Ning Tian, MD, PhD

Dr. Tian’s research aims to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms, which regulate the development of the retinal synaptic pathways and the formation of the laminar structure, and how these mechanisms are modulated under normal and pathological conditions. His lab at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah focused on strategies focused on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) synaptic connectivity and activity at different stages of development under normal and pathological conditions, and to test specific hypotheses.

In 2021, the lab published findings of the discovery of a new type of nerve cell in the retina, a notable development for the field as scientists work toward a better understanding of the central nervous system by identifying all classes of neurons and their connections.