Theresa Currier Thomas Ocala Evening Lecture

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), including common forms of closed head injury such as concussion, is often assumed to be a short-term condition. Yet many individuals experience symptoms that persist or even emerge months to years later, including changes in mood, stress sensitivity, sleep, and cognitive function. These effects are frequently difficult to explain using standard clinical imaging or tests.

This lecture will provide an overview of current understanding of diffuse traumatic brain injury, and approaches used in preclinical models to study these injuries will be described to illustrate how changes in neural function can be assessed over time.

By connecting laboratory discoveries to real-world symptoms, this lecture aims to explain why individuals may not feel “back to normal” despite appearing physically recovered—and how a deeper understanding of brain function may lead to more effective approaches for improving long-term brain health and resilience.

Dr. Theresa Currier Thomas is an Associate Professor in the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair within the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. She received her B.S. in Agricultural Biotechnology from the University of Kentucky, followed by a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology and postdoctoral training in brain injury research at the University of Kentucky Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center.

Prior to moving to Florida, Dr. Currier Thomas directed the Translational Neurotrauma and Neurochemistry Research Laboratory and held faculty and research appointments at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Her research examines the biological processes that drive late-onset and persistent symptoms after traumatic brain injury, with a focus on identifying early interventions to reduce long-term severity. She also studies how neuroendocrine dysfunction, particularly disruption of the stress response, influences recovery and rehabilitation outcomes.

In addition to her research, Dr. Currier Thomas serves on the executive committee of the National Neurotrauma Society and leads initiatives to support training and career development in neurotrauma research.

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