Wednesday, October 1, 2025 10/1/2025

The Function of Neural Activity in Developing Retina

Award Number: R01EY013528
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2002
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2027

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The Function of Neural Activity in Developing Retina - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Spontaneous activity is a hallmark of developing neural systems. Prior to the maturation of vision, immature retinal neurons spontaneously generate correlated activity. This activity propagates in the form of waves of action potentials that sweep across the retinal ganglion cell layer. Retinal waves persist from embryonic day 16 through two weeks after birth, a developmental period when functional circuits within the retina are emerging and retinal projections to the brain are undergoing a tremendous amount of refinement. Here we explore three Aims regarding mechanisms underlying the function of retinal waves. In Aim 1, we focus on understanding the circuits that mediate embryonic retinal waves. At this age, the retina is comprised of retinal ganglion cells, a few amacrine cells, and an extensive neuroblastic layer in which the other cell types are differentiating. Despite the lack of mature circuit elements, retinal waves are robust. Here we test hypotheses regarding the relative role of gap junction coupling and synaptic transmission in mediating these waves. In Aim 2 we focus on second postnatal week when retinal waves exhibit a profound propagation bias. During this time period, the majority of waves travel in the nasal direction, a firing pattern which mimics optic flow induced by forward motion. Here we explore the hypothesis that this asymmetry in propagating activity is due to asymmetric connectivity between a GABAergic interneurons that are well integrated into wave generating circuits. Finally, in Aim 3 we investigate the role of retinal waves and visual stimulation of light-sensitive retinal ganglion cells in the release of dopamine in the developing retina. Though dopamine plays a key role in several developmental processes, what controls release is unknown. We will employ a novel imaging method that allows for measuring phasic dopamine release in parallel with calcium transients. Using this method, we will explore the relative role of retinal waves and light stimulation in mediating dopamine release during development.”


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $389,118 )
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	23	3/13/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$389,118
														Subtotal = $389,118

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $389,118 )
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	22	2/23/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$389,118
2024	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	20	2/9/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $389,118

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $401,268 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	21	2/17/2023	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$401,268
														Subtotal = $401,268

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $402,057 )
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	20	1/22/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$373,043
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	20	2/23/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$29,014
														Subtotal = $402,057

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $458,283 )
2020	2020	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	19	1/17/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$458,283
														Subtotal = $458,283

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $458,912 )
2019	2019	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	18	9/6/2019	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$87,346
2019	2019	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	2150 SHATTUCK AVE RM 313	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	18	1/10/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$371,566
														Subtotal = $458,912

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $372,176 )
2018	2018	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	2150 SHATTUCK AVE RM 313	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	17	2/8/2018	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$372,176
2018	2016	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	2150 SHATTUCK AVE RM 313	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	16	2/9/2018	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
														Subtotal = $372,176

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $361,949 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	16	4/5/2016	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$361,949
														Subtotal = $361,949

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $356,657 )
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	15	3/19/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$356,657
														Subtotal = $356,657

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $358,418 )
2014	2014	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	14	4/16/2014	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$358,418
														Subtotal = $358,418

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $349,002 )
2013	2013	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	13	6/6/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$18,368
2013	2013	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	13	4/24/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$330,634
														Subtotal = $349,002

Issue Date FY: 2012 ( Subtotal = $368,859 )
2012	2012	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	12	3/15/2012	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$368,859
														Subtotal = $368,859

Issue Date FY: 2011 ( Subtotal = $351,725 )
2011	2011	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	11	6/14/2011	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$21,983
2011	2011	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	11	3/17/2011	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$329,742
														Subtotal = $351,725

Issue Date FY: 2010 ( Subtotal = $367,143 )
2010	2010	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	10	4/30/2010	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$367,143
														Subtotal = $367,143

Issue Date FY: 2009 ( Subtotal = $471,299 )
2009	2009	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	9	9/11/2009	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$100,000
2009	2009	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	9	3/26/2009	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$371,299
														Subtotal = $471,299

Issue Date FY: 2008 ( Subtotal = $364,836 )
2008	2008	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	8	3/31/2008	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$364,836
														Subtotal = $364,836

Issue Date FY: 2007 ( Subtotal = $372,944 )
2007	2007	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, REGENTS	481 UNIVERSITY HALL	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	7	9/14/2007	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$220,718
2007	2007	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO	9500 GILMAN DRIVE	LA JOLLA	CA	92093	SAN DIEGO	USA	Vision Research	000	6	5/1/2007	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$152,226
														Subtotal = $372,944

Issue Date FY: 2006 ( Subtotal = $217,809 )
2006	2006	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO	9500 GILMAN DRIVE	LA JOLLA	CA	92093	SAN DIEGO	USA	Vision Research	000	5	3/31/2006	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$217,809
														Subtotal = $217,809

Issue Date FY: 2005 ( Subtotal = $223,195 )
2005	2005	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO	Q027	LA JOLLA	CA	92093	SAN DIEGO	USA	Vision Research	000	4	4/4/2005	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$223,195
														Subtotal = $223,195

Issue Date FY: 2004 ( Subtotal = $223,335 )
2004	2004	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO	Q027	LA JOLLA	CA	92093	SAN DIEGO	USA	Vision Research	000	3	3/22/2004	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$223,335
														Subtotal = $223,335

Issue Date FY: 2003 ( Subtotal = $223,470 )
2003	2003	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO	Q027	LA JOLLA	CA	92093	SAN DIEGO	USA	Vision Research	000	2		NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$223,470
														Subtotal = $223,470

Grand Total All Awards = $7,755,175

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The Function of Neural Activity in Developing Retina

Award Number: R01EY013528

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2002

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2027

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