Steven F. Maier

Steven F. Maier is a Distinguished Research Professor in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Colorado, serving as Director of the Center for Neuroscience. His PhD was awarded by the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. His research focuses on neurochemistry and neuropharmacology of stress, drug addiction, and bidirectional brain-immune interactions. Key areas include psychoneuroimmunology, neuroinflammation, and the mechanisms underlying stress-induced cognitive and behavioral changes.

Research highlights include studies on SARS-CoV-2-induced neuroinflammation, the role of probiotics in mitigating CNS inflammation, and the impact of stress controllability on resilience. His work also explores exercise-mediated neuroprotection, TLR signaling in opioid-induced cognitive dysfunction, and Mycobacterium vaccae's effects on stress resilience. The Maier/Watkins Laboratory employs rodent models to investigate these topics.

Recent articles emphasize neuroinflammatory priming, the interplay between stress and immune signaling, and translational applications of immunomodulation. His studies often integrate behavioral, biochemical, and molecular approaches to dissect complex neurobiological pathways. Ongoing work addresses age-related neuroinflammatory sensitization and novel therapeutic strategies for chronic pain and cognitive decline.