Michael D. Rouse

Dr. Michael D. Rouse is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) School of Medicine and serves as Lead Scientist for the Surgical Critical Care Initiative (SC2i) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

His educational background includes a PhD from the University of South Carolina (2012), an M.S. from the University of Virginia (2005), and a B.S. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (2003).

Dr. Rouse's research centers on predictive and diagnostic biomarkers, assay development, immunology, and trauma/wound care with emphasis on combat-related injuries. He integrates multi-omics approaches (proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics) with machine learning to develop Clinical Decision Support Tools for precision medicine in military contexts, addressing drug discovery, immunotherapy, and bacteria-host interactions.

His publication record shows consistent focus on translational trauma research, particularly immune responses to blast injuries and bacteriophage-based solutions for antibiotic-resistant wound infections like A. baumannii, demonstrating bench-to-bedside progression.

With over $14 million in secured research funding, Dr. Rouse leads interdisciplinary teams across microbiology, immunology, biomaterial engineering, and computational biology to address critical military medical challenges requiring complex clinical decision-making.

His SC2i laboratory maintains active collaborations using multi-omics methodologies to develop biomarker-driven diagnostics for combat casualty care, with ongoing work in trauma-induced immune dysfunction and advanced wound therapeutics.