# 2022 Photosensory Receptors and Signal Transduction GRC/GRS

> **NIH NIH R13** · GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCES · 2022 · $16,075

## Abstract

Summary
At the 2022 Photosensory Receptors and Signal Transduction (PRST) Gordon Research Conference (GRC) to
be held in Ventura CA, scientists from all over the world gather to present and discuss the full palette of
photosensory systems that Nature has provided, aiming to understand their mechanisms, signaling pathways
and functional effects – from the level of atoms and molecules to that of the physiology of organisms and the
ecosystems that they constitute. Photosensory receptors provide unique opportunities to understand the
essential principles of signal transduction and protein function because they can be activated by light, rendering
them amenable to state-of-the-art physical, chemical and cell-biological approaches. In this way, the central
question of how light-induced molecular changes produce large-scale biological signals can be addressed in
unprecedented detail. Research of photosensory signaling has enormous practical application. In the case of
vertebrate vision, loss of the finely tuned regulation of the phototransduction pathway has been linked to various
types of retinal degeneration that cause conditions such as night blindness, tunnel vision, and even the total loss
of sight. Studies of phototransduction in the eye also lead to the treatment of retinal diseases, circadian
dysfunction and mood disorders. The modular architecture of photosensory systems in combination with their
genetic encodability provides the foundation for the field of optogenetics, wherein photoreceptors and their
interaction pathways are engineered to noninvasively control cellular processes with light. Research on
photosensory receptors is inherently interdisciplinary, requiring basic scientific advances on several fronts. The
themes of the GRC and the associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) have been chosen to represent the
key interdisciplinary problems in the field and to stimulate the exchange of ideas between a diverse group of
researchers. Emerging directions such as the impact of new technologies for understanding receptor
photophysics and mechanism, the role macromolecular complexes in transducing complex photonic responses,
such as those of vertebrate vision, and the engineering of photosensors for optogenetics will be explored in
depth. Invited speakers will include both established and early-stage investigators. In addition, poster presenters
will compete for short hot-topic talks. The GRS provides a supportive environment for junior scientists to present
their work and receive advise by senior mentors. The PRST community has long supported junior scientists, and
the GRS will continue to help us nurture the development of early-stage investigators and promote diversity
within our community. The field of photosensory transduction has been undergoing a revitalization due to an
influx of talented new researchers who apply advanced tools of biophysics, computation, single molecule or cell
imaging and high-throughput screening methods to provide ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10377057
- **Project number:** 1R13EY033554-01
- **Recipient organization:** GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** BRIAN R CRANE
- **Activity code:** R13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $16,075
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-02-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10377057

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10377057, 2022 Photosensory Receptors and Signal Transduction GRC/GRS (1R13EY033554-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10377057. Licensed CC0.

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