Dr. George Mentis

Biography

George Mentis received a BSc in Physiology and an MSc in Neurological Science from University College London (UCL), followed by a PhD in Neuroscience from Imperial College London, UK. He initially worked as a postdoctoral fellow and subsequently became a staff scientist at the NINDS, NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. In 2010, he was recruited as an Assistant Professor in the Center of Motor Neuron Biology and Disease within the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University. His research focuses on spinal motor neurons that mediate motor output and their modulation by a network of spinal neurons known as the central pattern generator, which is crucial for coordinated motor output like locomotion. Mentis's laboratory employs a developmental approach to studying locomotion in neonatal mice to understand the role of spinal motor neurons in normal motor behavior and how local circuitry functions. His research aims to delineate the functional connections that are disrupted in conditions such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and ALS, with an emphasis on genetic models of these neurodegenerative disorders. The work combines physiological, anatomical, and behavioral techniques to advance understanding of the pathophysiology of motor neuron disorders.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards