Cristian González-Cabrera

Passionate and dedicated neuroscientist specializing in the study of neural circuits, particularly subcortical ones associated with the dopaminergic system. My recent focus has been on the GABAergic control within the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and I am keen on advancing this research further. With a strong foundation in both basic research and translational applications, my goal is to contribute to a deeper understanding of neural mechanisms that could pave the way for innovative treatments for Parkinson's disease and related disorders. I am seeking a Junior Principal Investigator position that allows me to explore these interests, collaborate with leading scientists, and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries in neuroscience.

• In vivo Electrophysiology: Expert in extracellular recordings in behaving and anesthetized animals by using juxtacellular recording/labelling, multielectrodes and silicon probes in combination with optotagging. Fiber photometry calcium imaging in behaving mice.
• Neuroanatomy: Proficient in stereotaxic brain nuclei targeting, viral neuronal tracing, and classical neuronal tracing techniques along with electron microscopy.
• Molecular Biology: Skilled in gene amplification & cloning, RNA probes engineering, and in situ hybridization assays.
• Circuits Manipulation: Optogenetics and chemogenetics circuit-specific targeting.
• Microscopy. Confocal, STED and Transmission electron microscopy.

• González-Cabrera C., Guatteo E., Berretta N., Montero T., Mercuri N, Henny P, Prigge M. (2024). The Mammal Moonwalker? GABAergic VTA Neurons subpopulation controls Backward walking in mice. Manuscript under preparation.
• González-Cabrera C., Montero T., Prigge, M., Henny P. (2024). Are there GABAergic interneurons in the Ventral Tegmental area (VTA)? In-vivo characterization of non-dopaminergic single-cells in the ventral tegmental area of the mouse. Manuscript under preparation.
• Oppermann J., Rozenberg A., Fabrin T., Gonzalez-Cabrera C., Béjà O., Prigge M., Hegemann P. (2023) Robust Optogenetic Inhibition with Red-light-sensitive Anion-conducting Channelrhodopsins. eLifedoi.org/10.7554/eLife.90100.1
• Montero T., Gatica R., Farassat N., Meza R., González-Cabrera C., Roeper J., Henny P. (2021). Dendritic Architecture Predicts In vivo Firing Pattern in Mouse Ventral Tegmental Area and Substantia Nigra Dopaminergic Neurons. Front Neural Circuits 10.3389/fncir.2021.769342
• Reyes-Pinto R., Ferrán J.L., Vega-Zuniga T., González-Cabrera C., Luksch H., Mpodozis J., Puelles L., Marín G.J. (2020). Change in the neurochemical signature and morphological development of the parvocellular isthmic projection to the avian tectum. doi.org/10.1002/cne.25229, J Comp Neurol
• Deichler A., Carrasco D., Gonzalez-Cabrera C., Letelier JC., Marín G., Mpodozis J. (2019) The nucleus pretectalis principalis: A pretectal structure hidden in the mammalian thalamus. J Comp Neurol 527:372-391.
• Garrido-Charad F., Vega-Zuniga T., Gutiérrez-Ibáñez C., Fernández P., Lopez-Jury L., González-Cabrera C., Karten H.J., Luksch H., Marín G.J. (2018) "Hub" neurons drive and synchronize the enhancing and suppressive mechanisms of the midbrain stimulus selection network. (2018) Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.(PNAS) 115,E7615–E7623.
• González-Cabrera C., Ulloa L., Meza R., Merino-Sepúlveda P., Luco V., Sanhueza A., Bolam JP., Henny P. (2017) Characterization of the axon initial segment of mice substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. J Comp Neurol 525:3529–3542.
• González-Cabrera C., Garrido-Charad F., Mpodozis J., Bolam JP., Marín GJ. (2016) Axon terminals from the nucleus isthmi pars parvocellularis control the ascending retino-tectofugal output through direct synaptic contact with the tectal ganglion cell dendrites. J Comp Neurol, 524:362–379.
• Vega-Zúñiga T., Marín G.J., González-Cabrera C., Planitscher E., Hartmann A., Marks V., Mpodozis J., Luksch H. (2016) Microconnectomics of the pretectum and ventral thalamus in the chicken (Gallus gallus). J Comp Neurol 524, 2208–2229.
• González-Cabrera C., Garrido-Charad F., Roth A., Marín GJ. (2015) The isthmic nuclei providing parallel feedback connections to the avian tectum have different neurochemical identities: Expression of Glutamatergic and Cholinergic Markers in the chick (Gallus gallus). J Comp Neurol 523:1341–1358.
• Salinas-Saavedra M.,González-Cabrera C., Ossa-Fuentes L., Botelho J.F., Ruiz M., Vargas A.O. (2014) New developmental evidence supports a homeotic frameshift of digit identity in the evolution of the bird wing. Front Zool 11(1): 33.
• Marín G.J., Durán E., Morales C., González-Cabrera C., Sentis E., Mpodozis J., Letelier J. (2012) Attentional capture? Synchronized feedback signals from the Isthmi boost retinal signals to higher visual areas. J Neurosci 32:1110–1122.

PhD Theses

• 2021-Present "The Hippocampus-mPFC connection is a neural resource of object place recognition". Neuromodulatory Networks Laboratory. Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology.
• 2020-Present "Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) as a therapeutic approach towards reducing functional deterioration of the Locus Coeruleous". Neuromodulatory Networks Laboratory. Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology.
• 2015-2021 "Architecture, dimension and activity correlates of the dendritic domain of individual ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic neurons in the mouse" Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Chile.

Master Theses

• 2014-2016 "Study of the projections of Shepherd's crook neurons from the optic tectum onto the nuclei of the isthmic complex in chicken (Gallus gallus)." Neuroanatomy and Neurobiology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Chile.
• 2013-2015 "The nucleus pretectalis principalis: A pretectal structure hidden in the mammalian thalamus" Neuroanatomy and Neurobiology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Chile.
• 2012-2014 "Development of the neurochemical phenotype and morphology of the axonal terminals of the Isthmi pars parvocellularis (Ipc) nucleus in Gallus gallus" Neuroanatomy and Neurobiology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Chile.

• Michael J. Fox Foundation and Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Grant, 2021-01-01, 2024-01-01, Role: Postdoctoral Researcher contributing to research on "Activity and connectivity drive neuronal vulnerability and disease progression in Parkinson’s disease", aiming to describe and manipulate neural activity of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in neuromelanin-accumulating mice models.
• Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation Grant, 2018-01-01, 2020-01-01, Role: Postdoctoral Researcher contributing to research on "Purkinje cells ensembles in adult mice", focusing on the synaptic organization and behavioral implications in autism spectrum disorders.
• FONDECYT Postdoctoral Grant, 2015-01-01, 2018-01-01, Principal Investigator for "In vivo electrophysiological and anatomical characterization of GABAergic subpopulations in the VTA of adult mice".
• CONICYT PhD Grant, 2009-01-01, 2013-01-01, Supported my doctoral research on "Neural circuits in the avian visual system".

• Review Editor as part of the Editorial Board for the Journal Frontiers in Neural Circuits
• Research Grant reviewer for the National Science Center of Poland

Supervisor/Group Leader, LATAM Airlines, Santiago de Chile
1999–2004

• Led a team of technicians in the avionics department, overseeing maintenance and ensuring adherence to safety standards.
• Developed strong leadership, project management, and technical problem-solving skills.

Avionics Specialist, LATAM Airlines, Santiago de Chile
1997–1999

• Specialized in avionics systems, performing to the maintenance and improvement of aircraft safety and performance.