Dr. Kay is intrigued with development of neuronal circuits and how cell-to-cell recognition affects the wiring of circuits. Specifically, his lab is looking for the molecular basis of how neurons find other neurons and make wiring decisions using the “simple” model system of the retina. This is an excellent system to work with, since the morphology, function and development of the retina has been known for some time. There are countless mouse models of retinal diseases and disorders, which Dr. Kay can use to find molecules to treat eye disease. The Kay lab uses mouse genetics to label neighboring cells of the same classification with different colors for easy identification, to knock genes out and to investigate how the development of the retina is perturbed. He is excited about a new project in which he will use live imaging of retinal explants to follow the developing retina over time.