Duke University · Biomedical EngineeringSommer Lab
Marc A Sommer · Durham, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Marc A. Sommer's lab at Duke University focuses on improving methods to manipulate neurons in the primate brain using light-sensitive proteins called opsins. They are specifically addressing challenges in delivering these proteins effectively with viral vectors, which can face issues due to the primate immune response. Through this research, the lab aims to enhance our understanding of visual and motor systems in the brain and improve gene therapy techniques that may also translate to human applications.
optogeneticsviral vectorsneurobiologyvisual circuitsprimate modelsgene therapyimmunologyneurophysiologyneuronal circuitschronic gene expression
Research Aims
3AIM 01Enhance viral transduction by modifying the immune response in primates.
AIM 02Map neuronal connections in the primate visual system using viral vectors.
AIM 03Phototag and characterize neurons to understand their role in visuomotor behaviors.
Skills the Lab Values
viral vector designoptogenetic techniquesanimal handling (primates)immunological assaysgene expression analysiselectrophysiologyimaging techniquesdata collection and analysisbehavioral assays
Output against the department
Publications164bottom 36% of dept.377th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.7ktop 45% of dept.267th of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.