Kimbra Kenney

Kimbra Kenney, MD, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) School of Medicine. Her research focuses on traumatic brain injury (TBI), prion diseases, and biomarkers of neurological disorders, with a particular emphasis on military and veteran populations. She has held roles including Clinical Associate at the NIH, Medical Officer, and clinical researcher in programs such as the Comprehensive Neuroscience Program (CNP) and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). Dr. Kenney's work spans neuroimaging, cerebrovascular function, and neurodegenerative mechanisms in TBI, with a focus on translational research and clinical outcomes.

Education

• B.A., The Johns Hopkins University (1980)
• M.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine (1984)
• Internship: Internal Medicine, Harbor-UCLA (1985)
• Residency: Neurology, Oregon Health Sciences University (1988)
• Fellowship: Neuropathology, University of Washington (1989)

Research Interests

Dr. Kenney's work addresses biomarkers of TBI, prion disease pathogenesis, and cerebrovascular dysfunction. She investigates links between TBI and chronic conditions such as dementia, headaches, and neurological inflammation. Her studies employ neuroimaging (e.g., MRI, fNIRS), blood-based biomarkers (e.g., neurofilament light, GFAP), and exosomal microRNA analysis to assess injury mechanisms and treatment efficacy.

Grants & Collaboration

Her research has been supported through collaborations with the NIH, Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC), and the ENIGMA Military Brain Injury Working Group. Key projects include the LIMBIC-CENC study on TBI epidemiology and the NICoE’s clinical trials for cerebrovascular therapies.

Labs & Teams

Dr. Kenney contributes to interdisciplinary teams at USUHS, NICoE, and the Department of Neurology, focusing on military-relevant neurological disorders and translational research initiatives.