معرفی
Coleen M. Atkins, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis within the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She also serves as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and is a Research Health Scientist at the Bruce W. Carter Miami VA Healthcare System. Dr. Atkins earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Baylor College of Medicine, followed by postdoctoral training at Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Miami.
Her research focuses on:
- Developing therapeutics for cognitive dysfunction after traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Investigating synaptic loss in Alzheimer's disease models post-TBI
- Examining how chronic stress impacts recovery from mild TBI
- Targeting neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity mechanisms
Her publications (2015-2025) primarily explore neurotrauma therapeutics, emphasizing PDE4 inhibitors, neurosteroids, receptor modulation, and stress-TBI interactions. Research consistently addresses inflammation pathways, cognitive recovery, and sex-dependent neurological outcomes.
Awards & Honors:
- Brain Injury Association of America Young Investigator Award (2013)
- Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Miami
- N.L. Tartar Research Fellowship
- Baylor College of Medicine Valedictorian
Dr. Atkins leads multiple NIH/VA-funded projects, including a VA Rehabilitation R&D grant studying chronic stress and TBI. She directs a laboratory investigating:
- Therapies to reduce post-TBI inflammation
- Neural circuitry remodeling
- Stress-concussion interactions
