Petra JACOBS

Office(s): Division of Behavioral and Social Research (DBSR)

Email Address: petra.jacobs@nih.gov

Research Interests/Portfolio

Petra Jacobs, M.D., M.H.S. is director of the Office of Behavioral and Social Clinical Trials (CT) located in the Division of Behavioral and Social Research (BSR). The Office of Behavioral and Social Clinical Trials oversee clinical trials supported by BSR. This includes overseeing trials pre-award policy compliance, risk assessment and risk management, training, outreach, administrative support and communication with other BSR and NIA staff as well as NIA grantees.

Dr. Jacobs has a long history of leadership in overseeing clinical trials at NIH, having served in leadership roles in the Center for the Clinical Trials Network at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (CCTN/NIDA) for more than a decade. In her previous positions, Dr. Jacobs served as a supervisory medical officer and scientific officer for many clinical trials of medications and behavioral treatments, ranging from small-scale pilot studies to large scale multisite clinical trials and pragmatic trials, which included studies testing telehealth, brief strategic family intervention, addressing prescription opioid addiction and pain. As an Assistant Director and Team Leader, she oversaw strategy development and portfolio management at CCTN, including major public health initiatives, including an effort to address opioid overdose, stimulant use and impact of COVID 19 on vulnerable population.

Dr. Jacobs holds a M.D. in General Medicine from the Charles University Medical School Prague Czech Republic and a Master’s degree in Health Sciences in Clinical Research Duke University School of Medicine Durham.