Contact information
Photosensitive retinal ganglion cells
Collaborators
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Mark Hankins
Professor of Visual Neuroscience
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Russell Foster
Head of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute
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Stuart Peirson
Professor of Circadian Neuroscience
Steven Hughes
BSc MSc PhD
Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow
My research focuses predominantly on the role of melanopsin based signaling pathways in the retina, and determining the mechanisms of phototransduction within photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. Specific interests include the role of ion channels in melanopsin signaling events and the regulation of pRGC excitability.
Other projects include assessing the impacts of naturally occurring genetic variations (OPN4 SNPs) on melanopsin function, and examining the potential of melanopsin based optogenetic gene therapy to restore functional vision in models of retinal degeneration.
Key publications
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Signalling by melanopsin (OPN4) expressing photosensitive retinal ganglion cells
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2016), Eye, 30, 247 - 254
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Using siRNA to define functional interactions between melanopsin and multiple G Protein partners
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2015), Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 72, 165 - 179
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Nonuniform distribution and spectral tuning of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells of the mouse retina.
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2013), Curr Biol, 23, 1696 - 1701
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Profound defects in pupillary responses to light in TRPM-channel null mice: a role for TRPM channels in non-image-forming photoreception
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2012), European Journal of Neuroscience, 35, 34 - 43
Recent publications
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ON-bipolar cell gene expression during retinal degeneration: Implications for optogenetic visual restoration
Journal article
Gilhooley MJ. et al, (2021), Experimental Eye Research, 207, 108553 - 108553
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The functional characteristics of optogenetic gene therapy for vision restoration
Journal article
Lindner M. et al, (2021), Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 78, 1597 - 1613
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The functional characteristics of optogenetic gene therapy for vision restoration
Journal article
HANKINS M. et al, (2020), Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
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Functional characterisation of naturally occurring mutations in human melanopsin
Journal article
Rodgers J. et al, (2018), Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 75, 3609 - 3624
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Differential roles for cryptochromes in the mammalian retinal clock
Journal article
Wong JCY. et al, (2018), The FASEB Journal, 32, 4302 - 4314
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Long-term restoration of visual function in end-stage retinal degeneration using subretinal human melanopsin gene therapy
Journal article
De Silva SR. et al, (2017), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114, 11211 - 11216
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Expression and localisation of two-pore domain (K2P) background leak potassium ion channels in the mouse retina
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2017), Scientific Reports, 7
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Constant Light Desynchronizes Olfactory versus Object and Visuospatial Recognition Memory Performance
Journal article
Tam SKE. et al, (2017), The Journal of Neuroscience, 37, 3555 - 3567
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Modulation of recognition memory performance by light requires both melanopsin and classical photoreceptors
Journal article
Tam SKE. et al, (2016), Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283, 20162275 - 20162275
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Attenuated pupillary light responses and downregulation of opsin expression parallel decline in circadian disruption in two different mouse models of Huntington's disease
Journal article
Hughes S., (2016), Human Molecular Genetics