Gerlinde Alexandra Metz PhD, MSc, BSc

The research program of Dr. Gerlinde Metz focuses on the influence of experience and environment on behavior and brain plasticity. Her work showed that stress affects motor system function, risk of Parkinson’s disease, and recovery from stroke. This research indicated that adverse experiences at any time in life can become a predisposing or precipitating factor of disease. More recently, her laboratory has developed unique models to explore the transgenerational inheritance of stress responses. Through transgenerational programming, experience in parents, grandparents, and beyond can influence health and disease from early development to old age.

Dr. Metz completed her undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Giessen and graduate studies in neuroscience at ETH Zurich. She habilitated in medicine at the University of Jena. She is an AHFMR Senior Scholar. Her research program is characterized by interdisciplinary collaborations around the world.