In partnership with fellow U-M faculty veterinarian Dr. Jean Nemzek, Dr. Lofgren founded the Refinement & Enrichment Advancements Laboratory (REAL) at the U-M in 2015. As one of the country's only laboratories dedicated to optimizing biomedical research efforts through improved animal well-being, REAL seeks to understand the relationship between the animal's lived experience and scientific results. As part of this work, Dr. Lofgren has received three grants, including both the American College Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM Foundation) and the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (GLAS), to support nociceptive and behavioral research to identify pain behaviors and effective alleviation of pain in rodent species.
Prior to joining the University of Michigan, Dr. Lofgren completed a visiting research fellowship at Newcastle University, where she learned how to conduct scientifically rigorous studies that isolate and evaluate pain behavior in rodents. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine in 2011 after completing post-doctoral training in Comparative Medicine at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). While at MIT, Dr. Lofgren engaged in infectious disease and cancer research, as well as refining husbandry and veterinary care to improve animal welfare. Dr. Lofgren completed a dual degree Masters in Comparative Biomedical Sciences and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University.