Gerlinde Metz

Dr. Gerlinde Metz is a Professor at the University of Lethbridge, conducting research at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN). Her work focuses on understanding how stress and environmental factors influence motor recovery following brain damage, with particular emphasis on stroke, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury.

Dr. Metz earned her B.Sc. in Biology, M.Sc. in Biology (Behavioural Neuroscience), and Ph.D. in Biology (Neuroscience), followed by postdoctoral training in Behavioural Neuroscience.

Her primary research interests include the influence of environment and stress on motor recovery following brain damage, the impact of prenatal stress and preterm birth on development, and aging and age-related disease. Dr. Metz has extensive expertise in multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke, models of Parkinson's disease, motor system and recovery of movement, perinatal programming of disease, motor development and aging, stress, and preterm birth.

Analysis of Dr. Metz's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on stress responses in neurological conditions. Her work spans Parkinson's disease models, stroke recovery mechanisms, and transgenerational effects of stress on preterm birth. The research demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches combining behavioral neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, and epigenetics to understand how stress impacts neurological recovery and development.

Dr. Metz has received notable recognition including:

• AHFMR Senior Scholar (2008-2015)

Dr. Metz has successfully secured multiple research grants from prestigious agencies including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, and Canada Foundation for Innovation. Her research team includes graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and collaborators from other institutions including the University of Alberta and University of Calgary.

Dr. Metz leads the Metz Lab at the University of Lethbridge, which focuses on behavioral neuroscience approaches to understanding stress responses in neurological conditions. Her lab has mentored students who have gone on to win significant awards, including Zac Erickson who received the Shire ADHD Scholarship and Isaac Ward who led the Lethbridge High School iGEM team to win the Green Brick grand prize at MIT.