Research Projects

A large percentage of physiological processes and disease incidence are seasonal including disorders of nervous system. The annual change in day lengths is one of the most important environmental stimuli that can improve health or cause neuropathology (e.g., seasonal affective disorder; sAD, neurodegenerative disorders). Also, it is now well understood that light can directly influence mood and cognition via the activation of the orexinergic system which in turn regulates the functioning of brain regions of the limbic system. However, how natural seasonal cycle of light availability regulates the functioning of these regions is not known. Further, in mammals, eye is essential for light detection and transmitting sensory information into the brain. The molecular components that respond to light stimulation have several connections to brain regions that modulate seasonal rhythms in physiology, immune function and cognitive health. Remarkably, very few studies have examined how the eye responds to seasonal changes in day length. This study will use cutting-edge deep sequencing and other molecular biology tools to investigate the entire suite of seasonally changing molecules in the eye and the sensory brain regions responsible for mood and cognition control. Then, the impact of melatonin which is a physiological reader of seasonal change in night length will be examined to uncover hormone-dependent regulation of eye function. The studies will use a highly seasonal rodent model because these animals display massive changes in physiology and immune function that is reliable, predictable and is best suited for translational studies to humans. This project seeks to resolve the important question of how molecular changes in the eye and sensory processing regions contribute to annual health and wellbeing.