BHI Plenary Seminar: Dr. Jeffrey S. Diamond on Night Vision in the Retina
The Brain Health Institute (BHI) is thrilled to welcome Dr. Jeffrey S. Diamond, Scientific Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as our distinguished plenary speaker for the Neurodegeneration and Injury Faculty Advisory Working Group (NDI-FAWG)-sponsored seminar. This event, set to take place on October 16, 2025, promises to ignite discussions on cutting-edge neuroscience, bridging synaptic mechanisms with broader implications for brain health and disease. As we gear up for Dr. Diamond’s arrival, join us in exploring his remarkable career and the insights he brings to our community.
Dr. Jeffrey S. Diamond
Dr. Diamond’s journey in neuroscience is nothing short of inspiring. Holding a B.S.E. in biomedical engineering from Duke University (magna cum laude, 1989) and a Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco (1994), he has dedicated his career to unraveling the intricacies of neural circuits. His postdoctoral work at the Vollum Institute under Dr. Craig E. Jahr focused on glutamate transporters and synaptic transmission. Joining NINDS in 1999 as a tenure-track investigator, he rose to Senior Investigator in 2007, leading the Synaptic Physiology Section. Appointed Scientific Director in 2023, Dr. Diamond oversees the entire NINDS Intramural Research Program, fostering innovation in neurological research.
His accolades reflect his impact: the Brian Boycott Prize for retinal neurobiology (2022), multiple NINDS Director’s Awards (2019, 2020), the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (2000), and more. A prolific lecturer, Dr. Diamond has delivered keynotes worldwide, from the University of Sydney to Harvard Medical School, sharing expertise on ion channels, transporters, neurotransmitter receptors, synapses, and circuits. His lab uses the retina as a model to study how neural elements compute and transmit visual information, with findings applicable to neurodegenerative conditions affecting vision and beyond.
Abstract of the Talk: “Decoding Synaptic Computations in the Retina: Lessons for Neurodegeneration and Brain Injury”
Our visual system is incredibly sensitive, enabling us to consciously detect a few photons on the darkest night. The mammalian retina features specialized night vision circuitry that also allows us to detect luminance and contrast in a moonlit visual world. At the center of this circuitry lies the AII (A-two) amacrine cell, a highly specialized interneuron that serves as a signaling hub for scotopic (night) visual pathways. We have studied different aspects of AII morphology, connectivity, and physiology, examining its roles in night and daytime (photopic) vision. I will discuss how AIIs transform visual inputs into synaptic outputs to different components of the retinal circuitry.
Dr. Pingyue Pan
As the host, Dr. Pingyue Pan, Assistant Professor, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, shares her enthusiasm: “Dr. Diamond’s pioneering work on glutamate transporters and neurotransmitter dynamics profoundly shaped my understanding of presynaptic variability during my PhD. His research on retinal synapses and circuits synergizes with our studies at Rutgers on neurotransmitter regulation and synaptic function, including my work on dopamine in Parkinson’s disease. I invited Dr. Diamond to inspire our community and foster connections with NINDS, hoping trainees and faculty will gain insights into neural circuit mechanisms and their relevance to neurological disorders.”
Dr. Diamond shares: “Having visited Rutgers 11 years ago when the Brain Health Institute was newly formed, I was impressed by the quality of its science. I’m excited to return, see BHI’s growth, and meet new faculty while sharing our research on retinal circuitry. This seminar offers a chance to explore how these synaptic mechanisms inform our understanding of neurodegeneration and brain injury, fostering collaboration with the Rutgers community.”
The Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI) is a leading center for cutting-edge neuroscience research, committed to decoding the complexities of the brain and addressing critical challenges in neurodegeneration, injury, and overall brain health. Through events like its plenary seminar series, BHI fosters interdisciplinary collaborations, supports groundbreaking discoveries, and inspires the next generation of scientists to advance treatments and outcomes for neurological disorders. Visit our website to learn more about our mission, research, and opportunities to get involved.
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