Research

Dr. Jennifer Loftis is a Research Career Scientist at the VA Portland Health Care System and a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU. Her research investigates the neuroimmunological mechanisms contributing to mood disorders and cognitive impairments, discovering treatment targets and testing new interventions for improving neuropsychiatric function. Dr. Loftis’s translational research program uses rodent models and human research participants to characterize inflammatory pathways involved in cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly in the context of substance misuse and chronic viral infection. She identified a novel role for cytokines in the development of depressive symptoms in patients with chronic hepatitis C, and this finding has led to the testing of hypotheses regarding how circulating inflammatory cytokines affect central nervous system (CNS) functioning. Dr. Loftis’s long-term goal as a principal investigator is to expand our understanding of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms associated with neuropsychiatric impairments and CNS inflammation.

Teaching/Mentorship

Dr. Loftis is an active mentor and teacher in the community. At OHSU, she is a core faculty member for the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program and a mentor for the Partnership for Scientific Inquiry program. She also mentors for the VA Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center of Excellence (MIRECC) and VA Career Development Award program.

Administration/Service

Dr. Loftis balances her research and teaching responsibilities with administrative and community service. At OHSU, she serves on the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience Admissions Committee. At the VA Portland Health Care System, she is chair of the Subcommittee on Research Safety, member of the Research & Development Committee, and alternate member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.