Jamie Maguire Appointed to Named Professorship

Jamie Maguire, a tenured associate professor of neuroscience at the Tufts University School of Medicine, has been appointed the first Kenneth and JoAnn G. Wellner Professor.

Maguire earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from George Washington University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA under the mentorship of Istvan Mody. She joined the School of Medicine’s Department of Neuroscience in 2010 as an assistant professor. Since arriving at Tufts, Maguire has taught various courses, trained students ranging from high school level to postdoctoral fellows, and served on twenty-five thesis advisory committees.

Her research focuses on the contribution of stress and GABAergic inhibition to the underlying neurobiology of numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, postpartum depression, major depression, anxiety disorders, and alcohol/substance use disorders.

Maguire’s work has led to the first potential treatment for postpartum depression, which is currently being reviewed by the FDA under a new drug application and is expected to be approved by the end of 2018. Her research, which has received significant media attention and sparked collaborations both within and outside of Tufts, has been supported by several foundation grants; three substantial Research Project Grants, or R01s, from the National Institutes of Health; and a sponsored research agreement with Sage Therapeutics.

In addition to her research, teaching, and service efforts, Maguire leads outreach efforts in the community, including coordinating volunteers for the Museum of Science’s annual Health Sciences Fair, and initiating programs such as the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Run Club. She is also an active committee member with the American Epilepsy Society and is on the editorial board for its publication Epilepsy Currents.

“I am delighted that the university has recognized Jamie’s accomplishments with this prestigious appointment,” said School of Medicine Dean Harris Berman, “and I know she will continue to make great contributions to our neuroscience research program as the Wellner Professor.”