Sunday, February 15, 2026 2/15/2026

Functional subtypes of retinal ganglion cell photoreceptors

Award Number: R01EY032564
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2027

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Functional subtypes of retinal ganglion cell photoreceptors - Project Summary The retina conveys visual information to the brain through retinal ganglion cells whose axons make up the optic nerve. There are many different types of retinal ganglion cells that in parallel convey a different component of vision, such as detail, color, direction, or intensity. Most retinal ganglion cells receive a processed version photoreceptor output, through synapses in the retina. Some retinal ganglion cells contain their own photopigment (melanopsin) and respond directly to light. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) send their axons to at least 16 distinct central brain regions and influence a wide range of behaviors such as circadian entrainment and pupil reflex, sleep, body temperature, and mood. This proposal seeks to examine functional subtypes of ipRGCs, their location and density in the retina, and the light response properties that differentiate functional groups. Preliminary data indicates some ipRGC types can be divided into functional subtypes based on their mosaic spacing and the expression of unique mRNA, and Cre. We hypothesize ipRGC subtypes are restricted to sub-regions of retina and ipRGCs within these subtypes differ in their anatomical spacing, the neurotransmitters they release at central synapses, and the specific light stimuli they respond to. We have identified unique subtypes of ipRGCs with restricted to the dorsal retina that express inhibitory proteins and are spaced evenly across the retina, indicating they align in functional groups. In this proposal, we will map the locations of individual ipRGC subtypes across the entire retina to build a spatial map of their dendrites and how they overlap with each other. We will test ipRGCs for unique mRNA expression patterns and use central brain injections to label them from distinct brain regions and estimate the total number of ipRGC subtypes. We will use multielectrode array recordings to record from thousands of ipRGCs in response to a detailed array of light stimuli and use unbiased cluster analysis to define their functional groups.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $437,571 )
2026	2026	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	001	5	2/6/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$437,571
2026	2025	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	4	1/23/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $437,571

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $437,571 )
2025	2025	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	4	2/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$437,571
														Subtotal = $437,571

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $437,571 )
2024	2024	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	3	4/11/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$437,571
														Subtotal = $437,571

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $437,571 )
2023	2023	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	2	2/13/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$437,571
														Subtotal = $437,571

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $438,272 )
2022	2022	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Vision Research	000	1	3/18/2022	NEW	$438,272
														Subtotal = $438,272

Grand Total All Awards = $2,188,556

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Functional subtypes of retinal ganglion cell photoreceptors

Award Number: R01EY032564

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2027

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer