Dr. Westmoreland is the administrator for the Pediatric Surgery Education series.

1. Personal Statement

Dr. Tamarah Westmoreland is a pediatric surgeon at Nemours Children’s Hospital Florida and an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Central FL School of Medicine.  Dr. Westmoreland’s laboratory, in collaboration with Dr. Seal at The University of Central FL, has published that neuroblastoma cells treated with cerium oxide nanoparticles conjugated with curcumin results in cell death, apoptosis via the Caspase 3/7 pathway, and a decrease in the BCL2 protein.  This work was published in Nanoscale. Moreover, Dr. Westmoreland’s laboratory focused on modulation of micro RNA and long noncoding RNA in high-risk neuroblastoma.  Within this, her laboratory discovered novel splice variants of the long noncoding RNA GAS 5 in neuroblastoma.  This was published in Oncotarget.  In addition, Dr. Westmoreland’s laboratory published that the small molecule JQ-1 results in the cell death of neuroblastoma.  Furthermore, Dr. Westmoreland has demonstrated that Zika virus kills neuroblastoma, nephroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, as well as triple negative breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.  The neuroblastoma research was published in PLoS ONE, and the other tumor studies are in development.  Moreover, Dr. Westmoreland’s laboratory recently found that Zika virus is cytotoxic to diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).  She found in both cell culture and mouse studies that Zika virus kills greater than 95% of the DIPG cells and tumor.  Also, functioning as a pediatric surgeon, she is able to readily translate the basic science results to patient care. Dr. Westmoreland was recently inducted into the prestigious Society of University Surgeons in recognition of her laboratory’s research success. Overall, the Westmoreland laboratory’s goal is to further the treatment and search for a cure for challenging pediatric tumors. She has a successful laboratory in talks, publications, grants, abstracts, and the training of students.

B.        Positions and Honors

Positions

2000-2001                   General Surgery Intern, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL

2001-2006                   General Surgery Research Fellow, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

2006-2010                   General Surgery Resident, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

2010-2011                   Pediatric Surgical Oncology Fellow, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN

2011-2013                   Pediatric Surgery Fellow, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS

2013-                           Pediatric Surgeon, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Orlando, FL

2013-                           Children’s Oncology Group Representative, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Orlando, FL

2013-2020                   Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Central FL School of Medicine, Orlando, FL

2013-              Assistant Professor of Surgery, Florida State School of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL

2015-                           Co-Director Pediatric Endocrine Program

2019-                           Ethics Committee Member

2019-                           Reviewer, Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

2020 -                          Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Central FL School of Medicine, Orlando, FL

2021-                           Committee Member National Committee for Pediatric Endocrine Surgery

2022-                           Chair, Committee for Professional Development

2023-                           Reviewer, Frontiers in Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery

Honors

2023                            Society of University Surgeons Induction

2020                            Excellence in Research, Nemours Children’s Hospital

2019                            Recognizing Outstanding Service Excellence Award, Nemours Children’s Hospital

2010                            Robert W. Anderson Outstanding Chief Resident of the Year

2010                            Appleseed Medical Student Teaching Award

2009-2010                   Performance Improvement Oversight Committee

2003                            Moseley Surgical Research Award

2002                            Association of Academic Surgery Research Award

2002                            Member of T32 Research grant

2000                            Surgical Intern of the Year Award

1997                            Ten Year Volunteer Prehospital Emergency Medicine Award

1993-1994       Summer Intramural Research Training Award

1990-1992                   Alpha Epsilon Delta Premed Honor Fraternity

1992                            Golden Key National Honor Society

1. 1994.             Military Academic Scholarship

Patents

1. Zika viruses for treatment of neural crest-derived tumors, U.S. Kenneth Andrew Alexander, Joseph Mazar, Amy Rosado, Tamarah Westmoreland, Xiaohua Zhang

C.        Contributions to Science

Nanoparticle delivery of Curcumin to treat human neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial pediatric tumor that contributes to 15% of overall childhood tumor death with a poor overall survival.  Dr. Westmoreland and colleagues developed a nanoparticle to deliver Curcumin to cells which resulted in a significant decrease cell viability in neuroblastoma, increased apoptosis via the Caspase 3/7 pathway, and increased ROS production. This is an alternative therapy that can be used as an adjunct to current chemotherapy.

• Kalashnikova I, Mazar J, Neal CJ, Rosado AL, Das S, Westmoreland TJ, Seal S., Nanoparticle delivery of curcumin induces cellular hypoxia and ROS-mediated apoptosis via modulation of Bcl-2/Bax in human neuroblastoma. Nanoscale. 2017 Jul 12. PMID: 28702620.          

Long noncoding RNA in Neuroblastoma

Few micro RNA and long noncoding RNAs have been described in neuroblastoma.  Dr. Westmoreland’s laboratory described a novel long noncoding RNA, GAS5, in neuroblastoma.  Splice variants of GAS5 regulates cell cycle and apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner with activation of BRCA1.  Understanding the influence of long noncoding RNAs in neuroblastoma can contribute to novel pharmaceutical therapies.

• Mazar J, Rosado A, Shelley J, Marchica J, Westmoreland TJ, The long non-coding RNA GAS5 differentially regulates cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through activation of BRCA1 and p53 in human neuroblastoma. Oncotarget. 2017 Jan 24;8(4):6589-6607. PMID: 28035057.

 Zika Virus

Dr. Westmoreland has been granted a patent for the therapeutic application of Zika virus in human malignancies. Dr. Westmoreland’s lab has recently published on the killing of neuroblastoma cell lines with Zika virus in a CD24-dependent manner. Moreover, her team recently found that Zika virus confers a survival advantage in neuroblastoma murine xenografts.

• Mazar J, Li Y, Rosado A, Phelan P, Kedarinath K, Parks G, Alexander K, Westmoreland T, Zika virus as an oncolytic treatment of human neuroblastoma cells requires CD24. PloS ONE 13(7): e0200358

JQ1

Recently, Dr. Westmoreland’s laboratory published that the small molecule JQ1 results in the decreased expression of MYCN, which is amplified in neuroblastoma.  This decreased MYCN expression results in cell death of the neuroblastoma cells in vitro.

• Mazar J, Gordon C, Naga V, Westmoreland TJ, The Killing of Human Neuroblastoma Cells by the Small Molecule JQ1 Occurs in a p53-Dependent Manner. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2020; 20(13): 1613 - 1625

Academic Clinical Contribution

Throughout training for general and pediatric surgery, Dr. Westmoreland has contributed to the understanding of the clinical presentations of human malignancies as well as other adult and pediatric surgical challenges.

• Hurtado CG, Westmoreland TJ, Patel PK, Madueme PC, Scherer AG, Sedney AV, Nelson JS. Persistent Double Dorsal Aorta Surrounding Large Neuroenteric Cyst. Ann Thorac Surg. 2022 Mar;113(3):e239. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2021.10.043. Epub 2021 Dec 3.PMID: 34871576
• Cox A, Nierenberg D, Camargo O, Lee E, Khaled AS, Mazar J, Boohaker RJ, Westmoreland TJ, Khaled AR. Chaperonin containing TCP-1 (CCT/TRiC) is a novel therapeutic and diagnostic target for neuroblastoma. Front Oncol. 2022 Sep 15;12:975088. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.975088. eCollection 2022.PMID: 36185250
• Kedarinath K, Fox CR, Crowgey E, Mazar J, Phelan P, Westmoreland TJ, Alexander KA, Parks GD. CD24 Expression Dampens the Basal Antiviral State in Human Neuroblastoma Cells and Enhances Permissivity to Zika Virus Infection. Viruses. 2022 Aug 6;14(8):1735. doi: 10.3390/v14081735.PMID: 36016357 
• Laxman MR, Hayes LL, Cervantes SS, Westmoreland T. Thyroid Teratoma in a Pediatric Patient.

Cureus. 2022 Sep 21;14(9):e29395. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29395. eCollection 2022 Sep.PMID: 36304375 

• Laxman MR, Gegg CA, Westmoreland T. Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Spontaneous Knot Formation of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt. Cureus. 2022 Nov 8;14(11):e31236. doi: 10.7759/cureus.31236. eCollection 2022 Nov.PMID: 36505173 
• McClanahan A, Palomo P, Burleson A, Denham J, Westmoreland T., Juvenile Retention Polyp in a Teenager.  Cureus. 2021 Jul 18;13(7):e16455. doi: 10.7759/cureus.16455. eCollection 2021 Jul.Cureus. 2021. PMID: 34422485.
• French J, Meyers A, Mills J, Adamson W, Westmoreland T., Laparoscopic Resection of a Gastric Diverticulum in an Adolescent. Cureus. 2020 Oct 25;12(10):e11161. doi: 10.7759/cureus.11161.Cureus. 2020. PMID: 33251068.
• Stack M, Westmoreland T., Adolescent With VACTERL Association Presents With Recurrent Pneumonia.  Cureus. 2020 Sep 10;12(9):e10365. doi: 10.7759/cureus.10365.Cureus. 2020. PMID: 33062488.
• Liu C, Darian A, Romeus L, Cervantes S, Westmoreland T., Submandibular Gland Injury With a Ball Bearing Gunshot Wound. Cureus. 2020 Oct 30;12(10):e11268. doi: 10.7759/cureus.11268.Cureus. 2020. PMID: 33274144.
• Mahmood M, Meckmongkol T, Westmoreland T., Laparoscopic Repair of Bilateral Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Without Pulmonary Hypoplasia.  Cureus. 2020 Sep 9;12(9):e10335. doi: 10.7759/cureus.10335.Cureus. 2020. PMID: 33052295.
• Parus A, Waler A, Westmoreland T, Johnson C, Kellogg B., Keystone Flap Reconstruction after Resection of a Large Paraspinal Venous Malformation in an Infant. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020 Oct 27;8(10):e3141. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003141. eCollection 2020 Oct.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020. PMID: 33173671.
• Williams PW, Brown KB, Westmoreland T, Herrington B, Sawaya DE, Rezeanu L, Nowicki MJ., Gastric Metastasis From an Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma in a Child: Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2014 Apr;36(3):e173-6 PMID: 23652867.
• Morris MW, Berch B, Westmoreland T, Sawaya DE, Blewett CJ, Resection of a giant hepatic adenoma in an eight-year-old girl. Am Surg. 2013 Sep;79(9):889-90. PMID: 24069983.
• Morris MW Jr, Westmoreland T, Sawaya DE, Blewett CJ., Staged closure with negative pressure    wound therapy for gastroschisis with liver herniation: a case report.  J Pediatr Surg. 2013 May;48(5):E13-5. PMID: 23701801
• Glover P, Westmoreland T, Roy R, Sawaya D, Giles H, Nowicki M, Esophageal diverticulum arising from a prolonged retained esophageal foreign body, J Pediatric Surg 2013 Feb; 48 (2): e9-e12. PMID: 23414903
• Westmoreland Tammy and Olson John (2013). Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. In Dan G Blazer, Paul C Kuo, Theodore Pappas, and Bryan Clary (Eds), Contemporary Surgical Management Of Liver, Biliary Tract, and Pancreatic Disease. World Scientific Publishing Co.
• Ganapathi AM, Westmoreland T, Tyler D, Mantyh CR, Bevacizumab-associated fistula formation in postoperative colorectal cancer patients, J Am Coll Surg. 2012 Apr;214(4):582-8; discussion 588-90. PMID: 22321523
• Tracy ET, Bennett KM, Danko ME, Diesen DL, Westmoreland TJ, Kuo PC, Pappas TN, Rice HE, Scarborough JE., Low volume is associated with worse patient outcomes for pediatric liver transplant centers. J Pediatr Surg. 2010 Jan;45(1):108-13. PMID: 20105589
• Tammy J. Westmoreland, Elisabeth T. Tracy, Melissa E. Danko, Jeff C. Hoehner, “Pediatric Surgery Review”. Clinical Review of Surgery. Ed. Desai SS, Jacobs DO. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Catalyst Publishers; 2009: 650 pp.
• Tamarah J. Westmoreland, “Urethral Catheterization”. First Exposure General Surgery. Ed. Danny O. Jacobs. The McGraw-Hill Companies 2007: 397 pp.

Chemotherapy Resistance

In graduate school, using yeast as a model system, Dr. Westmoreland and colleagues described a network that when mutated can contribute to resistance to doxorubicin.  Furthermore, Dr. Westmoreland identified one member of the CCR4 pathway, involved in dysregulation in breast cancer, that regulates the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint.

• Westmoreland TJ, Wickramasekara SM, Guo AY, Selim AL, Winsor TS, Greenleaf AL, Blackwell KL, Olson JA Jr, Marks JR, Bennett CB, Comparative genome-wide screening identifies a conserved doxorubicin repair network that is diploid specific in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS One 2009 Jun 8;4(6): e5830 PMID: 19503795.
• Bennett CB, Westmoreland TJ, Verrier CS, Blanchette CA, Sabin TL, Phatnani HP, Mishina YV, Huper G, Selim AL, Madison ER, Bailey DD, Falae AI, Galli A, Olson JA, Greenleaf AL, Marks JR., Yeast screens identify the RNA polymerase II CTD and SPT5 as relevant targets of BRCA1 interaction, PLoS ONE 2008 Jan 16;3(1): e1448 PMID: 18197258.
• Westmoreland TJ, Marks JR, Olson JA Jr, Thompson EM, Resnick MA, Bennett CB Cell cycle progression in G1 and S phases is CCR4 dependent following ionizing radiation or replication stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Eukaryot Cell. 2004 Apr;3(2):430-46. PMID: 15075273.
• Westmoreland TJ, Olson JA, Saito WY, Huper G, Marks JR, Bennett CB.  Dhh1 regulates the G1/S-checkpoint following DNA damage or BRCA1 expression in yeast. J Surg Res. 2003 Jul;113(1):62-73. PMID: 12943812.

DNA Repair

Dr. Westmoreland and colleagues contributed to the knowledge of DNA repair by demonstrating the   importance of an unrepaired DNA double strand break in cells.

• Bennett CB, Westmoreland TJ, Snipe JR, Resnick MA,  A double-strand break within a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) containing human DNA can result in YAC loss, deletion or cell lethalityMol. Cell. Biol., 1996 Aug 16 (8): 4414-4425. PMID: 8754842.

4. Research Support

Current Support

Westmoreland PI

7/1/2022 – 6/30/2024

Anonymous Donor - $450,000            0.24 calendar months

Treatment of Hepatoblastoma and NeuroblastomaTumors with Zika Virus

Westmoreland PI

3/1/2022- 3/31/2025    0.48 calendar months

Live Like Bella Foundation - $250,000

Treatment of Xenograft Murine DIPG with Zika Virus (No overlap in aims)

Westmoreland PI

1/1/2022-12/31/2023   0.60 calendar months

Nemours Foundation - $240,000

Pediatric Tumor Research

Westmoreland PI

6/1/2023 – 5/31/2024

Anonymous Donor - $450,000

Treatment of pediatric cancer with Zika Virus

Pending Support: None

Previous Support

Westmoreland, PI

05/01/2020-4/30/2023             1.08 calendar months

Live Like Bella Foundation - $226,000

Zika Virus-Mediated Lysis for CD24 Positive Neuroblastoma

Westmoreland PI

7/1/2020 – 8/31/2022  0.24 calendar months

Anonymous Donor - $500,000

Treatment of Vascular Tumors with Zika Virus

1014541001  (Westmoreland, Site PI)                  

1/1/2018-12/31/2019               $250,000  2.40 calendar

Nemours Foundation                                                 

Nemours Foundation to support Research Protected Time

3215734003 (Alexander, Site PI, Westmoreland Co-PI)                           

06/01/2018-05/31/2019                       $25,000 0.24 calendar at no charge

Cannonball Kids’ Cancer Foundation                                                

Treatment of Hepatoblastoma with Zika Virus

2014541001 (Westmoreland, Site PI)                     

06/01/2015-12/31/2018             

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals                                  

A Prospective, Open-Label, Multicenter study Comparing Lymphoseek and Vital Blue Dye as Lymphoid Tissue Targeting Agents in Pediatric Patients with Melanoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, or Other Solid Tumors Who are Undergoing Lymph Node Mapping

3215734001 (Alexander, Site PI, Westmoreland Co-PI)                              

06/01/2018-11/30/2021           0.21 Calendar Months

Anonymous Donor                                                     

Zika Viruses for Treatment of Neuroblastoma and Hepatoblastoma

3215734001 (Alexander, Site PI, Westmoreland, Co-PI)                             

06/01/2018-11/30/2021           0.12 Calendar Months

Anonymous Donor                              Zika Viruses for Treatment of Pediatric Cancers