Credit: Gabriel Luna

How do we see? How do the different retinal cell types interact with one another? How is that information processed deeper in the brain? What molecular and cellular mechanisms underlie neurodegenerative conditions and diseases that cause loss of vision, and can we develop novel cellular strategies to restore vision?

Researchers

Michael Beyeler

Assistant Professor
Computational Vision, Computational Neuroscience, Neuroengineering, Human-Computer Interaction.
Computational & Theoretical Neuroscience
The Visual System

Dennis Clegg

Professor
Wilcox Family Chair in BioMedicine
Dr Clegg's research focuses on developing cures for blindness using embryonic, iPS, and adult stem cells.
Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics of the Nervous System
Development of the Nervous System
Stem Cells
The Visual System

Peter Coffey

Researcher
Two major groups of diseases termed retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration are the leading causes of blindness.
Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias
Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics of the Nervous System
Development of the Nervous System
Stem Cells
The Visual System

Steven Fisher

Professor Emeritus
Structure and function in the vertebrate retina with an emphasis on mechanisms underlying photoreceptor degeneration and the role of glial cells in normal and injured or diseased retina.
Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics of the Nervous System
Stem Cells
The Visual System

Barry Giesbrecht

Professor
Visual attention; Cognitive neuroscience; Brain Imaging; Exercise physiology.
Systems Neuroscience & Imaging Neural Activity
The Visual System

Michael Goard

Assistant Professor
The overarching goal of my research is to better understand how the mammalian neocortex processes and stores incoming sensory information.
Behavioral Neuroscience & Neuroethology
Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics of the Nervous System
Systems Neuroscience & Imaging Neural Activity
The Visual System

Sung Soo Kim

Assistant Professor
Neural circuit dynamics and behavior; navigation in a visual environment; neural mechanisms of object selection and decision-making.
Behavioral Neuroscience & Neuroethology
Computational & Theoretical Neuroscience
Systems Neuroscience & Imaging Neural Activity
The Visual System

Geoff Lewis

Researcher
My current research involves developing treatment strategies for diseases and injuries of the retina.
Stem Cells
The Visual System

B.S. Manjunath

Professor
Computer vision, machine learning, microscopy image analysis, image segmentation, classification, tracking.
Computational & Theoretical Neuroscience
The Visual System
Tools & Technology Development

Craig Montell

Duggan Professor and Distinguished Professor
Decoding the receptors and channels required for animal behavior in Drosophila and the mosquito, Aedes aegypti.
Behavioral Neuroscience & Neuroethology
Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics of the Nervous System
Systems Neuroscience & Imaging Neural Activity
The Visual System

Sowon S Park

Assistant Professor
I work in Neurohumanities and Neuroliterary criticism.
Behavioral Neuroscience & Neuroethology
The Visual System

Monte Radeke

Project Scientist
Add Research Teaser.
Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics of the Nervous System
Development of the Nervous System
Stem Cells
The Visual System

Benjamin Reese

Professor
Organization, development and plasticity of the retina and visual pathway.
Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias
Development of the Nervous System
The Visual System

Spencer LaVere Smith

Co-Director, UCSB Brain Initiative
Associate Professor
Neuroengineering multiphoton imaging systems. Studying how neurons and their networks compute. Mouse visual system, behavior, large scale networks with subcellular resolution.
Behavioral Neuroscience & Neuroethology
Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics of the Nervous System
Computational & Theoretical Neuroscience
Systems Neuroscience & Imaging Neural Activity
Tools & Technology Development
The Visual System

William Smith

Professor
We research in two primary areas: (1) the mechanisms of neural tube closure in Xenopus and Ciona; (2) and behavior and neural circuity in Ciona.
Behavioral Neuroscience & Neuroethology
Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics of the Nervous System
Development of the Nervous System

Tommy Sprague

Assistant Professor
Studies how the brain represents information in support of goal-directed behavior using computational neuroimaging.
Computational & Theoretical Neuroscience
Systems Neuroscience & Imaging Neural Activity
The Visual System
Tools & Technology Development