Jennifer Mitchell

Jennifer Mitchell, PhD is a Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She serves as the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. Dr. Mitchell is affiliated with the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and is a member of both the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics and the UCSF Neuroscape Psychedelics Division.

Dr. Mitchell's research focuses on identifying and developing novel therapeutics for drug and alcohol abuse, PTSD, stress, anxiety, impulsivity, and depression. Her work examines the neural mechanisms responsible for these disorders through translational neuroscience research that bridges psychology, behavioral pharmacology, and neuroanatomy. She has made significant contributions to the field of psychedelic therapeutics, particularly in developing MDMA for PTSD treatment and psilocybin for demoralization and depression.

Dr. Mitchell's research portfolio demonstrates a strong emphasis on human and animal pharmacology, hypothesis-driven neuroscience, human proof-of-concept studies, translational models, and clinical trials. Her work on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD has reached phase 3 clinical trial status, representing a significant advancement in the field. Her recent publications show a consistent focus on psychedelic therapeutics, with particular attention to MDMA for PTSD treatment, but also extending to policy considerations, cost-effectiveness analyses, and the broader application of psychedelic compounds for various psychiatric conditions.

Dr. Mitchell has received multiple DoD grants for the Institute for Translational Neuroscience from 2007 through 2014, demonstrating sustained funding support for her research program. Her work has been published in high-impact journals including Nature Medicine, Neuropsychopharmacology, and JAMA Neurology.

As an advisor and mentor, Dr. Mitchell has contributed to the training of numerous researchers in the field of neuroscience and psychedelic therapeutics. Her laboratory work combines behavioral pharmacology with neuroimaging techniques to understand the mechanisms underlying addiction and stress-related disorders.