Profiles

Paul J. Mathews, PhD, is an Associate Professor-in-Residence in the UCLA Department of Neurology and an Investigator and member of the Board of Directors at The Lundquist Institute. His research integrates systems neuroscience and therapeutic development to understand cerebellar function in health and disease.

Dr. Mathews studies how communication between the cerebellum and forebrain contributes to behavioral flexibility, learning, and social behavior. His research uses electrophysiology, neuroanatomy, quantitative behavioral testing, and targeted manipulation of specific cells and circuits. In collaboration with Neil Harris, PhD, he also uses functional ultrasound imaging to investigate how traumatic brain injury alters brain-wide functional connectivity and how these network-level changes evolve with injury and recovery.

A major focus of Dr. Mathews’ research is Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T), a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive cerebellar degeneration. His group developed a clinically relevant ataxic mouse model of A-T and uses it to investigate Purkinje neuron vulnerability, altered neuronal function, and disease progression. His translational research seeks to restore ATM production and function through approaches that include small-molecule readthrough, base editing, and prime editing. These strategies are evaluated in patient-derived cells and animal models using molecular, physiological, histological, and behavioral outcomes. His goal is to connect fundamental neuroscience with therapeutic development to advance treatments for A-T and other rare neurogenetic diseases.