Benedetta Leuner

Dr. Benedetta Leuner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University. Her research focuses on the female brain, particularly maternal brain plasticity and postpartum mental health. She investigates neuroimmune interactions during pregnancy and postpartum, the impact of stress and opioids on maternal behavior, and hormonal contraceptives' effects on adolescent brain development.

Education:

• PhD in Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 2005
• MS in Biopsychology, Rutgers University, 2003
• BA in Behavioral Neuroscience, Lehigh University, 1997

Research Interests:

• Neuroimmune changes in the maternal brain
• Postpartum depression mechanisms
• Effects of opioids and hormonal contraceptives
• Role of microglia in maternal care

Recent Article Trends: Her work emphasizes translational models linking neuroimmune systems to maternal behavior and mental health. Recent studies explore opioid exposure in pregnancy, microglia depletion effects, and hormonal contraceptive impacts on adolescent brain regions like the prefrontal cortex.

Awards:

• 2020 Fred Brown Research Award
• NARSAD Young Investigator Award (2008)
• Nominee for Distinguished Undergraduate Mentor Award (2015, 2016)

Advising & Grants: Supervises graduate students (e.g., Rachel Gilfarb, Courtney Dye) and undergraduates. Funded by NIH, NSF, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, and OSU initiatives. Collaborates with Dr. Katy Lenz on hormonal contraceptive studies.

Labs & Teams: Directs the Leuner Lab, focusing on preclinical studies of female brain health. Collaborations include the Lenz Lab and institutions like the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD.