Dr M. Olff has been named professor by special appointment of Neurobiological Mechanisms of Prevention and Treatment in Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) at the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Medicine (AMC-UvA). The chair was designated on behalf of the Arq Foundation for Psychological Trauma Research (Stichting Arq Psychotrauma Onderzoek, or APO)Stichting Physica).

Miranda Olff will be focusing her research primarily on psychological, social and biological responses to stress, and particularly traumatic stress, and on preventive and curative interventions. The latter will extend beyond researching the interventions themselves to study of the underlying mechanisms, predictors of pathology and treatment results. Olff has conducted randomised studies on the effects of debriefing, early intervention and various trauma-oriented interventions, and is currently investigating the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy versus pharmacological therapy, and that of oxytocin on traumatic stress. Olff has further received a ZonMw Top Grant for her neuroimaging research into endogenous and exogenous stimulation of the oxytocin system.

Olff has worked at the AMC-UvA since 2001, both as senior university lecturer of Psychotraumatology and as head of the Center for Psychological Trauma. She is also a visiting professor at the Haukeland Hospital in Bergen, Norway. Previously she has worked at organisations including the Trimbos Institute and the University of Groningen. From 2009 to 2011 she was chair of the European Society of Traumatic Stress (ESTSS). Olff has also led large EU-funded projects and has authored numerous publications, including for such professional journals as JAMA, Psychological Bulletin, British Journal of Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine and Psychoneuroendocrinology. She is also editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Psychotraumatology.