Lucas Group

Until around 20 years ago it was considered axiomatic that all aspects of vision originated with rod and cone photoreceptors. We now know that there is an additional, inner retinal light detector called melanopsin.

We have a long-standing interest in understanding how melanopsin helps us to see. We discovered that it sets pupil size and can also drive some types of light adaptation. We are now interested in better understanding how melanopsin adjusts vision, and the extent to which it can contribute directly to perception.

Animal opsins are light-activated G-protein coupled receptors, and can be used to render mammalian cells photosensitive.

We are now developing sophisticated ways to engineer opsins to exploit this property as effective tools for research and, potentially, clinical application.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Altug studied for a BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Istanbul Technical University and an MSc in Developmental Neurobiology at King’s College London. He then completed a PhD in Neuroscience at The University of Manchester. He is currently investigating the effects of light exposure on activity, sleep and human performance using a novel wearable light sensor device.

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PhD student

Qian Huang holds a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Medicine and a master’s degree in Neurology from Capital Medical University in China. Gradually, she found that she preferred doing lab research to clinical practices and became more and more interested in light-related neurobiology.

Currently, she is focusing on how visual scenes influence behavioural states in mammals, using electrophysiological and behavioural recordings of laboratory mice to map the brain’s response to the light environment.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Becky obtained a BSc in Neuroscience from King’s College London (with a placement year at Eli Lilly UK) and a PhD in Biomedical Science from Lancaster University, studying how genetic risk factors for schizophrenia affect brain function and behaviour in both mice and drosophila. Becky joined the lab in 2018 bringing a wealth of experience in rodent cognition and behaviour to study optogenetic approaches to vision restoration. Becky is currently working on understanding the impact of self-selected light and activity/arousal signals on circadian rhythms and clock function in a diurnal rodent, Rhabdomys pumilio.

Technician

Franck studied at the Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris, obtaining a master’s degree in Physiology and Cellular Biology, and a PhD in Neuroscience.

He has a wealth of experience in designing, building and maintaining bespoke experimental equipment, which makes him an invaluable member of the lab, supporting all aspects of our research.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Richard obtained a BSc in Biomedical Science and an MRes in Biological Sciences at The University of Manchester, before also completing a PhD in Regenerative Medicine at Manchester.

He is currently investigating structure-function relationships of bistable animal opsins to better define opsin signalling and conduct rational engineering of novel optogenetic tools.

Research Fellow

Nina obtained an MSc in Molecular Biology and Physiology from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Interactions, from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis (now Côte d’Azur University), Nice, France. Nina is a Fight for Sight Early Career Investigator. Her current research interests are optogenetic therapies for treating blindness, and light effects on mood and affective state.

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Research Fellow

Patrycja obtained an MSc in Biology and PhD in Biological Sciences from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. In 2019, she was awarded a Bekker Fellowship (NAWA, Poland) to join the Lucas group, and has subsequently obtained a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (European Commission) to stay in Manchester. She is currently investigating photic sensitivity of neurons in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in diurnal (Rhabdomys) and nocturnal (mice) rodents and melanopsin’s role in image-forming vision using an array of electrophysiological techniques.

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PhD student

Ashwathi completed her integrated BS-MS degree from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram.

She has a background in chronobiology and neuroscience and is currently investigating the effect of bright light therapy in delaying cognitive decline in models of neurodegenerative diseases.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Rose studied for a BSc in Biomedical Science with Neuroscience at the University of Sheffield and then completed an MRes in Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine and a PhD in Molecular Genetics at the University of Manchester. She is currently using a combination of molecular and behavioural experiments to determine the contribution of the inner retinal photopigment, melanopsin to daytime vision.

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Postdoctoral Research Associate

Jess graduated with a BSc in Psychology from the University of York in 2012, then completed a PhD in Clinical Neuroscience from University of Oxford in 2016.

Her current work investigates network remodelling caused by retinal degeneration. She also studies optogenetic therapies for vision restoration.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Tom trained the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, obtaining first a bachelor’s in Psychology, then a master’s in Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience, and finally a PhD in Circadian Biology.

He is currently using psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques to explore melanopsin’s contribution to vision.

Senior technician

Jon has been at The University of Manchester since 2004 and a member of the Lucas group since 2009.

He plays an invaluable role in ensuring smooth and safe operation of our laboratories and contributes directly to our studies of melanopsin vision and optogenetic visual restoration.