Stuart Peirson
Professor of Circadian Neuroscience
Contact
stuart.peirson@eye.ox.ac.uk
01865 618674
Research group
Sleep & Circadian Neuroscience Institute
My research focuses on how light regulates physiology and behaviour, with a particular interest in how our modern artificial light environment may disrupt these processes. The retina contains photoreceptors that mediate the tasks of vision as well the regulation of circadian rhythms, sleep and alertness. The central aim of my work is to understand how light information is transmitted from photoreceptor to brain to drive these responses. Research in my lab depends upon molecular biology and genomics, as well as optogenetics and chemogenetics. We also study behavioural responses including circadian rhythms, sleep and cognitive function. Photobiology, statistics and bioinformatics critically underpin our work.