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Gilhooley Laboratory

Mitochondrial Optic Neuropathies & ipRGC Biology

Understanding intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells' (ipRGCs) resistance to disease

Dr. Michael Gilhooley

Michael J Gilhooley MD PhD

Assistant Professor in Residence

  • Jules Stein Eye Institute
  • University of California, Los Angeles

Research in our lab centers on the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells of the optic nerve (ipRGCs) and the fascinating protein that renders them sensitive to light (melanopsin). We are particularly interested in defining the mechanisms by which ipRGCs survive in optic nerve disease, in some cases long after vision is lost as more conventional types of retinal ganglion cell die.

This survival is particularly notable in the inherited optic neuropathies — Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) and Dominant Optic Atrophy (DOA), caused by mutations in genes central to mitochondrial function (such as OPA1 in DOA). Uncovering why ipRGCs are so resilient to mitochondrial dysfunction in these eye diseases is essential not only to develop novel treatments to protect sight, but potentially in more common forms of neurodegeneration where mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated.

Key research questions include:

  • Why are ipRGCs selectively resistant to degeneration in inherited optic neuropathies?
  • What role does melanopsin signaling play in conferring neuroprotection?
  • Can the survival mechanisms of ipRGCs be harnessed to protect conventional retinal ganglion cells from disease?
  • How does ipRGC biology differ across disease states such as OPA1 and LHON?

Dr. Gilhooley combines his clinical expertise in inherited optic neuropathies with basic science investigation to translate findings from ipRGC biology toward neuroprotective therapies for patients.

Lab Members

Undergraduate Students

Recent Publications

Mapping Retinal Gene Expression to Cell Classes: Insights into Retinal Circadian Rhythms

Julia Buckland, Michael J. Gilhooley, Mark W. Hankins, Ma’ayan Semo, Stuart N. Peirson

Clocks & Sleep (2026)

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Clinical Features of Acquired Esotropia and Surgical Management in a Real-World Cohort of Myopic Patients

Michael J. Gilhooley, Omran Sarwani, Gillian Johnson, Indran Davagnanam, Aditi Das, Katie Williams

Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology (2026)

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Retinal Ganglion Cell Diversity in Disease: Clinical Implications and Type-Specific Evaluation.

Rahul Makam, Andrew T. Rider, Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Michael J. Gilhooley

Journal of neuro-ophthalmology : the official journal of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (2025)

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Inherited Optic Neuropathies: Real-World Experience in the Paediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology Clinic

Michael James Gilhooley, Naz Raoof, Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Mariya Moosajee

Genes (2024)

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OPA1 Dominant Optic Atrophy: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targets

David C. S. Wong, Joshua P. Harvey, Neringa Jurkute, Sara M. Thomasy, Mariya Moosajee, Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Michael J. Gilhooley

Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology (2023)

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A systematic comparison of optogenetic approaches to visual restoration.

Michael J. Gilhooley, Moritz Lindner, Teele Palumaa, Steven Hughes, Stuart N. Peirson, Mark W. Hankins

Molecular therapy. Methods & clinical development (2022)

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From Transcriptomics to Treatment in Inherited Optic Neuropathies

Michael James Gilhooley, Nicholas Owen, Mariya Moosajee, Patrick Yu Wai Man

Genes (2021)

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ON-bipolar cell gene expression during retinal degeneration: Implications for optogenetic visual restoration.

Experimental eye research (2021)

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“Genetic and clinical findings in an ethnically diverse retinitis pigmentosa cohort associated with pathogenic variants in EYS”

Olivia Cundy, Suzanne Broadgate, Stephanie Halford, Robert E. MacLaren, Morag E. Shanks, Penny Clouston, Michael J. Gilhooley, Susan M. Downes

Eye (2020)

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The functional characteristics of optogenetic gene therapy for vision restoration

Moritz Lindner, Michael J. Gilhooley, Stuart N. Peirson, Steven Hughes, Mark W. Hankins

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2020)

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