Kristen Keefe

Kristen Keefe, PhD, holds multiple roles at the University of Utah: Assistant Vice President of UofU Health, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the College of Pharmacy, and Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology. She leads the Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience research program and oversees the IDEAS in Neuroscience post-baccalaureate training initiative. Her research focuses on basal ganglia structure/function, neurotransmitter regulation (glutamate, dopamine, serotonin), and the effects of drugs of abuse (e.g., methamphetamine) on neuronal function. She employs techniques like in vivo microdialysis, immunohistochemistry, and behavioral analysis to study neuroadaptive changes in disease and drug exposure.

Education: BS from Case Western Reserve University, MS and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, and postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

IDEAS in Neuroscience Program: A NIH-funded program she contributes to, offering postbaccalaureate training in neuroscience research, coursework, and conference participation. The program prepares students for PhD programs in neuroscience.

Labs and Collaborations: Directs the IDEAS in Neuroscience Lab and collaborates with faculty mentors in neurobiology, pharmacology, and toxicology. Her work addresses Parkinson's disease, addiction, and drug-induced neurotoxicity mechanisms.