Lisa Potts, PhD

About Lisa

Dr. Potts teaches anatomy and neuroscience courses for the Occupational Therapy and Athletic Training graduate programs at Spalding University. She graduated from Centre College with a B.S. in Psychobiology and went on to obtain her doctorate in Anatomical Sciences & Neurobiology from the University of Louisville. Lisa received training in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology as a post-doctoral scholar at Emory University studying novel treatment strategies for Parkinson’s disease in non-human primates. She continued training as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky working on studies of neuroprotection in non-human primate and rodent models of Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury. Lisa then expanded her study to spinal cord injury as a senior research associate in the KSCIRC at the University of Louisville. There she worked with SCI patients studying the effects of epidural spinal cord stimulation on the cardiovascular system. Her current research interests include concussion management and the utility of newly developed screening tools as well as non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for neurologic conditions. Dr. Potts recently completed a certificate program in applied data science and artificial intelligence and is excited to put this information to practice exploring new ideas that combine artificial intelligence and individualized treatment for stroke and other neurologic conditions. In addition to overseeing the anatomy and neuroscience courses in the MSAT and OTD programs, Dr. Potts serves as the chair of the research ethics committee and helps run the anatomy lab. She also serves on the professional development committee and enjoys co-hosting the faculty showcase event each year.

Publications

• Potts, L., Modlinski, R. Concussion prevention and management. In: Sports Injuries Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation, 3rd edition. Springer. 2025 Invited author.
• Shetty Ravi Dyavar, Lisa F. Potts, Goichi Beck, Bhagya Laxmi Dyavar Shetty, Benton Lawson, Anthony T. Podany, Courtney V. Fletcher, Rama Rao Amara, Stella M. Papa. Transcriptomic approach predicts a major role for transforming growth factor beta type 1 pathway in L-Dopa-induced dyskinesia in parkinsonian rats. Genes, Brain and Behavior. 2020 Aug: 19 (8): e12690
• Stenslik MJ, Potts LF, Sonne JW, Cass WA, Turchan-Cholewo J, Pomerleau F, Huettl P, Ai Y, Gash DM, Gerhardt GA, Bradley LH. Methodology and effects of repeated intranasal delivery of DNSP-11 in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. J Neurosci Methods. 2015 Aug 15;251:120-9.
• Potts LF, Park ES, Woo JM, Dyavar Shetty BL, Singh A, Braithwaite SP, Voronkov M, Papa SM, Mouradian MM. Dual κ-agonist/μ-antagonist opioid receptor modulation reduces levodopa- induced dyskinesia and corrects dysregulated striatal changes in the nonhuman primate model of Parkinson disease. Ann Neurol. 2015 Jun;77(6):930-41.
• Lisa F. Potts, Subramaniam Uthayathas, Alex Greven, Bhagya Laxmi Dyavar Shetty, M. Maral Mouradian, Stella M. Papa. A new, quantitative rating scale for dyskinesia in non human primates. Behavioural Pharmacology 2015 Feb; 26(1-2):109-16
• Lisa F. Potts, PhD, Hao Wu, PhD, Subramaniam Uthayathas, PhD, Arun Singh, PhD, Irene Marcilla, PhD, Maria R. Luquin, MD-PhD, Stella M. Papa, MD. Modeling Parkinson’s Disease in Monkeys for Translational Studies, a Critical Analysis. Experimental Neurology 2014; 256:133-143. Review
• Lisa F. Potts, Alex C. Cambon, Owen A. Ross, Rosa Rademakers, Dennis W. Dickson, Ryan J. Uitti, Zbigniew K. Wszolek, Shesh N. Rai, Matthew J. Farrer, David W. Hein, and Irene Litvan. Polymorphic Genes of Detoxification and Mitochondrial Enzymes and Risk for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. BMC Medical Genetics 2012; 13:16
• Lisa F. Potts, M.S.; Frederick A. Luzzio, Ph.D; Scott C Smith, M.S.; Michal Hetman, M.D., Ph.D; Pierre Champy, Pharm D., Ph.D.; Irene Litvan, M.D. Annonacin in Asimina triloba fruit: Implication for neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology 2012; 33: 53-58
• Abstracts and Presentations:
• Lisa Potts. Importance of the vestibular system in development, neurodivergence and concussion: A call to action for improved recognition and screening procedures. Kentucky Occuplational Therapy Association Conference. September 13, 2025.
• Lisa Potts. Interdisciplinary Concussion Management. Spalding University Interprofessional education neuroscience journal club. June 6, 2024.
• Lisa Potts. Multiple Modes of Mind Mapping. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference. Indiana University Southeast. September 24, 2021.
• Lisa Potts. Transcranial Stimulation to Enhance Neuroplasticity after Brain Injury. Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association Conference. September 13, 2019.
• Singh, L.F. Potts, M. Martinez, J.M. Yoo, E.S. Park, J. Zhang, E. Junn, M.M. Mouradian,S.M. Papa. Striatal overexpression of deltaFosB leads to the development of dyskinesias in parkinsonian non-human primates without chronic levodopa exposure. Society for Neuroscience 46th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
• M.J. Stenslik*, L.F. Potts*, J.W.H. Sonne, F. Pomerleau, W.A. Cass, A. Evans, E. Forman, A. Lemons, R. Weeks, D. T. Lundeen, P. Huettl, J. Turchan-Cholewo, Y. Ai, Z. Zhang, R.Grondin, D.M. Gash, G.A. Gerhardt, L.H. Bradley. Intranasal Delivery of DNSP-11 in Rodent and Non- Human Primate Models of Parkinson’s Disease. Society for Neuroscience 4th Annual Meeting November 16, 2014, Washington, DC.
• Lisa F. Potts, Mallory J. Stenslik, James W.H. Sonne, D. Taylor Lundeen, Peter F. Huettl, Francois Pomerleau, Eric Forman, Wayne A. Cass, Zhiming Zhang, Luke H. Bradley, Richard Grondin, Greg A. Gerhardt, Don M. Gash. Intranasal Administration of DNSP-11 in Animal Models of Parkinson’s Disease. University of Kentucky 7th Annual Postdoctoral Poster Session. March 19th, 2014.
• Mallory J. Stenslik, Lisa F. Potts, James W.H. Sonne, Francois Pomerleau, Luke H. Bradley, Wayne A. Cass, Greg A. Gerhardt, Don M. Gash. Intranasal Delivery of DNSP 11 in Normal and Parkinsonian Fischer 344 Rats. Bluegrass Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience 30th Annual Spring Neuroscience Day. March 27th, 2014.
• Lisa F. Potts, Arun Singh, Alex Greven, Bhagya Laxmi Dyavar Shetty, Jessica S. Whithear, Steven P. Braithwaite, Michael Voronkov, M. Maral Mouradian, Stella M. Papa. Targeting opioid receptors to reduce dyskinesia in a non-human primate model of Parkinson’s disease. Society for Neuroscience 43rd Annual Meeting. November 2013, San Diego, CA.
• Lisa F. Potts, Alex Greven, Bhagya Laxmi Dyavar Shetty, Jessica S. Whithear, Steven P. Braithwaite, Michael Voronkov, Stella M. Papa, M. Maral Mouradian. The synthetic opioid Nalbuphine reduces L-dopa-induced dyskinesia in non-human primates. Movement Disorders Society 17th International Congress, June 17th 2013.
• Lisa F. Potts, Subramaniam Uthayathas, Alex Greven, Bhagya Laxmi Dyavar Shetty, Jessica S. Whithear, M. Maral Mouradian, Stella M. Papa. A new, quantitative scale for evaluating L- dopa-induced dyskinesia in non-human primates. Movement Disorders Society 17th International Congress, June 17th 2013.
• Arun Singh, Lisa F. Potts, Klaus Mewes, Robert Gross, Mahlon R. DeLong, Stella Papa. The Discharge of Striatal Neurons Is Profoundly Altered in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease. American Neurological Association 137th Annual Meeting. October 9th, 2012, Boston, MA. Annals of Neurology 2012; 72:S16 S130-131
• Stella M. Papa. Arun Singh, Jess S. Whithear, Lisa F. Potts. Firing of striatal neurons in Parkinson’s disease patients. Society for Neuroscience 42nd Annual Meeting. October 15, 2012, New Orleans, LA.
• Lisa F. Potts, Subramaniam Uthayathas, Arun Singh, Bhagya Laxmi Dyavar Shetty, Jess S. Whithear, Stella M. Papa. A new scale for assessing levodopa-induced dyskinesias in the non- human primate model of Parkinson’s disease. Society for Neuroscience 42nd Annual Meeting. October 15, 2012, New Orleans, LA.
• Arun Singh, Lisa F. Potts, Kenneth J. Burke, Jessica S. Whithear, Bhagya Laxmi Dyavar Shetty, Stella M. Papa. NMDA Receptor Antagonism Prevents the Inversion of Dopamine Responses in Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons in Parkinsonian Monkeys. Society for Neuroscience 42nd Annual Meeting. October 15, 2012, New Orleans, LA.
• Subramaniam Uthayathas, Arun Singh, Lisa F. Potts, Stella M. Papa. Bursts and pauses of medium spiny neurons are modulated by dopamine in the parkinsonian monkey. Society for Neuroscience 42nd Annual Meeting. October 15, 2012, New Orleans, LA.
• Potts LF, Luzzio FA, Hetman M, Litvan I. Annonacin isolated from Asimina triloba fruit pulp is toxic to rat primary cortical neurons. American Chemical Society, Medicinal Chemistry, August 25, 2010. Boston, MA. Society for Neuroscience, November 17, 2010. San Diego, CA.
• Potts LF, Luzzio FA, Litvan I, Bogdanov B. Isolation of annonacin from the fruit pulp of Asimina triloba. American Chemical Society, March 21, 2010, San Francisco, CA.
• Potts LF, Ross O, Rademakers R, Dickson D, Wszolek Z, Farrer M, Hein D, Litvan I. Polymorphic genes of detoxification and mitochondrial enzymes as risk factors for progressive supranuclear palsy. Parkisnon’s Study Group 23rd Annual Symposium, October 11, 2009, Baltimore, MD. Research!Louisville, University of Louisville, October 13, 2009, Louisville, KY.
• Potts LF, Cunningham CR, Cambon A, Lees P, Adamson J, Cannon A, Hutton M, Uitti R, Wszolek Z, Juncos J, Litvan I. Pilot Case-Control Study of the Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for PSP. University of Louisville Neuroscience Day. April 12, 2007, Louisville, KY. American Neurological Association. October 8, 2007, Washington, DC. Society for Neuroscience 37th Annual Meeting. November 5, 2007, San Diego, CA.

Honors & Affiliations

• MIT Professional Education Applied Data Science Program Certificate. September 6, 2025
• Medical terminology specialization. Rice University. March 15, 2024.
• Scholarship