Objective It is now >10 years since the remarkable discovery that photoreception in the mammalian retina occurs outside of rod and cone cells. In that time we have learnt a great deal about the melanopsin expressing retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs) that provide this non-rod non-cone photoreception, and about their extensive contribution to sub-conscious light responses. However, one idea that has persisted is that these mRGCs play little if any role in visual perception. Exciting new data challenge that view. Thus, we have recently described an extraordinarily extensive mRGC input to the primary visual pathway. This provides ~40% of neurones in the mouse visual thalamus with melanopsin signals, superimposed upon more conventional visual information. The discovery of this unexpected sensory input to the mammalian visual system raises several important questions: What does it contribute to vision? How is the melanopsin signal brought to the thalamus and how is it propagated/processed through higher visual centres? Does melanopsin help people with retinal degeneration (in which mRGCs long outlive rods and cones) to see? Could optimising melanopsin vision offer a new strategy for improving vision in these people? We propose addressing these questions by using state-of-the-art neurophysiological and anatomical techniques in mice. Our overarching objectives are Objective 1: What does melanopsin contribute to vision? Objective 2: How is melanopsin vision impacted by retinal degeneration? Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineophthalmology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-LS5 - ERC Advanced Grant - Neurosciences and neural disorders Call for proposal ERC-2010-AdG_20100317 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Coordinator THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Address Oxford road M13 9PL Manchester United Kingdom See on map Region North West (England) Greater Manchester Manchester Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Robert James Lucas (Prof.) Administrative Contact Liz Fay (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER United Kingdom EU contribution € 2 499 636,00 Address Oxford road M13 9PL Manchester See on map Region North West (England) Greater Manchester Manchester Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Robert James Lucas (Prof.) Administrative Contact Liz Fay (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
