2026-09-09 23:43:07 - Kicking off the 2026-2027 academic year
Joanna presented a "State of the lab" address for our first lab meeting of the academic year. It was exciting to reunite with our lab's many returning undergraduate students, and to welcome two new students, Sasha and Jasmine, to the team. Lots of exciting milestones are anticipated soon, including multiple manuscript planned for submission by the end of 2026.
Joanna presented a "State of the lab" address for our first lab meeting of the academic year. It was exciting to reunite with our lab's many returning undergraduate students, and to welcome two new students, Sasha and Jasmine, to the team. Lots of exciting milestones are anticipated soon, including multiple manuscript planned for submission by the end of 2026.
2026-08-31 12:31:44 - Welcoming new students to the Mattis lab
We are happy to welcome several new undergraduate students to the Mattis lab for the 2026-2027 academic year. Sasha Ghai, a sophomore BCN major, will join the team characterizing the postictal phenotype in the Dravet model. Jasmine Ogutu, a sophomore Neuroscience major, will investigate a novel gene therapy approach to extend survival in an Scn8a model. Welcome to the team!
We are happy to welcome several new undergraduate students to the Mattis lab for the 2026-2027 academic year. Sasha Ghai, a sophomore BCN major, will join the team characterizing the postictal phenotype in the Dravet model. Jasmine Ogutu, a sophomore Neuroscience major, will investigate a novel gene therapy approach to extend survival in an Scn8a model. Welcome to the team!
2026-08-19 17:05:53 - Krystal and Joanna present at the Epilepsy GRC
Joanna and Krystal attended the excellent "Mechanisms of Epilepsy and Neuronal Synchronization" Gordon Research Conference in Barcelona. As always for this conference, the scientific standard was extremely high, and the unique community-building experience was unmatched. Krystal presented her important work demonstrating that seizures disrupt subsequent ictal respiration, providing a mechanistic link between seizure burden and SUDEP risk. Joanna gave an invited talk highlighting on the impact of seizures on multiple subcortical networks.
Joanna and Krystal attended the excellent "Mechanisms of Epilepsy and Neuronal Synchronization" Gordon Research Conference in Barcelona. As always for this conference, the scientific standard was extremely high, and the unique community-building experience was unmatched. Krystal presented her important work demonstrating that seizures disrupt subsequent ictal respiration, providing a mechanistic link between seizure burden and SUDEP risk. Joanna gave an invited talk highlighting on the impact of seizures on multiple subcortical networks.
2026-07-31 18:46:47 - Meiling receives an AES postdoctoral research fellowship
Meiling was awarded a prestigious Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the American Epilepsy Society! Her proposal, Ictal norepinephrine release across brain regions and epilepsy models, uses cutting-edge tools to connect fundamental synaptic physiology to a highly significant translational question. Thank you, AES, for supporting Meiling's project and career development!
2026-07-31 18:41:28 - Hudson presents his summer work
Hudson presented his work at the Magnificent Michigan poster session. This work will be a great addition to a manuscript soon to be submitted, on which he will be co-author. Nice job, Hudson!
Hudson presented his work at the Magnificent Michigan poster session. This work will be a great addition to a manuscript soon to be submitted, on which he will be co-author. Nice job, Hudson!
2026-07-21 19:28:55 - Silvia presents her summer work
Silvia presented her undergraduate thesis work at the LSA Honors 2026 Summer Fellow poster session. Silvia has made tremendous progress this summer and it has been very exciting to see the project coming together. Congratulations, Silvia!
Silvia presented her undergraduate thesis work at the LSA Honors 2026 Summer Fellow poster session. Silvia has made tremendous progress this summer and it has been very exciting to see the project coming together. Congratulations, Silvia!
2026-07-08 20:16:30 - Ice cream in the diag
The lab celebrated our July birthdays -- and Michigan summertime -- with an ice cream outing. 🙂
The lab celebrated our July birthdays -- and Michigan summertime -- with an ice cream outing. 🙂
2026-07-03 22:04:17 - New pre-print with Sam McKenzie’s lab
Joanna is a co-author on a new pre-print from Sam McKenzie's lab at the University of New Mexico. This manuscript presents the development of a novel Photometry Device with Optogenetics and Electrophysiology (P-DOpE), which is then employed to demonstrate that local activity within CA1 amplifies endogenous noradrenergic release. This exciting observation provides powerful in vivo support for the glutamate amplifies noradrenergic effects (GANE) hypothesis. Stay tuned for a corresponding manuscript from our lab investigating this phenomenon in the context of seizures!
Joanna is a co-author on a new pre-print from Sam McKenzie's lab at the University of New Mexico. This manuscript presents the development of a novel Photometry Device with Optogenetics and Electrophysiology (P-DOpE), which is then employed to demonstrate that local activity within CA1 amplifies endogenous noradrenergic release. This exciting observation provides powerful in vivo support for the glutamate amplifies noradrenergic effects (GANE) hypothesis. Stay tuned for a corresponding manuscript from our lab investigating this phenomenon in the context of seizures!
2026-07-01 16:45:14 - Lab expansion, part 2
The Mattis lab is expanding again! We are grateful for the opportunity to move into additional desk and bench space, such that everyone will have a place to sit, and we will have more room for experiments. (It's been shoulder-to-shoulder, as pictured!)
2026-06-16 17:29:41 - Amanuel joins the lab
We are delighted to welcome Amanuel as a new PhD student in the lab. Amanuel has an undergraduate research background in population genetics and worked as a lab technician in an avian systems neuroscience lab prior to joining the NGP at UofM. Amanuel's rotation project involved analysis of plethysmography data collected before, during, and after seizures in the Dravet syndrome mouse model. Welcome, Amanuel!
We are delighted to welcome Amanuel as a new PhD student in the lab. Amanuel has an undergraduate research background in population genetics and worked as a lab technician in an avian systems neuroscience lab prior to joining the NGP at UofM. Amanuel's rotation project involved analysis of plethysmography data collected before, during, and after seizures in the Dravet syndrome mouse model. Welcome, Amanuel!
2026-06-15 23:44:40 - Celebrating 4 years of the lab!
The Mattis lab is 4 years old! We had a joyful celebration including lab alumni, established lab members, and recent arrivals. We've achieved a lot already and there are so many things to look forward to accomplishing during the next 4 years!
The Mattis lab is 4 years old! We had a joyful celebration including lab alumni, established lab members, and recent arrivals. We've achieved a lot already and there are so many things to look forward to accomplishing during the next 4 years!
2026-06-15 12:29:37 - Kashvi joins the lab
We are excited to welcome Kashvi as a new technician in the lab! Kashvi recently graduated from Rutgers with a degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience, with an honor's thesis focused on meningeal lymphatic vasculature. She will work with Joe to manage the lab's mouse colonies, and with Krystal to investigate mechanisms of SUDEP. Welcome, Kashvi!
We are excited to welcome Kashvi as a new technician in the lab! Kashvi recently graduated from Rutgers with a degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience, with an honor's thesis focused on meningeal lymphatic vasculature. She will work with Joe to manage the lab's mouse colonies, and with Krystal to investigate mechanisms of SUDEP. Welcome, Kashvi!
2026-06-11 20:53:26 - Angad joins the lab
We are excited to welcome Angad Chauhan as a new undergraduate student in the lab! Angad is a rising freshman who already gained a significant amount of computational research experience - including analysis of EEG data - as a high school student. Angad intends to major in Biomolecular Sciences and then to attend medical school. Angad will join an ongoing team effort to characterize the postictal state in the Dravet syndrome mouse model. Welcome, Angad!
2026-06-08 23:22:37 - Curing the Epilepsies
Krystal and Joanna attended the 2026 Curing the Epilepsies conference at the NIH. This conference was co-hosted by the NIH and the American Epilepsy Society, and was designed as a forum for the epilepsy research community to gather to assess advances in the field, identify gaps in knowledge and translation, and identify transformative priorities. The eventual outcome of this meeting will be revised Epilepsy Research Benchmarks to guide the field over the next 5-7 years. It was a privilege to be a part of this crucial conversation.
Krystal and Joanna attended the 2026 Curing the Epilepsies conference at the NIH. This conference was co-hosted by the NIH and the American Epilepsy Society, and was designed as a forum for the epilepsy research community to gather to assess advances in the field, identify gaps in knowledge and translation, and identify transformative priorities. The eventual outcome of this meeting will be revised Epilepsy Research Benchmarks to guide the field over the next 5-7 years. It was a privilege to be a part of this crucial conversation.
2026-05-19 18:36:41 - Impromptu “reunion” in Japan!
Krystal (current PhD student, taking a well-deserved holiday) and Ruitao (the lab's most recent undergrad alum, soon to start a PhD program) managed to meet up in Japan.
Krystal (current PhD student, taking a well-deserved holiday) and Ruitao (the lab's most recent undergrad alum, soon to start a PhD program) managed to meet up in Japan.
2026-05-07 20:01:05 - Anastasia joins the lab
We are excited to welcome a new student, Anastasia Minkova, to the lab! Anastasia brings a strong research background (in cognitive neuroimaging) and is a future pediatrician. She will join Krystal in studying mechanisms of SUDEP. Welcome, Anastasia!
We are excited to welcome a new student, Anastasia Minkova, to the lab! Anastasia brings a strong research background (in cognitive neuroimaging) and is a future pediatrician. She will join Krystal in studying mechanisms of SUDEP. Welcome, Anastasia!
2026-05-02 21:25:20 - Ruitao receives honors for his thesis work
Ruitao graduated with High Honors in Neuroscience and received the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience Director’s Award for his thesis. Congratulations, Ruitao!
Ruitao graduated with High Honors in Neuroscience and received the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience Director’s Award for his thesis. Congratulations, Ruitao!
2026-04-27 22:06:36 - Graduation dinner to celebrate Ruitao and Saif
We celebrated our lab's graduating seniors by taking them out to dinner, along with their mentors/ close collaborators in the Mattis lab. Saif is a co-author on two recent manuscripts from the lab, based upon his innovative method for detecting seizures on long-term EEG recordings; he will be taking a gap year to broaden his clinical experience while he applies to medical school, and will continue his work in the lab, adapting his method for rapid/on-line seizure detection. Ruitao is a co-first author on the lab's recent publication characterizing hyperthermia-evoked seizures in a mouse FCD model, and will be a co-author on another paper in preparation for submission later this year; he will be moving to Georgia Tech for a PhD. We are grateful to them both for their contributions to the lab, and look forward to hearing great things as they move forward in their careers. Congratulations, Saif and Ruitao!
We celebrated our lab's graduating seniors by taking them out to dinner, along with their mentors/ close collaborators in the Mattis lab. Saif is a co-author on two recent manuscripts from the lab, based upon his innovative method for detecting seizures on long-term EEG recordings; he will be taking a gap year to broaden his clinical experience while he applies to medical school, and will continue his work in the lab, adapting his method for rapid/on-line seizure detection. Ruitao is a co-first author on the lab's recent publication characterizing hyperthermia-evoked seizures in a mouse FCD model, and will be a co-author on another paper in preparation for submission later this year; he will be moving to Georgia Tech for a PhD. We are grateful to them both for their contributions to the lab, and look forward to hearing great things as they move forward in their careers. Congratulations, Saif and Ruitao!
2026-04-22 16:31:39 - Undergraduates present their research
Congratulations to Ruitao, Farah, and Sreyashi for their great posters, presented today across two undergraduate research symposia on campus! Ruitao presented his senior thesis work characterizing hyperthermia-evoked seizures in an FCD mouse model, corresponding with the recently accepted manuscript on which he is a co-first author. Farah presented her UROP project quantifying activation of serotonergic neurons in mice with differential risk of SUDEP -- and was awarded a Blue Ribbon Award for her poster! (Congrats, Farah!) Sreyashi presented her U@MNI project developing an analysis strategy for hierarchical data, which will be useful across multiple projects in the lab. It was great to see all of their hard work recognized!
Congratulations to Ruitao, Farah, and Sreyashi for their great posters, presented today across two undergraduate research symposia on campus! Ruitao presented his senior thesis work characterizing hyperthermia-evoked seizures in an FCD mouse model, corresponding with the recently accepted manuscript on which he is a co-first author. Farah presented her UROP project quantifying activation of serotonergic neurons in mice with differential risk of SUDEP -- and was awarded a Blue Ribbon Award for her poster! (Congrats, Farah!) Sreyashi presented her U@MNI project developing an analysis strategy for hierarchical data, which will be useful across multiple projects in the lab. It was great to see all of their hard work recognized!
2026-04-20 07:54:58 - New publication by Xiaogang, Chandni, Ruitao, and team!
The Mattis lab has a new publication, Characterization and application of hyperthermia-evoked seizures in a mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia, now online in Neurobiology of Disease. We demonstrated that hyperthermia can be used to reliably evoke seizures in a mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia. We further demonstrated that this acute model has predictive validity, such that it can be used as a higher-throughput screening platform to identify therapeutics that also improve spontaneous interictal discharges and spikes. This work was led by Dr. Xiaogang Zhang, a visiting scholar, as well as Chandni Rana (PhD student) and Ruitao Shen (undergraduate student). We are thankful for collaborations with epilepsy colleagues Dr. Yu Wang, whose laboratory provided the FCD mice, and Dr. Patrick Lawlor, who contributed to EEG analysis.
The Mattis lab has a new publication, Characterization and application of hyperthermia-evoked seizures in a mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia, now online in Neurobiology of Disease. We demonstrated that hyperthermia can be used to reliably evoke seizures in a mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia. We further demonstrated that this acute model has predictive validity, such that it can be used as a higher-throughput screening platform to identify therapeutics that also improve spontaneous interictal discharges and spikes. This work was led by Dr. Xiaogang Zhang, a visiting scholar, as well as Chandni Rana (PhD student) and Ruitao Shen (undergraduate student). We are thankful for collaborations with epilepsy colleagues Dr. Yu Wang, whose laboratory provided the FCD mice, and Dr. Patrick Lawlor, who contributed to EEG analysis.
2026-04-19 07:46:10 - Joanna presents at the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics’ annual neurotech conference
Joanna gave an invited talk and chaired a session at SBMT's 23rd annual neurotech conference. The conference was also a reunion for Deisseroth lab alums!
Joanna gave an invited talk and chaired a session at SBMT's 23rd annual neurotech conference. The conference was also a reunion for Deisseroth lab alums!
2026-03-20 08:48:08 - Joanna presents at Midwestern University
Joanna gave an invited talk at Midwestern University in Illinois. Thank you for the invitation!
Joanna gave an invited talk at Midwestern University in Illinois. Thank you for the invitation!
2026-03-17 08:44:15 - Silvia and Hudson receive summer fellowships
Two of our undergraduates received fellowship funding to support full time research in the lab this summer. Congratulations to Hudson, who received a Magnificent Michigan Fellowship (through the Michigan Neuroscience Institute), and to Silvia, who received the competitive Honors Summer Fellowship, in addition to a psych/BCN summer research scholarship!
Two of our undergraduates received fellowship funding to support full time research in the lab this summer. Congratulations to Hudson, who received a Magnificent Michigan Fellowship (through the Michigan Neuroscience Institute), and to Silvia, who received the competitive Honors Summer Fellowship, in addition to a psych/BCN summer research scholarship!
2026-02-19 20:50:03 - Joanna gives Grand Rounds at UToledo
Joanna had the opportunity to share the lab's research with the Department of Neurology at the University of Toledo. Thank you for the invitation to speak, and for all of the great questions!
Joanna had the opportunity to share the lab's research with the Department of Neurology at the University of Toledo. Thank you for the invitation to speak, and for all of the great questions!
2026-01-14 20:50:11 - Sharvayu joins the lab
We are happy to have Sharvayu as a new undergraduate student in the lab. Sharvayu brings his prior experience with EEG analysis and machine learning, and will join the lab's analysis team. Welcome, Sharvayu!
We are happy to have Sharvayu as a new undergraduate student in the lab. Sharvayu brings his prior experience with EEG analysis and machine learning, and will join the lab's analysis team. Welcome, Sharvayu!
2026-01-08 19:01:36 - Lab expansion
The Mattis lab is expanding! We started out 2026 by moving into additional desk and bench space, which also enabled us to duplicate our surgical and seizure-induction set-ups in our procedure room. This expansion will facilitate higher throughput data collection, just in time to host two rotation students this semester. Exciting times!
The Mattis lab is expanding! We started out 2026 by moving into additional desk and bench space, which also enabled us to duplicate our surgical and seizure-induction set-ups in our procedure room. This expansion will facilitate higher throughput data collection, just in time to host two rotation students this semester. Exciting times!
2025-12-23 09:19:46 - Farewell, Xiaogang
Today marks the end of Dr. Xiaogang Zhang's year as a visiting scholar in the Mattis lab. He is returning to his home institution of Chongqing General Hospital. Xiaogang had a highly productive year in the lab - including a first author manuscript and multiple co-authorships on manuscripts in preparation - and was unfailingly cheerful and generous as a colleague. We look forward to continued collaborations in the years to come!
Today marks the end of Dr. Xiaogang Zhang's year as a visiting scholar in the Mattis lab. He is returning to his home institution of Chongqing General Hospital. Xiaogang had a highly productive year in the lab - including a first author manuscript and multiple co-authorships on manuscripts in preparation - and was unfailingly cheerful and generous as a colleague. We look forward to continued collaborations in the years to come!
2025-12-22 09:03:00 - New pre-print alert!
We are excited to share our latest work, Characterization and application of hyperthermia-evoked seizures in a mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia, which can now be accessed as a preprint on bioRxiv. This work was a true team effort, including collaborations across labs -- thank you, Dr. Yu Wang and Dr. Patrick Lawlor! -- and with multiple Mattis lab members contributing, especially co-first authors Dr. Xiaogang Zhang, Chandni Rana, and Ruitao Shen.
We are excited to share our latest work, Characterization and application of hyperthermia-evoked seizures in a mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia, which can now be accessed as a preprint on bioRxiv. This work was a true team effort, including collaborations across labs -- thank you, Dr. Yu Wang and Dr. Patrick Lawlor! -- and with multiple Mattis lab members contributing, especially co-first authors Dr. Xiaogang Zhang, Chandni Rana, and Ruitao Shen.
2025-12-12 14:44:36 - 2025 holiday party
The holiday party started at Joanna's house with a Secret Santa gift exchange, hot chocolate, and donuts. The evening ended with bowling at Revel and Roll. Thank you to our "social chairs," Krystal and Hudson, for organizing!
The holiday party started at Joanna's house with a Secret Santa gift exchange, hot chocolate, and donuts. The evening ended with bowling at Revel and Roll. Thank you to our "social chairs," Krystal and Hudson, for organizing!
2025-12-08 09:38:01 - AES 2025
Congratulations to Krystal and Meiling for their posters at this year's American Epilepsy Society conference. (Krystal had the opportunity to present hers 3 times!) Pictured is Krystal presenting her SUDEP project to one of the giants in the field.
2025-12-01 09:00:19 - Juan completes his honors thesis
Congratulations to Juan Disla for the completion of his honors thesis! It has been a pleasure having Juan in the lab and we wish him well on his future endeavors.
Congratulations to Juan Disla for the completion of his honors thesis! It has been a pleasure having Juan in the lab and we wish him well on his future endeavors.
2025-11-20 20:19:44 - Udai joins the lab
We are happy to welcome our latest lab member, Udaiveer Gill, to the lab as an undergraduate researcher. Udai is a freshman neuroscience major at UofM.
We are happy to welcome our latest lab member, Udaiveer Gill, to the lab as an undergraduate researcher. Udai is a freshman neuroscience major at UofM.
2025-11-17 11:52:53 - Society for Neuroscience 2025
Our lab presented 4 posters at SfN this year! All projects are approaching submission for publication and it was a great opportunity to get feedback. Congratulations to Ruitao, Chandni, Krystal, and Meiling for their great work!
Our lab presented 4 posters at SfN this year! All projects are approaching submission for publication and it was a great opportunity to get feedback. Congratulations to Ruitao, Chandni, Krystal, and Meiling for their great work!
2025-11-13 11:56:44 - Distinct Circuit Mechanisms in Epilepsies
Joanna gave a talk at "Distinct Circuit Mechanisms in Epilepsies" - a.k.a. "Huguenardapalooza" - an SfN pre-meeting organized in honor of Dr. John Huguenard, one of Joanna's PhD mentors at Stanford. Thank you to the organizers for the invitation, and congratulations, Dr. Huguenard, on your many accomplishments as a scientist and as a mentor!
Joanna gave a talk at "Distinct Circuit Mechanisms in Epilepsies" - a.k.a. "Huguenardapalooza" - an SfN pre-meeting organized in honor of Dr. John Huguenard, one of Joanna's PhD mentors at Stanford. Thank you to the organizers for the invitation, and congratulations, Dr. Huguenard, on your many accomplishments as a scientist and as a mentor!
2025-10-24 16:19:02 - Halloween “Horror Night”
The lab celebrated an early Halloween with dinner out followed by a haunted house expedition. Spooky fun was had by all!
The lab celebrated an early Halloween with dinner out followed by a haunted house expedition. Spooky fun was had by all!
2025-10-10 16:33:24 - 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.
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.
2025-10-06 17:09:39 - 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.
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.
2025-09-24 14:58:39 - 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!
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!
2025-09-23 14:59:28 - 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.
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.
2025-09-18 14:49:28 - Joanna joins the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s Professional Advisory Committee
Joanna was honored to be invited to join the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan's Professional Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC provides policy guidance and technical assistance to the Team and Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, a statewide nonprofit organization that provides information, resources, and support to individuals living with epilepsy.
Joanna was honored to be invited to join the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan's Professional Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC provides policy guidance and technical assistance to the Team and Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, a statewide nonprofit organization that provides information, resources, and support to individuals living with epilepsy.
2025-09-17 15:14:25 - Joanna joins the ANA Junior and Early Career Membership (JECM) Subcommittee
Joanna was approved to serve on the American Neurological Association's Junior and Early Career Membership (JECM) Subcommittee, tasked with "enhancing engagement and support recruitment, retention, and representation of junior and early career members". This will be a great opportunity to become more involved with the ANA, the professional society devoted to academic researchers and physician-scientists in neurology.
Joanna was approved to serve on the American Neurological Association's Junior and Early Career Membership (JECM) Subcommittee, tasked with "enhancing engagement and support recruitment, retention, and representation of junior and early career members". This will be a great opportunity to become more involved with the ANA, the professional society devoted to academic researchers and physician-scientists in neurology.
2025-09-16 13:54:42 - Joanna presents at the American Neurological Association (ANA) meeting
Joanna attended the ANA-NINDS Career Development Symposium (as a K-awardee) and presented the lab's work both at the symposium and at the associated ANA meeting (which was incidentally the 150th annual meeting of the ANA).
Joanna attended the ANA-NINDS Career Development Symposium (as a K-awardee) and presented the lab's work both at the symposium and at the associated ANA meeting (which was incidentally the 150th annual meeting of the ANA).
2025-08-15 11:24:10 - Krystal selected for an SfN Trainee Professional Development Award
Congratulations to Krystal for being selected for a 2025 Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) through the Society for Neuroscience! This award will facilitate her attendance at the 2025 SfN conference and will provide access to a variety of professional development and training resources. Way to go, Krystal!
Congratulations to Krystal for being selected for a 2025 Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) through the Society for Neuroscience! This award will facilitate her attendance at the 2025 SfN conference and will provide access to a variety of professional development and training resources. Way to go, Krystal!
2025-08-08 13:40:44 - The Mattis lab joins Bing Ye’s NIH R01 grant
We are thrilled to join Dr. Bing Ye's laboratory in dissecting hippocampal circuit pathology in Down syndrome mouse models. This collaboration, "Molecular regulators of GABAergic systems that underlie comorbidities in Down syndrome," will build from Joanna's postdoctoral work investigating corticohippocampal circuits in a Dravet Syndrome mouse model, and represents an exciting new scientific direction for the Mattis lab. Thank you to the National Institutes of Health for supporting this work.
We are thrilled to join Dr. Bing Ye's laboratory in dissecting hippocampal circuit pathology in Down syndrome mouse models. This collaboration, "Molecular regulators of GABAergic systems that underlie comorbidities in Down syndrome," will build from Joanna's postdoctoral work investigating corticohippocampal circuits in a Dravet Syndrome mouse model, and represents an exciting new scientific direction for the Mattis lab. Thank you to the National Institutes of Health for supporting this work.
2025-08-07 13:48:49 - Chandni receives an NRSA (F31) from NINDS!
Congratulations to Chandni for being awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) to support the remainder of her dissertation research in the lab. This project, "The nigrotegmental circuit in an Scn1a+/- mouse model of Dravet Syndrome" focuses on crucial "choke point" regions that may be capable of exerting modulatory control over seizures. Thank you to the National Institutes of Health for supporting this work, and Chandni's career!
Congratulations to Chandni for being awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) to support the remainder of her dissertation research in the lab. This project, "The nigrotegmental circuit in an Scn1a+/- mouse model of Dravet Syndrome" focuses on crucial "choke point" regions that may be capable of exerting modulatory control over seizures. Thank you to the National Institutes of Health for supporting this work, and Chandni's career!
2025-08-06 16:55:51 - Sreyashi awarded U@MNI scholarship
Congratulations to Sreyashi for being awarded a U@MNI research position for 2025-2026! This is a funded position through the Michigan Neuroscience Institute. In addition to supporting Sreyashi's work in the lab, U@MNI also offers a series of social and professional development meetings - organized by Neuroscience Graduate Program PhD students - culminating in a poster presentation to showcase undergraduate research. Congrats, Sreyashi!
Congratulations to Sreyashi for being awarded a U@MNI research position for 2025-2026! This is a funded position through the Michigan Neuroscience Institute. In addition to supporting Sreyashi's work in the lab, U@MNI also offers a series of social and professional development meetings - organized by Neuroscience Graduate Program PhD students - culminating in a poster presentation to showcase undergraduate research. Congrats, Sreyashi!
2025-08-06 11:25:10 - The Mattis lab receives its first NIH R01 grant!
We are thrilled to have received the Notice of Award for the lab's first NIH R01 grant. This project, entitled "Seizure-Induced Remodeling of Cholinergic Networks in Dravet Syndrome," will explore mechanistic links between seizures and epilepsy comorbidities, with a focus on the cholinergic brainstem. We are so grateful to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) for supporting our lab's work.
We are thrilled to have received the Notice of Award for the lab's first NIH R01 grant. This project, entitled "Seizure-Induced Remodeling of Cholinergic Networks in Dravet Syndrome," will explore mechanistic links between seizures and epilepsy comorbidities, with a focus on the cholinergic brainstem. We are so grateful to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) for supporting our lab's work.
2025-07-31 16:48:17 - Alex H. presents his summer work
Congratulations to Alex for a terrific poster at the 2025 Magnificent Michigan poster session. Alex had an extremely productive summer, which was supported by two UofM undergraduate research scholarships. Well done, Alex!
2025-07-07 15:32:23 - Limei’s paper is published in Epilepsia!
Congratulations to Limei and team for their Epilepsia publication, Medial septum parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory neurons are impaired in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome. We employed whole cell patch clamping in acute brain slices to identify significant hypoexcitability of inhibitory neurons within the medial septum in Scn1a+/- mice. This work identifies the medial septum as a pathologic region and suggests its importance for cognitive impairment in Dravet syndrome. We are excited to extend this work in vivo -- stay tuned!
Congratulations to Limei and team for their Epilepsia publication, Medial septum parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory neurons are impaired in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome. We employed whole cell patch clamping in acute brain slices to identify significant hypoexcitability of inhibitory neurons within the medial septum in Scn1a+/- mice. This work identifies the medial septum as a pathologic region and suggests its importance for cognitive impairment in Dravet syndrome. We are excited to extend this work in vivo -- stay tuned!
2025-06-14 08:54:14 - 2025 Metro Detroit Stroll for Epilepsy
Members of our lab and other UofM faculty, staff, and students joined the 2025 Metro Detroit Stroll for Epilepsy, organized by the Michigan Epilepsy Foundation. It was an inspirational event, with many epilepsy patients and their families in attendance, and a beautiful day to enjoy the Detroit Zoo!
Members of our lab and other UofM faculty, staff, and students joined the 2025 Metro Detroit Stroll for Epilepsy, organized by the Michigan Epilepsy Foundation. It was an inspirational event, with many epilepsy patients and their families in attendance, and a beautiful day to enjoy the Detroit Zoo!
