (GS-13)

EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable. Add/delete rows as necessary.)

I ran the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory and Catecholamine Resource Initiative of the Clinical Neurocardiology Section in intramural NINDS for 28 years. I carried out HPLC-electrochemical assays of catecholamines and related compounds in a variety of body fluids and tissues, for both research protocols and for clinical diagnosis. The laboratory was certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA). I worked on obtaining CLIA certification for the Section's plasma catechol and blood volume assays and have maintained these certifications with a perfect inspection record. I supervised daily operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance and service of the HPLCs for the Section. I obtained Clinical Medical Technologist certification since 1982, ensuring compliance with Good Laboratory Practices for a clinical assay laboratory. I was also the property officer of the CNCS. I kept up to date about NIH regulations and policies about universal precautions, radiation safety, laboratory safety, computer security, and patient confidentiality. I am responsible for collection, handling, labeling, storage, receipt and shipment of clinical samples. I supervised Investigators, Fellows, and students working in the Section. I maintained documentation of all assays and experiments done in the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory. I also took on the responsibility for analyzing positron emission tomographic (PET) scanning images for the CNCS. As a Kelly Contractor I continue to analyze PET images for the Section, assist with subject recruitment, and serve as emergency backup for clinical laboratory assays.

B. Positions and Honors

Positions and Employment

1977-1982                  Lab Specialist, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA

1982-1999                  Senior Medical Technologist, American Medical Laboratory, Fairfax, VA

1989-1990                  Certified Medical Technologist, GS-9, NHLBI, Bethesda, MD

1990-1995                  Certified Medical Technologist, GS-9, promoted to GS-11, NINDS, Bethesda, MD

1995                            GS-12, NINDS, Bethesda, MD

2004                            Biologist, GS-12, NINDS, Bethesda, MD

2005-2017                  Responsible laboratory personnel, CLIA-certified laboratory (plasma catechols)

2006-2017                  Biologist, GS-13, NINDS, Bethesda, MD

2017-date                   Contractor (Kelly)

Other Experience and Professional Memberships

1981                            Clinical Chemistry Technologist

1982                            National Registry in Clinical Chemistry, Medical Technologist, Centers for Disease Control

1994                            Organizing Committee, 1st World Congress on Stress, Bethesda, MD, 1994.

1995-1996                  Executive Committee and Recording Secretary, 8th International Catecholamine Symposium

2007-2012                  Secretary/Treasurer, Catecholamine Society

2012-2015                  NIH Liaison, Area Coalitions for Education Excellent (ACEE)

Honors

1990-96  Outstanding EPMS ratings

1991 - Promotion to  GS-11

1992 - Quality Step Increase

1994 - NIH Merit Award

1995 - Promotion to GS-12

1996 - NIH Cash Award

1997 - NIH Cash Award

1999 - Special Service Award

2000 - Special Act or Service Award

2000 - Quality Step Increase

2001 - Special Act or Service Award

2003 - NIH Cash Award

2003 - Special Act or Service Award

2005 - Special Act or Service Award

2008 - Special Act or Service Award

2009 - Exceptional HHS Employee Performance Plan Rating

2009 - Special Act or Service Award

2014 - Outstanding PMAP rating

2015 - Outstanding PMAP rating

2016 - Special Act or Service Award

C. Contribution to Science

1.         My experience and expertise in analyzing chromatographs were critical to the Section's research. Recognizing that patients receiving tyramine had high arterial plasma dopamine levels, I designed and carried out experiments that revealed dopamine contamination of the infused tyramine. This led to changes in the way tyramine is stored in the NIH pharmacy. I also identified contaminations in the PET ligands, 6-fluorodopamine and 6-fluorodopa, and in plasma of research subjects who have drunk coffee, alerting appropriate personnel.  I was responsible for assaying plasma samples from newborns at risk for Menkes disease and for identifying the diagnostic neurochemical pattern that allows early treatment, potentially preventing severe neurological deterioration and death. I was responsible for calculating, recording, and summarizing HPLC and PET scanning results and forwarding them with pertinent notes and interpretations to investigators. I also provided key neurochemical data and am a co-Inventor for a patent applied for, “New substituted dihydroxyphenyl compounds useful e.g. for treating hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and mild cognitive impairment” (Patent Numbers: US2015011630-A1 WO2015006315-A1 CA2917159-A1 AU2014287418-A1 SG11201510764-A1 CN105473545-A KR2016041912-A EP3019467-A1).

I have been an author on more than 100 peer-reviewed original research articles. The following is a sampling.

Holmes C, Eisenhofer G, Goldstein DS. Improved assay for plasma dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and other catechols using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. J Chromatog Biomed Applic 1994;653:131-138.

Goldstein DS, Holmes C, Cannon RO III, Eisenhofer G, Kopin IJ. Sympathetic cardioneuropathy in dysautonomias. N Engl J Med 1997;336:696-702.

Holmes C, Moak J, Eldadah B, Zimmerly E, Sharabi Y, Goldstein DS. Dopamine contamination of infused tyramine. Clin Chem 2005;51:1733-1735.

Kaler SG, Holmes CS, Goldstein DS, Tang J, Godwin SC, Donsante A, Liew, CJ, Sato S, Patronas N. Neonatal diagnosis and treatment of Menkes disease. N Engl J Med 2008;358:605-614.

Holmes C, Whittaker N, Goldstein DS. Contamination of the norepinephrine pro-drug L-DOPS by dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde. Clin Chem 2010;56:832-838.

Goldstein DS, Holmes C, Sharabi Y. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of central catecholamine deficiency in Parkinson disease and other synucleinopathies. Brain 2012;135:1900-1913.

Goldstein DS, Holmes C, Sullivan P, Jinsmaa Y, Kopin IJ, Sharabi Y. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid ratios of cysteinyl-dopamine/3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in parkinsonian synucleinopathies. Park Rel Dis 2016 (in press).

2.         I enhanced repeatedly the repertoire of the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory by new methods development. I was instrumental in developing and implementing assays for conjugated catechols, 6-fluorodopamine and its metabolites, 6-fluorodopa, and L-DOPS; automated fraction collection for 3H-labeled catecholamines; and an improved method for plasma catechols that has been the mainstay of the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory for more than a decade. My first-authored paper about the improved assay method has already been cited more than 100 times. I developed and applied a method for simultaneous measurement of parent and cysteinyl-catechols in body fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid. These accomplishments required theoretical and practical knowledge about HPLC, electrochemistry, and catecholamine metabolism. I adapted existing methodology to meet demands of new research projects. I also had responsibility for updating our HPLC data acquisition system and backing up and automatically entering data in the clinical research database of the Section.

3. I administered the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory accurately and cost-efficiently. I was responsible for ordering clinical and laboratory supplies using POTS and the IMPAC credit card. Audits found my record-keeping and reconciliation to be perfect. I maintained service contracts on all the laboratory equipment of the Section. I maintained sufficient stocks of laboratory reagents and disposables. I kept the Section Chief updated about purchases and finances of the Section.

4. I trained others in assay methods of the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory. These included Investigators, Fellows, IRTAs, and students working in the CNCS. I served as a resource for HPLC-EC troubleshooting and training of personnel both within and outside the NIH and assisted other laboratories worldwide in setting up their own facilities.

5. Since retirement, as a Contractor I continue to analyze and report PET scanning data for publications by the CNCS.

D. Research Support

Ongoing Research Support

I was a Biologist in the Division of Intramural Research, NINDS, NIH. As such I did not receive independent research support.

I am paid as a Kelly Contractor on a fee for service basis.