Dr Dario Protti
Neuroscience, School of Medical Sciences
Bosch Institute
Dr. Dario Protti is a Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience at The University of Sydney. He holds a PhD from the University of Buenos Aires, where he identified P-type calcium channels as key mediators of transmitter release at mammalian neuromuscular junctions. Following postdoctoral training at the Max-Planck Institutes for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen and for Brain Research in Frankfurt, where he focused on various aspects of the visual system, Dr. Protti now leads a research program in visual neurophysiology at Sydney. His laboratory employs advanced electrophysiological and optogenetic techniques to investigate neuronal circuits and neurotransmitter systems in the healthy and diseased retina.
I’m interested in identifying how neuronal circuits and neurotransmitter systems within the retina contribute to vision. My research employs cutting-edge electrophysiological techniques, including voltage-clamp, dynamic-clamp, multielectrode array recordings and optogenetics, to explore the complex processes underlying vision in both health and disease. My goal is to advance our understanding of retinal function and its role on visual information processing, which is crucial for developing treatments for vision-related disorders.
I am dedicated to advancing neuroscience education through the development of innovative, hands-on practical classes and virtual environments that simulate complex neurophysiological experiments. I have developed unique practical classes where students build bioamplifiers to record and analyse neurophysiological signals, employ advanced simulations to explore the physiological properties of visual neurons, and study the effects of ionic changes on membrane excitability. I am deeply interested in this approach, as I believe it is optimal in enhancing students' understanding and honing their skills in hypothesis testing, data analysis, and critical thinking, effectively preparing them for scientific and clinical challenges.
Optogenetics for vision restoration
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Diversity of Amacrine Cells in the Retina | Alyssa BALDICANO |
| Retinal Ganglion Cells in Binocular Vision and the effects of Teneurin proteins | Hannan MANSURI |
Publications
Book Chapters
- Leamey, C., Protti, D., Dreher, B. (2008). Comparative Survey of the Mammalian Visual System with Reference to the Mouse. In Chalupa L; Williams R (Eds.), Eye, Retina, and Visual System of the Mouse, (pp. 35-60). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.
Journals
- Krüppel, S., Khani, M., Karamanlis, D., Erol, Y., Zapp, S., Mietsch, M., Protti, D., Rozenblit, F., Gollisch, T. (2023). Diversity of Ganglion Cell Responses to Saccade-Like Image Shifts in the Primate Retina. Journal of Neuroscience, 43(29), 5319-5339. [More Information]
- Too, L., Shen, W., Protti, D., Sawatari, A., Black, D., Leamey, C., Huang, J., Lee, S., Mathai, A., Lisowski, L., Gillies, M., Simunovic, M., et al (2022). Optogenetic restoration of high sensitivity vision with bReaChES, a red-shifted channelrhodopsin. Scientific Reports, 12(1). [More Information]
- Yates, C., Huang, J., Protti, D. (2022). Tonic Endocannabinoid Levels Modulate Retinal Signaling. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19). [More Information]
2023
- Krüppel, S., Khani, M., Karamanlis, D., Erol, Y., Zapp, S., Mietsch, M., Protti, D., Rozenblit, F., Gollisch, T. (2023). Diversity of Ganglion Cell Responses to Saccade-Like Image Shifts in the Primate Retina. Journal of Neuroscience, 43(29), 5319-5339. [More Information]
2022
- Too, L., Shen, W., Protti, D., Sawatari, A., Black, D., Leamey, C., Huang, J., Lee, S., Mathai, A., Lisowski, L., Gillies, M., Simunovic, M., et al (2022). Optogenetic restoration of high sensitivity vision with bReaChES, a red-shifted channelrhodopsin. Scientific Reports, 12(1). [More Information]
- Yates, C., Huang, J., Protti, D. (2022). Tonic Endocannabinoid Levels Modulate Retinal Signaling. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19). [More Information]
2021
- Eiber, C., Huang, J., Chen, S., Zeater, N., Pietersen, A., Protti, D., Martin, P. (2021). Rapid analysis of visual receptive fields by iterative tomography. eNeuro, 8(6), ENEURO.0046-21.2021. [More Information]
2020
- Zhao, Z., Klindt, D., Maia Chagas, A., Szatko, K., Rogerson, L., Protti, D., Behrens, C., Dalkara, D., Schubert, T., Bethge, M., et al (2020). The temporal structure of the inner retina at a single glance. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-17. [More Information]
2019
- Middleton, T., Huang, J., Protti, D. (2019). Cannabinoids Modulate Light Signaling in ON-Sustained Retinal Ganglion Cells of the Mouse. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 13, 1-12. [More Information]
- Simunovic, M., Shen, W., Lin, J., Protti, D., Lisowski, L., Gillies, M. (2019). Optogenetic approaches to vision restoration. Experimental Eye Research, 178, 15-26. [More Information]
2018
- Morsch, M., Protti, D., Cheng, D., Braet, F., Chung, R., Reddel, S., Phillips, W. (2018). Cannabinoid-induced increase of quantal size and enhanced neuromuscular transmission. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 1-8. [More Information]
2016
- Huang, J., Protti, D. (2016). The impact of inhibitory mechanisms in the inner retina on spatial tuning of RGCs. Scientific Reports, 6, 1-13. [More Information]
2015
- Wijesinghe, R., Tung, V., Camp, A., Protti, D., Mathews, M. (2015). Exciting potential: the importance of the right environment. Journal of Physiology, 593(10), 2253-2255. [More Information]
- Wijesinghe, R., Protti, D., Camp, A. (2015). Vestibular Interactions in the Thalamus. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 9, 1-8. [More Information]
2014
- Weltzien, F., Dimarco, S., Protti, D., Daraio, T., Martin, P., Grunert, U. (2014). Characterization of secretagogin immunoreactive amacrine cells in marmoset retina. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 522(2), 435-455. [More Information]
- Protti, D., Di Marco, S., Huang, J., Vonhoff, C., Nguyen, V., Solomon, S. (2014). Inner retinal inhibition shapes the receptive field of retinal ganglion cells in primate. Journal of Physiology, 592(1), 49-65. [More Information]
2013
- Di Marco, S., Protti, D., Solomon, S. (2013). Excitatory and inhibitory contributions to receptive fields of alpha-like retinal ganglion cells in mouse. Journal of Neurophysiology, 110(6), 1426-1440. [More Information]
- Huang, J., Stiefel, K., Protti, D. (2013). Implementing dynamic clamp with synaptic and artificial conductances in mouse retinal ganglion cells. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 75, 1-7. [More Information]
2012
- Tsai, D., Chen, S., Protti, D., Morley, J., Suaning, G., Lovell, N. (2012). Responses of retinal ganglion cells to extracellular electrical stimulation, from single cell to population: model-based analysis. PloS One, 7(12), 1-16. [More Information]
2011
- Middleton, T., Protti, D. (2011). Cannabinoids modulate spontaneous synaptic activity in retinal ganglion cells. Visual Neuroscience, 28(5), 393-402. [More Information]
2009
- Di Marco, S., Nguyen, V., Bisti, S., Protti, D. (2009). Permanent functional reorganization of retinal circuits induced by early long-term visual deprivation. Journal of Neuroscience, 29(43), 13691-13701. [More Information]
2008
- Leamey, C., Protti, D., Dreher, B. (2008). Comparative Survey of the Mammalian Visual System with Reference to the Mouse. In Chalupa L; Williams R (Eds.), Eye, Retina, and Visual System of the Mouse, (pp. 35-60). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.
2006
- Dumitrescu, O., Protti, D., Majumdar, S., Zeilhofer, H., Wassle, H. (2006). Ionotropic glutamate receptors of amacrine cells of the mouse retina. Visual Neuroscience, 23(1), 79-90. [More Information]
2005
- Protti, D., Flores-Herr, N., Li, W., Massey, S., Wassle, H. (2005). Light signaling in scotopic conditions in the rabbit, mouse and rat retina: A physiological and anatomical study. Journal of Neurophysiology, 93(6), 3479-3488. [More Information]
2003
- Habermann, C., O'Brien, B., Wassle, H., Protti, D. (2003). AII amacrine cells express L-type calcium channels at their output synapses. Journal of Neuroscience, 11, 6904-6913.
Selected Grants
2023
- Optogenetic Approaches For Vision Restoration, Too L, Simunovic M, Protti D, Lisowski L, Australian Vision Research (AVR)/Australian Vision Research Grants
- Smart metamaterials based skull replacement implants to improve electrical brain interfaces enabled by additive manufacturing, electrical impedance tomography and machine learning, McEwan A, Kumar S, Samore A, Harrison P, Protti D, Schneider J, Kavehei O, Deep A, Kiernan M, Triay A, Clark J, Office of Global Engagement/Ignition Grants
2022
- Cell Therapy Via Living Donor surgical retinal explants, Simunovic M, Protti D, Too L, Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation/Research Grant