Matthew Farrer

My career objective is to provide molecular targets, tools and research insights in neurologic and age-related neurodegenerative disorders to encourage major pharmaceutical investment. For the past 25 years my research has been largely focused on neurogenetics and molecular neuroscience modeling of Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism. My mission it to help molecularly diagnoses and develop disease-modifying therapeutics aimed at neuroprotection (precision medicine). Ongoing projects include the genetic analysis of patient DNA samples from pedigrees and population isolates by high-throughput and Sanger sequencing. In parallel, my team seeks to characterize novel genes and mutations we discover in model systems. I primarily focus on subtle changes to the mouse genome through cre-loxP conditional recombineering (floxed mice). I prefer to keep experiments as physiologic as possible, as true to the human condition. Core experimental techniques include electrophysiology (mostly voltammetry), microdialysis, protein biochemistry, confocal imaging, behavioral assays and neuropharmacology. Ongoing studies involve mature primary cell cultures, brain slice and whole animal work.