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Structure and function of primate retinal circuits

Award Number: R01EY024265
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2014
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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Structure and function of primate retinal circuits - PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Visual information is transmitted from the primate eye to the brain through at least 20 distinct retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types, each of which is thought to extract specific features from the visual scene. Although the most numerically abundant primate RGC types have been well characterized, the physiological functions of a dozen or more sparse types remain unknown. These uncharacterized RGC types are likely involved in crucial visual reflexes and image-forming vision, but their sparsity has made them difficult to study. To address this knowledge gap, we recently developed a robust experimental approach to link genetically defined RGC types with their specific morphologies and physiological functions. Our approach led to the discovery of On-type direction-selective ganglion cells (On-DSGCs) in the macaque retina, a sparse but highly conserved RGC type that plays a critical role in gaze stabilization across vertebrates. Here, we will build on this discovery and leverage recent insights from comparative genomics to test our central hypothesis that sparse primate RGCs serve the same critical visual functions as their orthologous cell types in lower vertebrates. In Aim 1, we will test the hypothesis that the preferred directions and speed tuning mechanisms of macaque On-DSGCs are conserved with that of other species. In Aim 2, we will test the hypothesis that the macaque retina contains object-motion sensitive RGCs that, like their orthologs in mouse retina, selectively express the transcription factor, RUNX1. In Aim 3, we will test the hypothesis that orientation-selective RGCs are present in macaque retina and have functional properties that are conserved with an orthologous cell type in mouse. To address these aims, we will utilize our proven multimodal approach, which combines ex vivo two photon calcium imaging to measure functional responses, with post-hoc molecular identification to link each recorded RGC type to its transcriptomic identity. Our integrated approach will reveal novel primate RGC types with complex receptive field properties that have hitherto escaped detection due to their sparsity. Moreover, understanding the correspondence between RGC types in primates and other species will permit rational application of findings from lower vertebrates to advance understanding of the primate, and by extension, the human visual system. These outcomes will be crucial to develop more realistic models of human vision and ultimately to improve diagnostics and therapeutics for retinal disease.


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 = $1,117,665 )
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	11	8/20/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,117,665
2025	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	10	8/20/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $1,117,665

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $389,351 )
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	10	11/30/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$389,351
														Subtotal = $389,351

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $389,351 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	9	3/8/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$38,934
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	9	12/1/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$350,417
														Subtotal = $389,351

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $377,671 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	8	1/31/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$27,256
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	8	11/12/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$350,415
														Subtotal = $377,671

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $387,624 )
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	7	12/14/2020	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$387,624
														Subtotal = $387,624

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = -$112 )
2020	2018	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	6	9/28/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$112
														Subtotal = -$112

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $353,250 )
2018	2018	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	2150 SHATTUCK AVE RM 313	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	000	6	4/11/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$353,250
														Subtotal = $353,250

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $353,250 )
2017	2017	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	2150 SHATTUCK AVE RM 313	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	005	5	7/10/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$35,325
2017	2017	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	2150 SHATTUCK AVE RM 313	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	002	5	3/20/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$317,925
2017	2016	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	2150 SHATTUCK AVE RM 313	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	001	4	12/6/2016	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$53,900
2017	2016	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	2150 SHATTUCK AVE RM 313	BERKELEY	CA	94704	ALAMEDA	USA	Vision Research	004	4	4/18/2017	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$14,814
2017	2016	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	003	3	4/18/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$14,814
2017	2016	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	3	12/6/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$53,900
														Subtotal = $353,250

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $346,500 )
2016	2016	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK ROAD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	3	3/30/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$346,500
														Subtotal = $346,500

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $339,570 )
2015	2015	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK ROAD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	2	3/27/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$339,570
														Subtotal = $339,570

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $346,500 )
2014	2014	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK ROAD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	1	4/1/2014	NEW	$346,500
														Subtotal = $346,500

Grand Total All Awards = $4,400,620

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Structure and function of primate retinal circuits

Award Number: R01EY024265

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2014

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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