معرفی
David M Berson is the Sidney A. Fox and Dorothea Doctors Fox Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Brown University's Department of Neuroscience. He has been affiliated with Brown since 1985, completing both undergraduate studies (AB, 1975) and a postdoctoral fellowship there after earning his PhD in Neuroscience from MIT (1980). His research focuses on the structure and function of retinal ganglion cells, particularly their roles in encoding visual information and regulating circadian rhythms. Key discoveries include identifying intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which directly transmit light information to brain centers for circadian entrainment and pupillary reflexes.
Research interests span retinal physiology, neuroanatomy, and circadian biology, with a focus on how retinal circuits encode light intensity and motion. His work integrates electrophysiology, genetic tools, and anatomical tracing to characterize ganglion cell diversity and their neural pathways. Notable grants include an NIH R01 (2014-2024) studying mammalian ganglion cells and previous funding on phototransduction mechanisms.
Publications highlight themes like ipRGC signaling in mood regulation, retinal inhibitory circuits, and light-driven behaviors. Awards include the Friedenwald Award (2015) and AAAS Fellowship (2009). Teaching roles include directing an advanced neuroanatomy lab course (Neur 1650) and contributing to medical neuroscience education. Collaborators include Jerome Sanes and Gilad Barnea, with active participation in professional societies like the Society for Neuroscience.
