Dr. Chris T. Bolden is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Xavier University of Louisiana, where he combines his expertise in neuroscience, public health, and biomedical sciences to advance interdisciplinary education and research. His current work centers on glioblastoma microenvironments, blood-brain barrier modeling, and neuroimmune responses to injury and substance use, with a strong emphasis on translational research and community impact.

Dr. Bolden earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where his dissertation focused on protecting the blood-brain barrier and mitigating neuroinflammation through anti-methamphetamine gene therapy. He also holds a B.S. in Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi and is currently completing his MPH in Epidemiology and Population Health at LSU Health Sciences Center.

He has held research appointments at the University of Texas Health Science Center and the University of Iowa, contributing to several high-impact publications on brain injury models, gene therapy, and protein biomarker development. As a principal investigator, Dr. Bolden has received research support from the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network, the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, and the Mellon Foundation.

Beyond the lab, Dr. Bolden is a dedicated educator and mentor, with teaching experience spanning institutions such as the University of Houston-Downtown, Philander Smith College, and Southeast Arkansas College. He has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students, including those supported by ASPET and the GRADSTAR program, and has received national recognition through fellowships from the NIH, Society for Neuroscience, and the Southern Regional Education Board.

Dr. Bolden’s mission is to foster equitable research training environments while advancing scientific understanding of the brain, injury, and resilience. His work integrates molecular approaches with public health interventions to address disparities in mental health and neurological outcomes