Signe Mathiasen

Signe Mathiasen is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, where she leads the Mathiasen Group focused on Molecular and Translational Pharmacology. She previously held positions at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, including Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Mathiasen earned her BSc (2008), MSc (2011), and PhD (2013) in Nanoscience/Biophysics from the University of Copenhagen, with Professor Dimitrios Stamou as her advisor for both her MSc and PhD.

Her research centers on adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly ADGRL3 (latrophilin 3), which has been genetically associated with ADHD and substance abuse. Her lab combines molecular biology techniques, advanced GPCR signaling assays, and novel single molecule microscopy approaches to investigate how these receptors function in the nervous, musculoskeletal, cardiac and immune systems. They're particularly interested in how mechanical stress impacts ADGRL3 signaling in response to synaptic ligand interactions.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on adhesion GPCR structure and function, with emphasis on ADGRL3 signaling mechanisms, G protein coupling specificity, and the development of advanced imaging techniques like single-molecule FRET. Her work bridges molecular pharmacology with neuroscience, particularly in understanding dopamine signaling pathways relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.

• Sapere Aude Research Leader (2022-2026), Independent Research Fund Denmark
• Inge Lehmann Grant (2022-2024), Independent Research Fund Denmark
• Grant to establish independence in Denmark (2020-2021)
• NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) (2016-2019)
• International Postdoc Fellowship (2015-2016), Lundbeck Foundation
• Postdoc travel grant (2014-2015), Carlsberg Foundation

As Principal Investigator on multiple major grants, Dr. Mathiasen mentors several PhD students and postdocs in her lab. Her group utilizes live cell GPCR signaling assays (BRET, FRET), confocal microscopy, optical tweezers, and single molecule imaging techniques to study receptor function at unprecedented resolution.

The Mathiasen Group operates within the Molecular and Translational Pharmacology section, with current members including PhD Fellows Jesper Holmkvist and Júlia Rosell Teixidó, Postdoc Mohammadreza Arastoo, and Laboratory Technician Rajesh Regmi. Their collaborative work spans multiple disciplines, connecting molecular pharmacology with neuroscience and translational medicine.