Dr Gerrit Hilgen

Associate Professor

School: Geography and Natural Sciences

In 2020, Gerrit Hilgen joined the Applied Sciences department for his first academic position. His research focuses on neuronal signal processing, imaging, and scientific computing, particularly in the mature and neonatal retina, human retinal organoids, and their relation to health and disease. Gerrit is involved in projects funded by MRC, Wellcome Trust, and the Academy of Medical Science, focusing on restoring vision, studying hypersensitivity to evening light in bipolar disorder patients, and understanding ocular channelopathies. He aims to establish a leading laboratory integrating neuroscience, cellular imaging, multi-omics, and computational approaches. Gerrit also co-leads the Translational Bioscience research theme and promotes collaborations within the university in neuroscience, organoid and microscopy sciences.

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Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Investigating light sensitivity in bipolar disorder (HELIOS-BD), Roguski, A., Needham, N., MacGillivray, T., Martinovic, J., Dhillon, B., Riha, R., Armstrong, L., Campbell, I., Ferguson, A., Hilgen, G., Lako, M., Ritter, P., Santhi, N., von Schantz, M., Spitschan, M., Smith, D. 6 May 2024, In: Wellcome Open Research
Connexin45 colocalization patterns in the plexiform layers of the developing mouse retina, Hilgen, G. 1 Aug 2023, In: Journal of Anatomy
A novel approach to the functional classification of retinal ganglion cells, Hilgen, G., Kartsaki, E., Kartysh, V., Cessac, B., Sernagor, E. Mar 2022, In: Open Biology
Transplanted pluripotent stem cell-derived photoreceptor precursors elicit conventional and unusual light responses in mice with advanced retinal degeneration, Zerti, D., Hilgen, G., Dorgau, B., Collin, J., Ader, M., Armstrong, L., Sernagor, E., Lako, M. 1 Jul 2021, In: Stem Cells
How Does the Inner Retinal Network Shape the Ganglion Cells Receptive Field? A Computational Study, Kartsaki, E., Hilgen, G., Sernagor, E., Cessac, B. 10 May 2024, In: Neural Computation

Professional Activity

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Oral presentation: Understanding Bacillus spore deposition on textiles (11th European Spores Conference) 2025
Oral presentation: Understanding Bacillus spore interactions with textiles (Microbiology Society 2025) 2025
Editorial work: PLoS One (Journal) 2022
Invited talk: DFG Research Training Group Seminar (University of Oldenburg, Germany) 2021
Invited talk: TM Science Group Meeting (University of L’Aquila, Italy) 2021
Oral presentation: Anatomical Society Winter Meeting (Newcastle University, UK) 2021
Invited talk: Periodic Patterns Workshop, Physics of Life (Oxford/ Northumbria University) 2021
Invited talk: A novel approach to the functional classification of retinal ganglion cells 2020
Consultancy: Large-scale recordings of retinal organoids 2020
Editorial work: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (Journal) 2020

PGR Supervision

Molly Rowland Channelomics of the aging eye Start Date: 01/10/2023
Emily Flood A feast for the eyes? Investigating the influence of folate on retinal health Start Date: 01/10/2023
Molly Rowland Channelomics of the aging eye Start Date: 01/10/2023 End Date: 17/10/2025
Emily Flood A feast for the eyes? Investigating the influence of folate on retinal health Start Date: 01/10/2023 End Date: 17/10/2025