Visual Neuroscience

Entry requirements

For entry requirements, please see our website

Months of entry

January, October, July, April

Course content

Visual Neuroscience is a research area in which you can focus your studies within our PhD programme in Vision Sciences.

Distinctive features

• International centre of excellence
• Laboratory suites equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for cell and organ culture, histology, neuroscience, protein analysis, molecular biology, gene transfection, molecular genetics, absorption/emission spectroscopy, and microscopic imaging
• Has made a number of novel discoveries in the context of this theme:
  • Identification of the gene responsible for the major form of optic atrophy
  • Lipofuscin is a photoinducible free radical generator that causes cell dysfunction
  • Matrix metalloproteinases are upregulated in the development of myopia in mammals and identification of a new member of the MMP family
  • Damage to the centrifugal visual system alters eye development and its retractive state, suggesting that the brain influences emmetropisation
• Developed innovative experimental or genetic models for studying corneal transplantation, ocular development, glaucoma and optic atrophy, neural tracing, oxidative damage to the retina and a variety of eye diseases
• Supported by grants from the MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, NIHR/NISCHR, EU, Medical Charities, Health Service and the private sector

Qualification and course duration

PhD

MPhil

Further details of qualification

Offers knowledge and expertise for postdoctoral and lectureship positions in neuroscience, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology and vision science. Also for research positions in industry and the Health Service, science informatics and science writing.