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SUMMARY:Light\, Sleep & Circadian Rhythms-Biology to Therapeutics - Profes
 sor Russell Foster\, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology\, University 
 of Oxford
DTSTART:20180201T200000Z
DTEND:20180201T210000Z
UID:TALK99694@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Annika
DESCRIPTION:Light plays a critically important role in regulating circadia
 n rhythms and sleep. This presentation will consider how light is detected
  by a recently discovered photoreceptor system within the eye and by what 
 mechanisms this light information is transduced to regulate behavior. Fina
 lly\, the discussion will address whether this mechanistic information can
  be used to develop new therapeutics to regulate sleep/wake timing in the 
 profoundly blind. \n\nRussell Foster’s is the Head of the Nuffield labor
 atory of ophthalmology\, Director of the Sleep and Circadian Research Inst
 itute and a Fellow of Brasenose College Oxford. His research is focused up
 on how circadian rhythms and sleep are generated and regulated and what ha
 ppens when these systems fail as a result of societal pressures or disease
 . A key finding was the discovery that the eye contains a previously unrec
 ognised “3rd class of photoreceptor” based upon a small number of phot
 osensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs) that utilise the blue light sens
 itive photopigment melanopsin. His most recent work has dissected how the 
 pRGCs regulate gene expression of the molecular clockwork\, which has led 
 to the identification of novel drug targets to regulate sleep/wake timing.
  Clinical trials will commence in 2018. Russell has also pioneered the mec
 hanistic understanding of sleep and circadian rhythm disruption in neurops
 ychiatric disease. Working with psychiatrists\, he is helping develop evid
 ence-based approaches to stabilise sleep and reduce the severity of psychi
 atric illness. He is also leading studies on the nature of sleep disruptio
 n in teenagers and the development of sleep education for use in schools. 
 Russell was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society in 2008 and the
  Academy of Medical Sciences in 2013. In 2015 he received the Order of Com
 mander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Science. He is currentl
 y a member of the Governing Council of the Royal Society and Chairs the Ro
 yal Society Public Engagement Committee. Russell is also a Trustee of the 
 Science Museum. He has published over 240 peer reviewed publications and h
 as received multiple national and international awards. Russell has co-wri
 tten four popular science books and is currently working on his 5th.\n\nMe
 mbers: Free | Non-members £3
LOCATION:Wolfson LT\, Department of Chemistry\, Lensfield Road
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