About Our Research
The lab of Bryan W. Jones, PhD, studies retinal circuitry/connectomics and metabolomics in neural plasticity in retinal disease.
Jones joined the John A. Moran Eye Center’s research faculty in 2006, and his research provided the first understanding of retinal plasticity in diseases like retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This work is responsible for discovering the substantial clinical significance of negative neuronal remodeling in retinal degenerative disease.
Future goals are to solidify our understanding of retinal circuitry as well as pathological retinal circuitry—particularly earlier in the disease process—by creating complete network diagrams with rich data including classes, cell patterning, and complete connectivities. This work is fundamental for comparison and understanding of aberrant or corrupt circuitry observed in blinding diseases.
Dr. Jones’ work over the last few years in collaboration with Dr. Robert E. Marc has focused on the normal circuitry and aberrant remodeling of the neural retina and its circuitry triggered by inherited and induced retinal degenerations. Dr. Jones now directs the Robert E. Marc Marclab for Connectomics, where work was pioneered by Drs. Marc, Jones and other vision scientists to help decipher the “neural code” underlying vision. This code must be fully understood if we are ever to build synthetic vision for the blind.
The Jones Lab exploits advanced molecular detection strategies, metabolic imaging, and computational technologies to produce new, richer visualizations of neurons and how they are connected. These new approaches allow the tracking of disruptions in neuronal connections triggered by retinal diseases like RP and AMD. The ultimate goal of this research is to learn enough about the assembly, function and disassembly of these networks to guide the development of strategies to repair defects triggered by retinal diseases.
Education: B.S. 1996, University of Utah; Ph.D. 2003, University of Utah; Post-doctoral fellow, 2003-2005 University of Utah
Academic Appointments: Associate Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences—University of Utah School of Medicine; Associate Professor of Neuroscience (Adjunct)
