Towards Optogenetic Restoration of Natural Retinal Activity (B05)

• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Network Neuroscience ; Ophthalmology ; Biomedical Systems Technology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 528760423

To restore vision for the blind, surviving neurons in the retina can be targeted with optogenetic constructs to allow artificial stimulation. Yet, little is known about how similar the artificially evoked neural activity is to natural responses and how this depends on the targeted class of retinal neurons. We will compare responses of retinal ganglion cells under natural and optogenetic stimulation of ganglion and bipolar cells to assess which retinal functions are retained and which adjustments may help recreate natural activity.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1690: Disease Mechanisms and Functional Restoration of Sensory and Motor Systems
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Tim Gollisch