Jessica Hoffman, PhD

Assistant Professor, Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Education

B.A. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
M.A. University of Missouri – St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Ph.D. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Postdoctoral Fellow, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Research Interests

The Hoffman Lab investigates the molecular and circuit mechanisms that drive alcohol use disorder (AUD), with an emphasis on maladaptive plasticity and translational relevance. We study how synaptic changes in glutamatergic signaling—particularly those involving AMPA receptors and the auxiliary protein TARP γ-8—influence alcohol-related reinforcement, motivation, and memory. Our overarching goal is to identify drug-targetable pathways that can be leveraged in clinical development for treating AUD.

Ongoing Research and Available Projects/Mentorship

Students will gain hands-on training in behavioral neuroscience, fiber photometry, pharmacology, and molecular assays such as western blotting and rt-PCR. We emphasize a collaborative and curiosity-driven lab environment, with individualized mentorship and opportunities for authorship and conference presentations.

We take a multidisciplinary approach, combining genetic knockout models, pharmacological manipulations, and fiber photometry in behaving mice. Current projects include:

Elucidating how TARP γ-8 modulates dependence-escalated alcohol self-administration
Mapping neural circuits involved in cue-induced alcohol seeking
Investigating interactions between alcohol use and co-occurring conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury

Publications/Research Listings

P. Effinger, J. L. Hoffman, S. G. Quadir, C. S. Rollison, D. Toedt, M. Echeveste Sanchez, M. W. High, C. W. Hodge & M. A. Herman. "Sex-specific Increased Reactivity of the PVT and Prolonged PVT→CeA Circuit Engagement Following Psilocin Administration". March 20, 2026. Nature Communications. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

Faccidomo, S., Hoffman, J. L., Lee, J., Whindleton, C. M., Kim, M., Taylor, S. M., Kim, A., Richter, C., Seiters, H. L., Bryant, J. M., Chang, A., Smith, E. N., Agoglia, A. E., Tomita, S., Herman, M. A., & Hodge, C. W. (in press, June 19, 2025). Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory protein TARP γ-8 is a target of ethanol that regulates self-administration and relapse in mice. Psychopharmacology.

Faccidomo S, Saunders BL, May AM, Eastman VR, Kim M, Taylor SM, Hoffman JL, McElligott ZA, Hodge CW. Ethanol self-administration targets GluA2-containing AMPA receptor expression and synaptic activity in the nucleus accumbens in a manner that drives the positive reinforcing properties of the drug. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2025 Jun;242(6):1437-1452. doi: 10.1007/s00213-024-06740-4. Epub 2024 Dec 23. PMID: 39714485; PMCID: PMC12084143.

Hoffman JL, Faccidomo SP, Taylor SM, DeMiceli KG, May AM, Smith EN, Whindleton CM, Hodge CW. Negative modulation of AMPA receptors bound to transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory protein γ-8 blunts the positive reinforcing properties of alcohol and sucrose in a brain region-dependent manner in male mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2023 Jun;240(6):1261-1273. doi: 10.1007/s00213-023-06365-z. Epub 2023 Apr 13. PubMed PMID: 37055596; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10698495.

Faccidomo S, Cogan ES, Hon OJ, Hoffman JL, Saunders BL, Eastman VR, Kim M, Taylor SM, McElligott ZA, Hodge CW. Calcium-permeable AMPA receptor activity and GluA1 trafficking in the basolateral amygdala regulate operant alcohol self-administration. Addict Biol. 2021 Sep;26(5):e13049. doi: 10.1111/adb.13049. Epub 2021 May 5. PubMed PMID: 33955100; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8376775.

Hoffman JL, Faccidomo S, Saunders BL, Taylor SM, Kim M, Hodge CW. Inhibition of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) containing transmembrane AMPAR regulatory protein γ-8 with JNJ-55511118 shows preclinical efficacy in reducing chronic repetitive alcohol self-administration. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2021 Jul;45(7):1424-1435. doi: 10.1111/acer.14639. Epub 2021 Jun 22. PubMed PMID: 34086361; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8336716.

Hoffman J, Yu J, Kirstein C, Kindy MS. Combined Effects of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Alcohol Drinking on the Neuroinflammatory Cytokine Response and Cognitive Behavioral Outcomes. Brain Sci. 2020 Nov 19;10(11). doi: 10.3390/brainsci10110876. PubMed PMID: 33228251; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7699568.

Hoffman JL, Faccidomo S, Kim M, Taylor SM, Agoglia AE, May AM, Smith EN, Wong LC, Hodge CW. Alcohol drinking exacerbates neural and behavioral pathology in the 3xTg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2019;148:169-230. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2019.10.017. Epub 2019 Oct 23. Review. PubMed PMID: 31733664; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6939615.

Awards

PENDING

NIH

R00AA029754, NIAAA

Hoffman, Jessica (PI) Pathway to Independence Early Career Development Award

08/01/2025 - 07/31/2028

Pathological AMPA receptor adaptations governing dependence-escalated alcohol self-administration

PAST/FUNDED

K99AA029754, NIAAA

Hoffman, Jessica (PI) Pathway to Independence Early Career Development Award

05/01/2023 - 07/31/2025

Pathological AMPA receptor adaptations governing dependence-escalated alcohol self-administration

F32-AA028993, NIAAA

Hoffman, Jessica (PI) Kirschstein NRSA F32 fellowship

09/04/2020 - 09/03/2021

Novel mechanism of escalated alcohol self-administration