Matthias Prigge, PhD, is a trained biophysicist and biochemist who transitioned into system neuroscience during his postdoctoral work at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. He has a well-established record of engineering new optogenetic tools to dissect catecholaminergic circuits. His work focuses on optically manipulating neuronal circuits with light-gated ion channels to derive a better understanding of how we can use neuronal stimulation to re-configure dysfunctional catecholaminergic circuits. His optogenetic-inspired stimulation paradigms can pave the way to more efficient deep brain stimulation in patients.

Dr. Prigge started his own research group at the Leibniz Institute for Neuroscience in Magdeburg, Germany in 2018. His lab has a particular interest in understanding the neuronal and molecular architecture of the locus coeruleus and substantia nigra in health and disease in mouse models. He investigates how early changes in the neuronal circuit of catecholaminergic neurons can alter psychophysical and behavioral parameters.