Peter R. MacLeish

Peter R. MacLeish serves as Professor of Neurobiology at Morehouse School of Medicine's School of Medicine, where his laboratory in the Multidisciplinary Research Center (F-22614) investigates fundamental mechanisms of retinal function and regeneration.

Education:

• Undergraduate: Bachelor of Engineering Science (Electrical) from University of Western Ontario
• Graduate: Doctor of Philosophy from Harvard University
• Postdoctoral Training: Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School

Research Focus: Dr. MacLeish's program encompasses two interconnected domains. First, he characterizes functional properties of mature retinal neurons in salamanders and primates using electrophysiology and optical imaging to dissect phototransduction cascades, synaptic connectivity, and compartmentalized ionic conductances. Second, he investigates retinal regeneration mechanisms in adult newts, examining how retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells undergo depigmentation, proliferation, and differentiation to form functional retinas after injury. His innovative approaches include antibody-immobilized substrates to enhance neuronal adhesion for in vitro studies.

Publication Trends: His 25-year publication record reveals consistent contributions to vision science, evolving from foundational studies on retinal development (1990s) to contemporary work on primate retinal circuitry (2010s), with his 2015 BRAIN Initiative paper highlighting leadership in large-scale neuroscience collaboration. The body of work demonstrates methodological progression from immunolabeling to advanced electrophysiological techniques across multiple model organisms.

Scientific Recognition:

• Elected Member of the Institute of Medicine (National Academies)
• Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives membership
• NIH BRAIN Initiative Working Group participant

Research Operations: While specific grant details aren't provided, his laboratory maintains active research programs in retinal neuroscience with demonstrated capacity for multi-institutional collaboration as evidenced by the BRAIN Initiative publication. The absence of student listings suggests either independent research focus or unreported mentoring activities.

Facilities: Research is conducted within the Multidisciplinary Research Center at Morehouse School of Medicine, utilizing specialized equipment for cellular electrophysiology and optical imaging of retinal tissues.