Michelle H. Theus

Michelle H. Theus is a Professor of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology at the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. She serves as Director of the Neurotrauma Research Program and co-director of the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program.

• Education: PhD in Neuropathology and Laboratory Medicine (2006), Medical University of South Carolina; Board Certifications in Clinical Laboratory Science and Histocompatibility

Research Focus: Her work investigates Eph receptor signaling in neurovascular and neuroimmune responses after brain injury. Key areas include cerebrovascular remodeling, neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, and therapeutic peptide development for post-traumatic epilepsy and stroke recovery.

Publications (2022-2025) emphasize

• single-cell transcriptomics of immune responses
• STING signaling in microglia
• EphA4’s role in efferocytosis
• collateral vessel mechanisms in stroke

Her lab employs murine models and advanced imaging to study neurovascular integrity and innate immunity modulation.

Grant Funding includes multiple NIH R01 awards (2019-2026) targeting age-dependent immunity in TBI, inflammation suppression, and stroke-related arteriogenesis.