Justin Angert Rose Hills
Retina-Brain Synaptic Function During Retinal Degeneration
Vision loss from retinal degeneration, including disorders like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, affects millions worldwide, yet the full extent of neural mechanisms remains poorly defined. While much research has focused on photoreceptor death, growing evidence suggests that surviving retinal neurons and their downstream synaptic targets in the brain are also profoundly impacted. In the Kramer lab, we have found that degeneration not only disrupts retinal circuitry but also impairs neural activity in brain regions that depend on visual input. My research will investigate how retinal signals propagate through these brain regions during degeneration by stimulating retinal ganglion cell axons and recording downstream responses. By defining how degeneration reshapes communication across the visual pathway, this project aims to deepen our understanding of circuit-level disruptions in vision loss and help guide future strategies for restoring meaningful visual function.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for your support! I am sincerely grateful for this scholarship, which allows me to dedicate myself full-time to my independent research project at the Kramer Lab. This opportunity has helped me deepen my passion for neuroscience and given me the freedom to explore new ideas that excite me. Thank you for supporting young researchers and making projects like mine possible.