We are delighted to announce that Paul Mathews, PhD has been elected by his peers to join the Board of Directors at The Lundquist Institute. His remarkable journey, from humble beginnings to scientific leadership, makes his appointment especially meaningful.
“Joining the TLI Board is a privilege, and I hope to contribute a bench-side researcher’s perspective to its discussions and decisions,” said Paul Mathews, PhD. “Over the past decade at the Lundquist, I’ve developed a deep passion for this community, and I look forward to helping strengthen its impact for the years ahead.”
From Nevada to Neuroscience Leadership
Raised in a lower-income household in Nevada, Prof. Mathews left his home state for the first time to attend the University of Oregon. Beginning his undergraduate studies with little understanding of what a PhD was, he went on to become a neuroscientist and research leader. After more than a decade of contributions at The Lundquist Institute, he now serves as Director of the Neurotherapeutics Institute at TLI and is an Associate Professor of Neurology at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.
Pushing the Frontiers of Neurotherapeutics
Paul Mathews’ research focuses on uncovering how neural communication between the cerebellum and forebrain contributes to complex behavior. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques – ranging from in vivo multi-electrode recordings and fMRI to functional ultrasound, optogenetics, and behavioral testing – to map and manipulate brain circuits and elucidate their role in non-motor behaviors. One key area of focus centers on Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T), a rare neurodegenerative disease. His team has pioneered a novel mouse model that replicates motor deficits and genetic mutations seen in humans to explore disease mechanisms and test both pharmacological and gene editing approaches to restore protein missing in this devastating pediatric disorder.
A Champion for Service and Education
Prof. Mathews comes to this Board position having demonstrated his deep commitment to service within TLI and beyond. When the volunteer referee administrator for his children’s local AYSO soccer league stepped down unexpectedly, he stepped in to ensure that 1,500 kids in the region continued to have referees, demonstrating leadership when the need arose.
At TLI, Prof. Mathews recently joined the Education Steering Committee, where he helped establish foundational processes for the PhD program that didn’t previously exist, including oversight structures, qualifying exams, consistent mentor-mentee meetings, and committee coordination. These scalable frameworks ensure that our student programs have structure, visibility, and traction, encouraging more PIs to open their labs to students and invest in future scientists.
Why His Board Membership Matters
Paul Mathews exemplifies the values at the heart of TLI: rigorous research, meaningful service, and inclusive mentorship. His appointment strengthens our mission to unite discovery, education, and community impact. With his leadership, TLI can continue building a culture where faculty, staff, and students feel supported, engaged, and connected, moving forward as one team. As a member of the Board, Prof. Mathews is committed to creating stronger forums for communication across and with basic science, and to fostering a spirit of collaboration by encouraging and rewarding active participation throughout the Institute.
“We are thrilled to welcome Paul Mathews, PhD to The Lundquist Institute’s Board of Directors,” said Joe W. Ramos, PhD, President & CEO of The Lundquist Institute. “His outstanding scientific achievements, deep commitment to mentorship, and passion for service embody the values that drive our mission. Paul’s leadership and vision will be invaluable as we continue advancing discovery, education, and community impact together.”
Please join us in welcoming Paul Mathews, PhD to our Board of Directors. We look forward to advancing our collective mission with his vision, energy, and leadership.