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Gordon Fain Laboratory

Photoreceptor Physiology

Dr. Gordon Fain

Gordon L. Fain, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Ophthalmology

Jules Stein Eye Institute

The Fain laboratory studies the biophysical mechanisms of photoreceptor function and adaptation. Our research focuses on understanding how photoreceptors respond to light and adapt to different lighting conditions, contributing to both normal vision and retinal disease mechanisms.

Research Focus Areas:

  • Photoreceptor light adaptation mechanisms
  • Calcium regulation in photoreceptor function
  • Energy metabolism in rods and cones
  • Mechanisms of photoreceptor survival and degeneration
  • Cellular basis of light and dark adaptation

Our work combines electrophysiology and imaging approaches to understand the fundamental mechanisms of photoreceptor function. These studies have provided key insights into how the retina processes visual information and adapts to changing light conditions.

Selected Publications

Evolution of rod bipolar cells and rod vision

Frederiksen R, Peng YR, Sampath AP, Fain GL

Journal of Physiology (2025) • New citations

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Cones and cone pathways remain functional in advanced retinal degeneration

Ellis EM, Paniagua AE, Scalabrino ML, Thapa M, Rathinavelu J, Jiao Y, Williams DS, Field GD, Fain GL, Sampath AP

Current Biology (2023) • 5 citations

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Membrane conductances of mouse cone photoreceptors

Ingram NT, Sampath AP, Fain GL

Journal of General Physiology (2020) • New citations

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A kinetic analysis of mouse rod and cone photoreceptor responses

Reingruber J, Ingram NT, Griffis C, Fain GL

Journal of Physiology (2020) • New citations

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Why are rods more sensitive than cones?

Ingram NT, Sampath AP, Fain GL

Journal of Physiology (2016) • New citations

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