View Annual Report - Jules Stein Eye Institute

68 Faculty
INsTITuTe memBeRs
BaseD aT OTheR sITes
James W. Bisley, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Psychology
Member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute
Member of the Brain Research Institute
ReseaRch summaRy
Cognitive Processing of
Visual Information
Dr. Bisley’s research revolves around understanding the
neural mechanisms underlying the cognitive processing
of visual information. These cognitive processes include
visual perception, visual memory, and visual attention.
His recent work has focused on how the responses of
neurons in the posterior parietal cortex are involved in
the allocation of visual attention to neurons in visual
cortices and how they guide eye movements in goaldirected
visual search.
Nicholas c. Brecha, PhD
Professor of Neurobiology and Medicine
Vice Chair of the Department of Neurobiology
Member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute
Member of the Brain Research Institute
Member of CURE: Center for Digestive Diseases
ReseaRch summaRy
Functional and Structural Organization
of the Mammalian Retina
Dr. Brecha’s research focuses on the elucidation of the
structural organization of the outer and inner retina for
understanding visual information processing by the
retina. Morphological studies have defined cell types
and classes, and microcircuitry organization in the retina,
and neurochemical studies have investigated the action
of neurotransmitters and neuroactive peptides in retinal
microcircuits. Experimental work has clarified the
functional role of neuropeptides in the inner retina and
supports the current hypothesis that certain neuropeptides
are modulators of retinal neurons and circuitry
that influence light and dark adaptation; they also
influence retinal circuitry that mediates form vision.
Other experimental work has investigated the photoreceptor
synaptic triad, a specialized synaptic complex
that is the site of initial transfer of visual information
from photoreceptors and is critically important for visual
processing. Experimental studies are testing the idea
that a vesicular mechanism underlies transmitter
release from horizontal cells in this triad to mediate
feedback and feed forward signaling, which is critically
important for the formation of visual receptive fields.
These investigations are fundamental steps in establishing
the retina’s functional organization and provide
the basis for understanding the pathophysiology of
retinal dysfunction.
Patrick T. Dowling, mD, mPh
Chairman of the UCLA Department of Family Medicine
Kaiser Permanente Endowed Professor of
Community Medicine
Member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute
Health Care Policy and Access for
Underserved Populations
Dr. Dowling is a member of the California Community
Foundation’s Board of Directors and the Board of
Trustees at the Charles Drew University of Medicine and
Science. He has received numerous grants for international
medical graduate training, residency training
and family medicine training. He has made unparalleled
contributions to the community and to the training of
physicians to support the community at a primary level.
He is a prior Commissioner of Public Health for the
Los Angeles County Department of Health and currently
has funding for an innovative program to increase
the number of Hispanic physicians in California.
Dr. Dowling worked closely with Dr. Anne Coleman
on the Remote Area Medical Program, which provided
care to the homeless and indigent in the Los Angeles
community. Dr. Dowling’s presence as a member of the
Jules Stein Eye Institute adds a new dimension that is
being developed and pioneered by Dr. Coleman at the
Institute’s Center for Eye Epidemiology.