The process of vision is initiated in the retina, which is the most accessible part of the central nervous system, supplying over 30% of the sensory input to the brain (in humans). Not surprisingly, visual (and specifically retinal) dysfunction is observed in a large number of syndromic and inherited genetic diseases. The goal of RDIG is to promote interactions among scientists interested in biology, pathogenesis and treatments of syndromic diseases involving visual dysfunction or diseases of the neuronal tissue. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in lively discussions.
The group moderators are Drs. Anand Swaroop and Jacob Nellissery. To receive information about group activities, sign up for the sign up for the listserv , or send an email to RDIG-L@LIST.NIH.GOV.
Meetings and Seminars
Upcoming seminars
April 29, 2021
"Transplantation of human photoreceptors into mouse models of retinal degeneration - incorporation, maturation and function”; Marius Alder, Center for Regenerative Therapies, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany
Past seminars (2019-Present)
December 16, 2021
"Development of the Outer Plexiform Layer in the Human Retina"; Aaron Nagiel, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
November 15, 2021
“Multi-omics, Models and Machine Learning: Understanding Non-Coding Variants in Retinal Disease”; Tim Cherry, Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington – Seattle Children’s Research Institute
October 6, 2021
"The role of metabolism on photoreceptor cell health during the progression of retinal degenerative disease”; Katherine Wert, Departments of Ophthalmology and Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center
October 4, 2021
"How the kinetics of Crx and Nrl binding to DNA shapes promoter activity"; Barry E. Knox, Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences as well as Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University
August 6, 2021
"Pathoconnectomics in retinal degeneration"; Bryan Jones, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine
July 12, 2021
“Cis-regulatory landscapes in human retina and retinal enhanceropathies” ; Elfride De Baere, Center for Medical Genetics, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University
September 30, 2020
"A high glycemia diet increases risk for age related macular degeneration: a mechanistic analysis"; Dr. Allen Taylor, Tufts University
February 3, 2020
"Thyroid hormone and cone photoreceptors: diversity, differentiation and death"; Dr. Douglas Forrest, NIDDK, NIH
January 6, 2020
“It is more than just ATGC: discovering new bases in DNA”; Dr. Aravind Iyer, NCBI, NIH
September 23, 2019
“Chaperones in photoreceptors: AIPL1 and Ric8A” ; Dr. Nikolai Artemyev, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
June 3, 2019
Dr. Michael Redmond, NEI, NIH
April 9, 2019
“A tale of ARL family of GTPases in photoreceptor health and function"; Dr. Visvanathan Ramamurth, School of Medicine, West Virginia University
April 1, 2019
“Novel peptides targeting retinal signaling: Toward peptide therapeutics”; Dr. S. Patricia Becerra, NEI, NIH
March 20, 2019
“Proteasomal overload as a common stress factor and therapeutic target in retinal degeneration” ; Dr. Vadim Arshavsky, School of Medicine, Duke University
March 4, 2019
“Albinism: Can it become a treatable disease?”; Dr. Brian Brooks, NEI, NIH
February 6, 2019
“How studies of retinal development can help us combat retinal degeneration” ; Dr. Colin J. Barnstable, Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State Hershey Eye Center