Research focus

Maureen and Jay Neitz collaborate on all aspects of their research, bringing a broad range of techniques and skill sets to bear on questions about how the human visual system works.  The labs have several focus areas, including:

1) identifying variants of the human cone photopigments that underlie photoreceptor-based vision disorders, including age-related macular degeneration, nearsightedness, glaucoma, and color vision deficiencies;

2) developing genetic tests to identify individuals at risk for these disorders before they develop symptoms to maximize the possibility of preventing vision loss;

3) developing new tools for assessing visual function in the laboratory;

4) developing a cure for color blindness that can be used in humans, and

5) developing a better understanding of the neural circuitry for color vision.