Jonathan Lifshitz

Jonathan Lifshitz is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and a Health Science Specialist at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. He also holds an adjunct faculty role in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. His research focuses on traumatic brain injury (TBI), neuroinflammation, and cognitive rehabilitation, with a particular emphasis on social impact areas such as domestic violence and veterans' health. Dr. Lifshitz has trained at prominent institutions including UCLA, the University of Pennsylvania, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

His research spans cutting-edge topics like mitochondrial involvement in neuropathology, rod microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, and post-traumatic sleep as an injury indicator. He leads the Neurotrauma & Social Impact team, investigating TBI in domestic violence contexts and its transgenerational effects on neurodevelopment. Collaborations include the Phoenix VA, Maricopa County Collaborative on Concussions (MC3DV), and global initiatives like gNEAT (Neurological Epidemic in Abusive Trauma).

Dr. Lifshitz serves on federal grant review panels, the National Neurotrauma Society, and the International Neurotrauma Society’s scientific advisory board. His work integrates clinical observation, healthcare data analysis, and laboratory models to bridge translational gaps. Key contributions include defining the Fencing Response as a TBI indicator and developing molecular tools for microglia analysis.

Current projects include VR-based cognitive rehab, fecal microbiome tracking for disease monitoring, and transgenerational TBI effects. The team emphasizes belonging and adaptability, fostering a collaborative environment despite challenges like the pandemic’s mental health impact.