Melanie B. Elliott

Melanie B. Elliott is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Thomas Jefferson University, serving as Director of the Physiology Thread for JeffMD (Sidney Kimmel Medical College) and Director of the Masters Program in Neuroscience.

Her research centers on traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly mild-moderate TBI and concussion, investigating pathophysiological mechanisms driving post-concussion headache, sleep disruption, anxiety, and cognitive deficits. She specializes in the trigeminal pain pathway and endocannabinoid system modulation, with a focus on CB2 receptor-mediated anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Her work explores therapeutic strategies targeting endogenous cannabinoid ligands, receptors, and enzymes to alleviate neurological symptoms without psychotropic side effects.

Dr. Elliott leads a neuroscience research laboratory studying mitochondrial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier disruption, and neuroimmune responses in TBI models, contributing to translational approaches for post-traumatic headache and pain management.