معرفی
Amanda Kentner, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) in the School of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding how early developmental exposures to infection and stress impact long-term brain and behavioral functioning, with particular emphasis on sex differences and potential protective interventions.
Dr. Kentner received her academic training at the University of Ottawa, Canada:
- PhD in Experimental Psychology, University of Ottawa
- BA in Psychology, University of Ottawa
Dr. Kentner directs the ENRICHED Neurodevelopmental Brain & Behavior Laboratory (Environmental Neuroprotection from Immune Challenges in Early Development), which examines how exposure to infection during early development imparts long-term disruptions in social and cognitive functioning. Her laboratory investigates factors that offer protective or rehabilitative potential against early-life adversity, including environmental enrichment, maternal care, and pharmacological agents. Using rodent models, her team assesses behavioral performance through various translational tasks including sociability metrics, prepulse inhibition, and touchscreen technology, while evaluating neuroendocrine and neurobiological correlates using ELISA, western blotting, immunochemistry, and qPCR. Her research has significant implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders and developing intervention strategies.
Analysis of Dr. Kentner's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of high-impact research focused on maternal immune activation models and their long-term consequences. Her work demonstrates how environmental enrichment can serve as a protective factor against early life adversity across multiple domains including behavior, neuroendocrine function, and neural circuitry. Her research spans neuroscience, immunology, developmental psychology, and endocrinology, with a strong emphasis on methodological rigor, reproducibility, and sex-specific analyses that have become increasingly important in the field.
Dr. Kentner has received numerous awards and honors recognizing both her research excellence and mentorship:
- 2022 MCPHS University-Wide Faculty Scholarship Award 'Discovery' for Best Published Research Paper
- 2018 Gail P. and Edward A. Bucher Trustees' Award for Excellence in Student-Faculty Research Collaboration
- Multiple Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Faculty Mentor Awards (2016, 2014, 2013)
- National Institute of Mental Health R15 AREA grants (2022, 2018)
Dr. Kentner is an accomplished mentor who has received multiple MCPHS Excellence in Research Mentorship awards. Her laboratory is supported by continuous funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, including a current R15 AREA grant. She actively involves undergraduate and graduate students in her research program, providing hands-on training in behavioral neuroscience techniques. Beyond her institutional responsibilities, Dr. Kentner serves in leadership roles including as a Member of the Board of Directors of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS), Member of the Animal Research Committee of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), and Editorial Board Member of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
The ENRICHED Neurodevelopmental Brain & Behavior Laboratory maintains active collaborations with researchers across multiple institutions and continues to evolve its methodological approaches to include advanced techniques for evaluating neural circuit adaptations. Dr. Kentner's work has positioned her as a leader in the field of developmental neuroimmunology, with particular expertise in translating findings from animal models to potential clinical applications for neurodevelopmental disorders.
