TU Dublin Welcomes Leading Neuroscientist for Seminar on Vision and Biological Rhythms
On 24th March 2026, the Faculty of Sciences and Health Research Committee at TU Dublin hosted Professor Robert Lucas, Director of the Centre for Biological Timing and GSK Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Manchester.
The visit, organised by Dr George Amarandei (School of Physics, Clinical and Optometric Sciences), featured a seminar titled ‘The importance of seeing slowly: How inner retinal photoreceptors support vision and circadian rhythms,’ chaired by Professor Christine O’Connor.
Prof. Lucas’s research explores how the eye functions both as a visual organ and as a regulator of biological rhythms. His work focuses on how mammals use rods, cones, and melanopsin-based photoreceptors to detect light and interpret time of day, shaping circadian rhythms that influence sleep, metabolism, and mental health.
The seminar highlighted the significant impact of light on human health, including its role in conditions such as insomnia, obesity, depression, and anxiety. Prof. Lucas also discussed emerging research into opsins light sensitive proteins and their potential use in optogenetic therapies aimed at restoring vision in individuals with retinal degeneration.
Following the seminar, Prof. Lucas engaged with TU Dublin principal investigators (from the Faculty of Science and Health and from Light for Environment and Health (LEAH) laboratory) to explore collaborative research opportunities. The visit included tours of TU Dublin’s research facilities and the National Optometry Centre and the Sustainability and Health Research Hub showcasing the university’s strengths in vision science and interdisciplinary health research.