Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion
UCSF Alumni

Jennifer Mitchell, PhD

Title(s)Professor, Neurology
UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address35 Medical Center Way, #410A
San Francisco CA 94143
Phone510-985-3921
PronounsAsk Me
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0002-7567-8129 Additional info
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Collapse Biography 
Collapse education and training
University of California, San FranciscoPh.D.1999 Graduate Division (Neuroscience)
Reed CollegeB.A.1992Department of Psychology
University of California, San Francisco, CA05/2021Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training

Collapse Overview 
Collapse overview
Jennifer Mitchell is a Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. Dr. Mitchell's current work is focused on identifying and developing novel therapeutics for drug and alcohol abuse, PTSD, stress, anxiety, impulsivity, and depression and on understanding the neural mechanisms responsible for these disorders. She conducts translational neuroscience research that rests at the intersection of psychology, behavioral pharmacology, and neuroanatomy.

Over the past few years, Dr. Mitchell has worked on the development of psychedelic therapeutics for a range of psychiatric conditions including MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for demoralization and depression. She is a member of the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics and the UCSF Neuroscape Psychedelics Division and has extensive and diverse experience with human and animal pharmacology, hypothesis-driven neuroscience, human proof-of-concept studies, translational models, and clinical trials.

DoD Awarded Grants:
W81XWH-14-2-0143 Institute for Translational Neuroscience 2013
W81XWH-13-2-0075 Institute for Translational Neuroscience 2012
W81XWH-12-2-0048 Institute for Translational Neuroscience 2011
W81XWH-11-2-0145 Institute for Translational Neuroscience 2010
W81XWH-07-1-0431 Human Functional Imaging of Central Nervous System Opioids in Alcohol Reward 2007
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Collapse Research 
Collapse research activities and funding
Metabotropic glutamate receptor function in cocaine
NIH F32DA014735Oct 1, 2001 - Jul 31, 2004
Role: Principal Investigator

Collapse ORNG Applications 
Collapse Clinical Trials

Collapse Bibliographic 
Collapse selected publications
Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
  1. Self-compassion mediates treatment effects in MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2025 Dec; 16(1):2485513. Agin-Liebes G, Zeifman RJ, Mitchell JM. PMID: 40331914; PMCID: PMC12064107.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:CTClinical Trials
  2. Psychedelic Regulation Beyond the Controlled Substances Act: A Three-Dimensional Framework for Characterizing Policy Options. Am J Psychiatry. 2025 Jan 01; 182(1):6-9. Mian MN, Dinh MT, Coker AR, Mitchell JM, Anderson BT. PMID: 39741445; PMCID: PMC11772052.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
  3. Author Correction: MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nat Med. 2024 Nov; 30(11):3382. Mitchell JM, Ot'alora G M, van der Kolk B, Shannon S, Bogenschutz M, Gelfand Y, Paleos C, Nicholas CR, Quevedo S, Balliett B, Hamilton S, Mithoefer M, Kleiman S, Parker-Guilbert K, Tzarfaty K, Harrison C, de Boer A, Doblin R, Yazar-Klosinski B, MAPP2 Study Collaborator Group. PMID: 39375459; PMCID: PMC11564115.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
  4. Identification of group differences in predictive anticipatory biasing of pain during uncertainty: preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. Pain. 2024 Aug 01; 165(8):1735-1747. Strigo IA, Kadlec M, Mitchell JM, Simmons AN. PMID: 38501988; PMCID: PMC11247452.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  5. Psychedelics in Addiction Treatment-Navigating a Sociopolitical Rift. JAMA Neurol. 2024 Jan 16. Mehtani NJ, Anderson BT, Mitchell JM. PMID: 38227310.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
  6. MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nat Med. 2023 10; 29(10):2473-2480. Mitchell JM, Ot'alora G M, van der Kolk B, Shannon S, Bogenschutz M, Gelfand Y, Paleos C, Nicholas CR, Quevedo S, Balliett B, Hamilton S, Mithoefer M, Kleiman S, Parker-Guilbert K, Tzarfaty K, Harrison C, de Boer A, Doblin R, Yazar-Klosinski B, MAPP2 Study Collaborator Group. PMID: 37709999; PMCID: PMC10579091.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 87     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
  7. Psychedelic therapies reconsidered: compounds, clinical indications, and cautious optimism. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024 Jan; 49(1):96-103. Mitchell JM, Anderson BT. PMID: 37479859; PMCID: PMC10700471.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    
  8. MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe PTSD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2023 Jul; 21(3):315-328. Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, Harrison C, Kleiman S, Parker-Guilbert K, Ot'alora G M, Garas W, Paleos C, Gorman I, Nicholas C, Mithoefer M, Carlin S, Poulter B, Mithoefer A, Quevedo S, Wells G, Klaire SS, van der Kolk B, Tzarfaty K, Amiaz R, Worthy R, Shannon S, Woolley JD, Marta C, Gelfand Y, Hapke E, Amar S, Wallach Y, Brown R, Hamilton S, Wang JB, Coker A, Matthews R, de Boer A, Yazar-Klosinski B, Emerson A, Doblin R. PMID: 37404971; PMCID: PMC10316215.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 20  
  9. Commentary: Evidence-Informed Recommendation to Achieve Approximate Parity in the Allowed Number of Doses for Common Psychedelics. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2024 Apr-Jun; 56(2):206-210. Thomas KL, Jesse R, Mehtani NJ, Mitchell JM, Anderson BT. PMID: 37061961.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  10. Learning from addiction: Craving of prescription opioids in chronic pain sufferers. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022 11; 142:104904. Strigo IA, Murphy E, Mitchell JM, Spadoni AD. PMID: 36202255; PMCID: PMC10917419.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  11. Correction: Updated cost-effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in the United States: Findings from a phase 3 trial. PLoS One. 2022; 17(6):e0269623. Marseille E, Mitchell JM, Kahn JG. PMID: 35653357; PMCID: PMC9162307.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
  12. Updated cost-effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in the United States: Findings from a phase 3 trial. PLoS One. 2022; 17(2):e0263252. Marseille E, Mitchell JM, Kahn JG. PMID: 35213554; PMCID: PMC8880875.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  13. The effects of MDMA-assisted therapy on alcohol and substance use in a phase 3 trial for treatment of severe PTSD. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 04 01; 233:109356. Nicholas CR, Wang JB, Coker A, Mitchell JM, Klaire SS, Yazar-Klosinski B, Emerson A, Brown RT, Doblin R. PMID: 35286849; PMCID: PMC9750500.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
  14. A Psychedelic for Trauma: MDMA, recreationally known as Ecstasy or Molly, gained high marks in a clinical trial for PTSD. Sci Am. 2022 02 01; 326(2):56. Mitchell J. PMID: 39016658.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
  15. Reply to: Caution at psychiatry's psychedelic frontier and Challenges with benchmarking of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Nat Med. 2021 10; 27(10):1691-1692. Mitchell J, Coker A, Yazar-Klosinski B. PMID: 34635856.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    
  16. MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nat Med. 2021 06; 27(6):1025-1033. Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, Harrison C, Kleiman S, Parker-Guilbert K, Ot'alora G M, Garas W, Paleos C, Gorman I, Nicholas C, Mithoefer M, Carlin S, Poulter B, Mithoefer A, Quevedo S, Wells G, Klaire SS, van der Kolk B, Tzarfaty K, Amiaz R, Worthy R, Shannon S, Woolley JD, Marta C, Gelfand Y, Hapke E, Amar S, Wallach Y, Brown R, Hamilton S, Wang JB, Coker A, Matthews R, de Boer A, Yazar-Klosinski B, Emerson A, Doblin R. PMID: 33972795; PMCID: PMC8205851.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 274     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
  17. The catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor tolcapone modulates alcohol consumption and impulsive choice in alcohol use disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020 Oct; 237(10):3139-3148. Coker AR, Weinstein DN, Vega TA, Miller CS, Kayser AS, Mitchell JM. PMID: 32617646; PMCID: PMC7529919.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  18. Enhancing prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD among veterans with oxytocin: Design of a multisite randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2020 08; 95:106074. Flanagan JC, Mitchell JM, Baker NL, Woolley J, Wangelin B, Back SE, McQuaid JR, Neylan TC, Wolfe WR, Brady KT. PMID: 32561468; PMCID: PMC7484278.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
  19. Augmenting Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Co-Occurring Conditions with Oxytocin. Curr Treat Options Psychiatry. 2019 Jun; 6(2):132-142. Flanagan JC, Mitchell JM. PMID: 31763133; PMCID: PMC6874414.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5  
  20. Differentiation of primate primordial germ cell-like cells following transplantation into the adult gonadal niche. Nat Commun. 2018 12 17; 9(1):5339. Sosa E, Chen D, Rojas EJ, Hennebold JD, Peters KA, Wu Z, Lam TN, Mitchell JM, Sukhwani M, Tailor RC, Meistrich ML, Orwig KE, Shetty G, Clark AT. PMID: 30559363; PMCID: PMC6297357.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 26     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
  21. Dopamine, time perception, and future time perspective. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018 Oct; 235(10):2783-2793. Mitchell JM, Weinstein D, Vega T, Kayser AS. PMID: 30027496; PMCID: PMC6182591.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  22. Right inferior frontal cortex activity correlates with tolcapone responsivity in problem and pathological gamblers. Neuroimage Clin. 2017; 13:339-348. Kayser AS, Vega T, Weinstein D, Peters J, Mitchell JM. PMID: 28066708; PMCID: PMC5200917.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  23. Intranasal Oxytocin Selectively Modulates Social Perception, Craving, and Approach Behavior in Subjects With Alcohol Use Disorder. J Addict Med. 2016 May-Jun; 10(3):182-9. Mitchell JM, Arcuni PA, Weinstein D, Woolley JD. PMID: 27159342.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 42     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  24. Dopamine, locus of control, and the exploration-exploitation tradeoff. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2015 Jan; 40(2):454-62. Kayser AS, Mitchell JM, Weinstein D, Frank MJ. PMID: 25074639; PMCID: PMC4443960.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 23     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  25. Intra-VTA deltorphin, but not DPDPE, induces place preference in ethanol-drinking rats: distinct DOR-1 and DOR-2 mechanisms control ethanol consumption and reward. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2014 Jan; 38(1):195-203. Mitchell JM, Margolis EB, Coker AR, Allen DC, Fields HL. PMID: 24033469.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Animals
  26. Catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype modulates opioid release in decision circuitry. Clin Transl Sci. 2013 Oct; 6(5):400-3. Mitchell JM, O'Neil JP, Jagust WJ, Fields HL. PMID: 24127930; PMCID: PMC5350883.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
  27. Dopamine, corticostriatal connectivity, and intertemporal choice. J Neurosci. 2012 Jul 04; 32(27):9402-9. Kayser AS, Allen DC, Navarro-Cebrian A, Mitchell JM, Fields HL. PMID: 22764248; PMCID: PMC6622221.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 68     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  28. Alcohol self-administration, anxiety, and cortisol levels predict changes in delta opioid receptor function in the ventral tegmental area. Behav Neurosci. 2012 Aug; 126(4):515-22. Mitchell JM, Margolis EB, Coker AR, Fields HL. PMID: 22708955; PMCID: PMC3669671.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Animals
  29. Varenicline decreases alcohol consumption in heavy-drinking smokers. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012 Oct; 223(3):299-306. Mitchell JM, Teague CH, Kayser AS, Bartlett SE, Fields HL. PMID: 22547331; PMCID: PMC3438402.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 83     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  30. The anticonvulsant levetiracetam potentiates alcohol consumption in non-treatment seeking alcohol abusers. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2012 Apr; 32(2):269-72. Mitchell JM, Grossman LE, Coker AR, Messing RO. PMID: 22367657.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  31. Alcohol consumption induces endogenous opioid release in the human orbitofrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Sci Transl Med. 2012 Jan 11; 4(116):116ra6. Mitchell JM, O'Neil JP, Janabi M, Marks SM, Jagust WJ, Fields HL. PMID: 22238334.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 91     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
  32. A novel opioid receptor-mediated enhancement of GABAA receptor function induced by stress in ventral tegmental area neurons. J Physiol. 2011 Sep 01; 589(17):4229-42. Margolis EB, Mitchell JM, Hjelmstad GO, Fields HL. PMID: 21690191; PMCID: PMC3180580.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
  33. Hematopoietic radiation syndrome in the Gottingen minipig. Radiat Res. 2011 Jul; 176(1):89-101. Moroni M, Coolbaugh TV, Lombardini E, Mitchell JM, Moccia KD, Shelton LJ, Nagy V, Whitnall MH. PMID: 21520996.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsPHPublic Health
  34. Vascular access port implantation and serial blood sampling in a Gottingen minipig (Sus scrofa domestica) model of acute radiation injury. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2011 Jan; 50(1):65-72. Moroni M, Coolbaugh TV, Mitchell JM, Lombardini E, Moccia KD, Shelton LJ, Nagy V, Whitnall MH. PMID: 21333166; PMCID: PMC3035406.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsPHPublic Health
  35. Now or Later? An fMRI study of the effects of endogenous opioid blockade on a decision-making network. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2009 Sep; 93(3):291-9. Boettiger CA, Kelley EA, Mitchell JM, D'Esposito M, Fields HL. PMID: 19258022; PMCID: PMC2729462.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 29     Fields:    
  36. Delta-opioid receptor expression in the ventral tegmental area protects against elevated alcohol consumption. J Neurosci. 2008 Nov 26; 28(48):12672-81. Margolis EB, Fields HL, Hjelmstad GO, Mitchell JM. PMID: 19036960; PMCID: PMC6671807.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 53     Fields:    Translation:Animals
  37. Naltrexone aversion and treatment efficacy are greatest in humans and rats that actively consume high levels of alcohol. Neurobiol Dis. 2009 Jan; 33(1):72-80. Mitchell JM, Bergren LJ, Chen KS, Rowbotham MC, Fields HL. PMID: 18955144.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
  38. Midbrain dopamine neurons: projection target determines action potential duration and dopamine D(2) receptor inhibition. J Neurosci. 2008 Sep 03; 28(36):8908-13. Margolis EB, Mitchell JM, Ishikawa J, Hjelmstad GO, Fields HL. PMID: 18768684; PMCID: PMC6670880.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 106     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
  39. Immediate reward bias in humans: fronto-parietal networks and a role for the catechol-O-methyltransferase 158(Val/Val) genotype. J Neurosci. 2007 Dec 26; 27(52):14383-91. Boettiger CA, Mitchell JM, Tavares VC, Robertson M, Joslyn G, D'Esposito M, Fields HL. PMID: 18160646; PMCID: PMC6673461.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 129     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  40. The Asp40 mu-opioid receptor allele does not predict naltrexone treatment efficacy in heavy drinkers. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2007 Feb; 27(1):112-5. Mitchell JM, Fields HL, White RL, Meadoff TM, Joslyn G, Rowbotham MC. PMID: 17224736.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  41. Cholecystokinin is necessary for the expression of morphine conditioned place preference. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2006 Dec; 85(4):787-95. Mitchell JM, Bergren LJ, Chen KS, Fields HL. PMID: 17196636.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Animals
  42. Endogenous opioid blockade and impulsive responding in alcoholics and healthy controls. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007 Feb; 32(2):439-49. Mitchell JM, Tavares VC, Fields HL, D'Esposito M, Boettiger CA. PMID: 17047667.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 42     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
  43. Impulsive responding in alcoholics. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005 Dec; 29(12):2158-69. Mitchell JM, Fields HL, D'Esposito M, Boettiger CA. PMID: 16385186.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 126     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  44. A single injection of the kappa opioid antagonist norbinaltorphimine increases ethanol consumption in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 Nov; 182(3):384-92. Mitchell JM, Liang MT, Fields HL. PMID: 16001119.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 39     Fields:    Translation:Animals
  45. Locomotor activity predicts acquisition of self-administration behavior but not cocaine intake. Behav Neurosci. 2005 Apr; 119(2):464-72. Mitchell JM, Cunningham CL, Mark GP. PMID: 15839792; PMCID: PMC4327862.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    
  46. Cocaine self-administration selectively decreases noradrenergic regulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated inhibition in dopamine neurons. J Neurosci. 2004 Jun 02; 24(22):5209-15. Paladini CA, Mitchell JM, Williams JT, Mark GP. PMID: 15175391; PMCID: PMC6729186.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
  47. Modulation of anxiety-like behavior and morphine dependence in CREB-deficient mice. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004 Jun; 29(6):1122-33. Valverde O, Mantamadiotis T, Torrecilla M, Ugedo L, Pineda J, Bleckmann S, Gass P, Kretz O, Mitchell JM, Schütz G, Maldonado R. PMID: 15029152.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 49     Fields:    Translation:Animals
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