Jennifer L. Kruse, MD

Dr. Kruse’s research examines how immune and metabolic processes contribute to variability in mood disorders, with a particular focus on bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, she integrates inflammatory profiling, metabolic and endocrine assessment, mitochondrial function, epigenetic markers of biological aging, and neuroimaging to investigate mechanisms underlying illness course, cognitive outcomes, and treatment response. Her work aims to inform biologically grounded, precision approaches to the care of individuals with mood disorders.

 Link to Dr. Kruse's PubMed publications ›

Google Scholar Profile

1. Dellink A, Vanderhaegen G, Coppens V, Ryan KM, McLoughlin DM, Kruse JL, van Exel E, van Diermen L, Belge JB, Malmei Aarsland TI, Morrens M. Inflammatory markers associated with electroconvulsive therapy response in patients with depression: A meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2025 Feb 10;106060.
2. Brooks JO 3rd, Kruse JL, Kubicki A, Hellemann G, Espinoza RT, Irwin MR, Narr KL. Structural brain plasticity and inflammation are independently related to changes in depressive symptoms six months after an index ECT course. Psychol Med. 2023 Jan 5;1–9.
3. Kruse JL, Boyle CC, Olmstead R, Breen EC, Tye SJ, Eisenberger NI, Irwin MR. Interleukin-8 and depressive responses to an inflammatory challenge: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2022 Jul 24;12(1):12627.
4. Irwin MR, Olmstead R, Kruse JL, Breen EC, Haque R.
5. Association of interleukin-8 and risk of incident and recurrent depression in long-term breast cancer survivors. Brain Behav Immun. 2022 Jul 5;105:131–138.
6. Andreou B, Reid B, Lyall AE, Cetin-Karayumak S, Kubicki A, Espinoza R, Kruse JL, Narr KL, Kubicki M.
7. Longitudinal trajectory of response to electroconvulsive therapy associated with transient immune response and white matter alteration post-stimulation. Transl Psychiatry. 2022 May 7;12(1):191.
8. Yates C, Kruse JL, Price J, Robertson AB, Tye SJ.
9. Modulating neuroplasticity: Lessons learned from antidepressants and emerging novel therapeutics. Curr Treat Options Psychiatry. 2021 Oct;8(4):229–257.
10. Kruse JL, Olmstead R, Hellemann G, Breen EC, Tye SJ, Brooks JO, Wade B, Congdon E, Espinoza R, Narr KL, Irwin MR. Interleukin-8 and lower severity of depression in females, but not males, with treatment-resistant depression. J Psychiatr Res. 2021 Aug;140:350–356.

• UCLA Researchers Participate in Key Sessions at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. UCLA Health Newsroom, May 2025;  Dr. Kruse was featured for her work on inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in mood disorders, including how these pathways influence depression treatment outcomes. Read article ›
• Bold Minds, Bright Futures: Celebrating Women in Neuroscience – BD² News, Feb 2025; Dr. Kruse was recognized as a woman leader in neuroscience contributing to collaborative advances in mood disorder research. Read article ›
• Some Psychiatrists Prescribe Ozempic to Counter Weight Gain from Mental Health Drugs. The New York Times, Nov 2023; Dr. Kruse was interviewed about the use of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic in psychiatric practice to address weight gain associated with some treatment options for mental health conditions. Read article ›
• Comprehensive New Study Aims to Better Understand Bipolar Disorder. UCLA Health News, Oct 2023; Highlights Dr. Kruse’s role as UCLA site principal investigator for a large national effort funded by BD² to study bipolar disorder using integrated clinical, biological, and digital data. Read article ›
• Inflammation May Predict Effectiveness of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression. UCLA Newsroom, March 2018; Dr. Kruse led research showing that inflammation levels may help determine which patients with major depression are most likely to benefit from ECT. Read article ›

• DGSOM-Anderson Leadership Program in Academic Medicine (2024) – Competitively selected for this inaugural cohort of emerging leaders in academic medicine at UCLA. 
• Huvane Family Friends of Semel Institute Research Scholar Award (2023) – Foundation-funded award supporting neuroscience research
• Wilder Research Scholar, UCLA (2014–2023) – Institutional designation supporting junior faculty research independence
• Career Development Institute for Psychiatry Scholar, NIH-funded (2015)
• Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Psychiatry (2013)

• ​​​​​​UCLA Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship
• BD² Integrated Network Study
• UCLA Profile