Steven Threlkeld

Steven Threlkeld is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Neuroscience Program Director at Regis College's School of Health Sciences. Since joining Regis in 2016, he has developed over a dozen neuroscience courses and established the department's major/minor programs while directing the Regis College Brain Sciences Association for community outreach.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Training: Research Associate in Pediatrics, Perinatal Brain Research Laboratory, Women & Infants’ Hospital/Brown University (2008-2010)
• Ph.D. & M.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Connecticut
• B.A. in Psychology, University of Portland

His research investigates anatomical and behavioral consequences of disrupted forebrain development from injury or teratogenic events, focusing on how behavioral experience or pharmacological intervention improves outcomes. Current projects examine inflammation in neonatal hypoxia/ischemia and mild traumatic brain injury, specifically anti-inflammatory treatments' effects on learning, auditory processing, and neuroanatomy using rodent models. He emphasizes undergraduate research integration, developing hippocampal slice culture techniques for introductory labs through recent MLSC funding.

Analysis of his 14 publications (2007-2022) reveals consistent focus on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury and traumatic brain injury, with Inter-alpha inhibitor proteins as a recurring therapeutic target. Key trends include developmental windows of plasticity, auditory processing deficits, and experience-dependent recovery mechanisms across juvenile and adolescent periods.

Research Funding:

• Principal Investigator: NIH R15HD077544 ($329,762; 2013-2017) & competitive renewal 2R15HD077544 ($275,000; 2018-2023) on neonatal brain injury; RI-INBRE Award ($267,690; 2011-2013)
• Co-investigator: NIH R01NS094440 ($130,350; 2016-2022) on TBI neuroprotection; MLSC Workforce Development Grant ($748,000; 2024-2025) for neuroscience equipment

Dr. Threlkeld maintains active collaborations with Brown University's Perinatal Brain Research Laboratory and Rhode Island Hospital's Neurotrauma and Brain Barriers Lab. His Regis laboratory trains undergraduates in neuron culture, behavioral testing, and neuroanatomical analysis, with recent MLSC funding enabling advanced brain tissue preparation techniques for student training.