Matthijs Bossong
Lecturer
- Name
- Dr. M.G. Bossong
- Telephone
- 071 5272727
- m.g.bossong@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0001-7880-2300
Matthijs Bossong is a neuroscientist and registered pharmacologist, currently affiliated with the Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit at Leiden University. He obtained his PhD from Utrecht University in 2012, where he investigated the acute effects of cannabis on the human brain using advanced neuroimaging techniques. Bossong has held research positions at UMC Utrecht, King’s College London, Trimbos Institute and Leiden University. His work has been supported by several prestigious grants, including the NWO Rubicon and VENI fellowships.
Research
Matthijs Bossong’s research lies at the intersection of neuropsychopharmacology, brain function, and psychiatry, with a particular focus on psychosis and the endocannabinoid system. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI and PET, he investigates the effects of pharmacological interventions on brain function in both experimental and clinical settings. He has led multiple national and international projects, exploring neurobiological mechanisms underlying the onset of psychosis, treatments for individuals at clinical high risk (including cannabidiol and omega-3 fatty acids), and the modulation of placebo and nocebo effects in sensory perception. His work integrates psychopharmacology, translational psychiatry and cognitive neuroscience.
Teaching
Matthijs is primarily responsible for supervising MSc Psychology theses and research projects within the International BSc Psychology program.
Fellowships & Grants
- Rudolf Magnus Young Talent Fellowship, €200,000
- NWO VENI fellowship €250,000
- King’s Health Partner’s Research and Development Challenge Fund, Research Project, £99,221
- NWO Rubicon Fellowship €144,937
Relevant links
Lecturer
- Social & Behavioural Sciences
- Psychology
- Health, Medical & Neuropsychology
- Knight S.R. Abbasova L. Zeighami Y. Hansen J.Y. Martins D. Zelaya F. Dipasquale O. Liu T. Shin D. Bossong M. Azis M. Antoniades M. Howes O.D. Bonoldi I. Egerton A. Allen P. O'Daly O. McGuire P. Modinos G. (2025), Transcriptional and neurochemical signatures of cerebral blood flow alterations in schizophrenia and individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis, Biological Psychiatry : .
- Winter-van Rossum I Slot MIE van Hell HH Bossong MG Berger G Aschauer H Maat A Walitza S Lavan O Baeza I Dolz M Monducci E Fiori Nastro P Kroken RA Lawrie SM Díaz-Caneja CM Renner T Schlögelhofer M Scharinger C Spalletta G Banaj N Otero S Schipper M Kwakkel DB, PURPOSE Study Group & Kahn RS. (2025), Effectiveness of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Versus Placebo in Subjects at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis: The PURPOSE Randomized Clinical Trial. , Schizophrenia Bulletin 51: .
- Bhattacharyya S., Appiah-Kusi E., Wilson R., O'Neill A., Brammer M., Williams S., Perez J., Bossong M.G. & McGuire P. (2024), Effects of cannabidiol on symptoms in people at clinical high risk for psychosis, World Psychiatry 23(3): 451-452.
- Leen M.A. Kowal M.A. Batalla A. Bossong M.G. (2024), The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature review. , Frontiers in Pharmacology 15: .
- van Boxel R. Gangadin S.S. Janssen H. van der Steur S. van der Vinne L.J.C. Dortants L. Pelgrim T.A.D. Draisma L.W.R. Tuura R. van der Meer P. Batalla A. Bossong M.G. (2023), The impact of cannabidiol treatment on resting state functional connectivity, prefrontal metabolite levels and reward processing in recent-onset patients with a psychotic disorder. , Journal of Psychiatric Research : .
- Davies C. Bossong M.G. Martins D. Wilson R. Appiah-Kusi E. Blest-Hopley G. Allen P. Zelaya F. Lythgoe D.J. Brammer M. Perez J. McGuire P. Bhattacharyya S. (2023), Hippocampal Glutamate, Resting Perfusion and the Effects of Cannabidiol in Psychosis Risk. , Schizophrenia Bulletin Open 4: .
- Bossong M.G. Antoniades M. Azis M. Samson C. Quinn B. Bonoldi I. Modinos G. Pérez J. Howes O.D. Stone J. Allen P. McGuire P. (2019), Association of Hippocampal Glutamate Levels With Adverse Outcomes in Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis, JAMA Psychiatry 75: .
- Bhattacharyya S. Wilson R. Appiah-Kusi E. O'Neill A. Brammer M. Perez J. Murray R. Allen P. Bossong M.G. McGuire P. (2018), Effect of Cannabidiol on Medial Temporal, Midbrain, and Striatal Dysfunction in People at Clinical High Risk of Psychosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. , JAMA Psychiatry 75: .
- Hoofd Klinisch Onderzoek