Mattis Lab – Dissecting the circuit mechanisms of epilepsy

Our long-term goal is to develop new epilepsy treatments that are rationally designed to target precise circuit elements. We investigate how neuronal circuits are dysfunctional in epilepsy, and how these circuits can be modified to improve seizures.

The Mattis Lab is located in the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan. We are affiliated with the Department of Neurology and with the Michigan Neuroscience Institute (MNI). The lab was founded June 2022, and we have already built a vibrant and productive lab community!

Mattis lab, June 2023

Research

Our research combines slice and in vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and imaging techniques (2-photon and fiber photometry) in preclinical experimental models of epilepsy. We use this approach to study

The role of subcortical neuromodulatory networks in seizures
How subcortical neuromodulatory networks are chronically impacted in epilepsy

The role of subcortical neuromodulatory networks in seizures

The impact of chronic epilepsy on neuromodulatory networks

Lab News

Oct 24, 2025 - Halloween “Horror Night”
The lab celebrated an early Halloween with dinner out followed by a haunted house expedition. Spooky fun was had by all!

Oct 10, 2025 - Joanna is a “camp doc” for the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s Family Camp
Joanna had the privilege of serving as a "camp doc" for the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan's annual "Family Camp," attended by children with epilepsy and their families. The camp weekend was held at North Star Reach (https://www.northstarreach.org/), a medically supported camp that enables children with medical conditions (and their families) to enjoy a joyful camp experience.

Oct 06, 2025 - Ruitao receives a Biology Travel Award
Congratulations to Ruitao for receiving a Biology Travel Award! This will support his attendance at the 2025 Society for Neuroscience conference, at which he will be the presenting author on a poster about hyperthermia-evoked seizures in a mouse model of Focal Cortical Dysplasia.

Sep 24, 2025 - Joanna gives Grand Rounds at the University of Pennsylvania
Joanna was privileged with an invitation to present Grand Rounds to the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she completed her neurology residency, epilepsy fellowship, and R25 and early K08 research training. It was fantastic to get the chance to share the lab's work with such a great community of clinicians and scientists. Thank you for the invitation, Penn!

Sep 23, 2025 - Welcoming new undergrads to the Mattis lab!
We are glad to welcome several new undergraduate students to the Mattis lab. Silvia Abbasi, junior pre-medical student, will join a new direction in the lab involving analysis of clinical epilepsy data. Arnav Akhaury, a freshman and aspiring future neurosurgeon, will be working with Meiling to study noradrenergic circuits in epilepsy. Yousif Ogaily, a sophomore BCN major, will be working with Joe as part of a team investigating the medial septum's role in seizures. Farah Abdelhak, a freshman MCDB major on the pre-med track, will be working with Krystal to investigate the impact of repeated seizures on brainstem respiratory circuitry.

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