Visual circuits: structure, function, and repair

Vision is a key sense for humans, and dysfunction of the visual system leads to visual handicap or blindness. The visual circuits group aims to find ways to repair visual dysfunction by investigating the function of the retina, thalamus, and cortex at the level of cell types and circuits, and using the acquired knowledge to understand disease mechanisms and to develop treatments.

The experimental approach is interdisciplinary: the group combines physiological, molecular, viral, and computational approaches to reveal the structure and function of visual circuits. The group uses molecular techniques to genetically identify cell types in the network and label them using transgenic or viral technologies. The connections between labeled cells are revealed using trans-synaptic viruses. The group then studies the function of a genetically isolated circuit with physiological and imaging tools. The group also uses computational methods to predict the behavior of an isolated circuit under natural conditions.

Finally, the group combines the insights from basic circuit investigations with human genetics to understand disease mechanisms and uses viral vectors to develop cell-type-targeted gene therapies to treat visual dysfunction.