Heather M. Ames

Heather M. Ames, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with a secondary appointment in Neurobiology. She joined the department in May 2018 after completing her training at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Her educational background includes:

• M.D. and Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan (2013)
• Residency in Anatomic Pathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital (2015)
• Fellowship in Neuropathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital (2017)

Dr. Ames' research focuses on neuropathology, particularly the molecular mechanisms of glioma pathogenesis and diagnosis. She investigates the historical development of neuropathology as a discipline and collaborates on diverse neuroscience projects, including Alzheimer's disease mechanisms and the neurological impact of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Her work bridges clinical practice with molecular pathology to advance diagnostic approaches.

Analysis of her 2017-2022 publications reveals a strong concentration on glioma biology (71% of articles), with significant contributions to understanding tumor genetics, invasion mechanisms, and therapeutic targets. She also explores neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer's disease (14%) and neuropathological consequences of viral infections (14%), demonstrating interdisciplinary expertise across neuro-oncology, molecular diagnostics, and infectious disease neuropathology.

Dr. Ames actively contributes to the University of Maryland NeuroBioBank, where she assists with diagnostic neuropathology evaluations. Her clinical practice integrates with research to improve understanding of neurological disorders through tissue-based analysis and collaborative science.