Neurosurgery, Brain and Spine

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Center of Excellence for Aging & Brain Repair

* (Neurosurgery CEABR Profile)

Theresa Currier Thomas

Theresa Currier Thomas

Contact Info

Education

  • Ph.D., Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky, 2008
  • B.S., Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Kentucky, 1999

Academic Philosophy

"My goal is to foster an inspired community characterized by respect, trust, and integrity, promoting high-quality education, high-impact research, and innovation. Through rigorous training/education, we can equip the next generation of scientists and clinicians with critical thinking skills, technical expertise, and ethical foundations necessary for significant and lasting impacts on patient care."

Interdisciplinary and Emerging Signature Programs

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomedical Engineering & Nanomedicine
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Metabolic Regulation and Disorders
  • Neurodegenerative Disease
  • Other

Research Interests

  • Dr. Currier Thomas's research focuses on the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). She integrates preclinical models with translational approaches to uncover mechanisms that drive late-onset and chronic morbidity and to develop novel interventions or optimize therapeutic strategies for recovery. Her work examines how chronic interactions among neurons, glia, and the vasculature shape circuit-level dysfunction. She is increasingly interested in the feedback between brain pathology and systemic health, including the microbiome, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic systems. Current projects investigate how neuroendocrine dysregulation alters rehabilitation efficacy, test early interventions as prophylaxis against late-onset symptoms, and define pathological features of a TBI-induced accelerated aging phenotype, using sex as a biological variable. The ultimate goal is to generate basic science evidence on mechanisms driving chronic morbidity and to determine whether interventions can not only resolve persistent pathology but also reduce systemic health risks.

Awards/Honors

  • Secretary of the National Neurotrauma Society (National Neurotrauma Society - 2025)
  • 1st Annual Rosalind Franklin Award (National Neurotrauma Society - 2021)
  • Director of Training, Education, and Mentorship (TEAM) (National Neurotrauma Society. - 2020)
  • Michael Goldberger Award of Excellence (1st place) (30th National Neurotrauma Society Symposium - Phoenix, AZ - 2012)

Memberships

  • Member (National Neurotrauma Society, 2012 - Present)
  • Member (Society for Neuroscience, 2012 - Present)
  • Member (American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair, 2012 - Present)
  • Member (Pan American Neuroendocrine Society, 2012 - Present)

Recent Publications

  • T. Curry-Koski, L. Curtin, M. Esfandiarei*, T. Currier Thomas* Cerebral Microvascular Density, Permeability of the Blood-Brain Barrier, and Neuroinflammatory Responses Indicate Early Aging Characteristics in a Marfan Syndrome Mouse Model. Front Physiol. Jan 31;15:1457034(PMID: 39959812) , 2025.
  • Z. Sabetta, G. Krishna, T. Curry-Kosky, Mackenzie Lopez, P.D. Adelson, T. Currier Thomas Sex-Dependent Temporal Changes in Astrocyte-Vessel Interactions Following Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats. Front Physiol. Sep 25;15:1469073(PMID: 39387100) , 2024.
  • T. B. Jones, T. Mackey, A. Juba, K. Amin, A. Atyam, M. McDole, J. Yancy, T. Currier Thomas*, L. M. Buhlman*. Traumatic brain injury in Drosophila melanogaster alters reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in a sex-dependent manner. Exp Neurol. Feb;372:114621.(PMID: 38029809) , 2024.
  • E. Abbasloo, M. Khaksari, M. Sanjari, F. Kobeissy, T. Currier Thomas. Carvacrol decreases blood–brain barrier permeability post-diffuse traumatic brain injury in rats. Sci Rep. 4;13(1):14546.(PMID: 37666857) , 2023.
  • E. Abbasloo, M. K. Hadad, S. Amiresmaili, S. S. Pour, M. Sanjari, T. Currier Thomas Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad essential oil and pure carvacrol attenuate TBI-induced inflammation and apoptosis via NF-κB and caspase-3 regulation in the male rat brain. Sci Rep. 23;13(1):4780(PMID: 36959464) , 2023.
  • T. Curry, M. Esfandiarei, T. Currier Thomas, R.G. Rastogi Case Report: Lingering post-concussive symptoms in a pediatric patient with presumed Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Frontiers in Pediatrics. Nov 4;10:937223(PMID: 36405827) , 2022.
  • T. Currier Thomas, C.E. Bromberg, G. Krishna Female sex in experimental traumatic brain injury research: Forging a path forward Neural Regen Res. 2022 Mar;17(3):550-552(Available Online) : PMID: 34380885, 2017.
  • A.S. Sukhina, O.J. Oatman, K.S. Lewis, T. Currier Thomas, D. Brown, R.K. Rowe, P.D. Adelson, J. Lifshitz Failure to thrive in a 15 month-old with a history of head trauma Pediatr Rev. 2021 Jan; 42(Suppl 1): S55-S59(PMID: 33386363) , 2021.
  • R.K. Rowe, B. Ortiz, T. Currier Thomas Mild and moderate traumatic brain injury and repeated stress affect corticosterone in the rat Neurotrauma Reports. 2020 Oct. 113-124(PMCID: PMC8240883) : PMID: 34223536, 2020.