A photo of Richard Lang.

Richard A. Lang, PhD


  • Director, Visual Systems Group
  • Professor, UC Department of Ophthalmology

About

BSc: Co-major in genetics and biochemistry, University of Melbourne, Australia, 1984 (with honors).

PhD: University of Melbourne, Australia, at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research under Drs. AR Dunn and TJ Gonda, 1988.

Postdoctoral Fellow: The G.W. Hooper Research Foundation, University of California, San Francisco under Dr. JM Bishop, 1989-92. Studied the role of the macrophage in developmentally programmed tissue remodeling.

Interests

The OPN3, OPN4 and OPN5 light sensing pathways in development, homeostasis and disease

Research Areas

Ophthalmology, Developmental Biology

Publications

Selected

Violet light suppresses lens-induced myopia via neuropsin (OPN5) in mice. Jiang, X; Pardue, MT; Mori, K; Ikeda, SI; Torii, H; D'Souza, S; Lang, RA; Kurihara, T; Tsubota, K. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA. 2021; 118:e2018840118.

Selected

Violet-light suppression of thermogenesis by opsin 5 hypothalamic neurons. Zhang, KX; D'Souza, S; Upton, BA; Kernodle, S; Vemaraju, S; Nayak, G; Gaitonde, KD; Holt, AL; Linne, CD; Smith, AN; Sweeney, A; Sanchez-Gurmaches, J; Seeley, RJ; Lang, RA. Nature. 2020; 585:420-425.

Selected

Adaptive Thermogenesis in Mice Is Enhanced by Opsin 3-Dependent Adipocyte Light Sensing. Nayak, G; Zhang, KX; Vemaraju, S; Odaka, Y; Buhr, ED; Holt-Jones, A; Kernodle, S; Smith, AN; Upton, BA; D'Souza, S; Seeley, RJ; Van Gelder, RN; Sanchez-Gurmaches, J; Lang, RA. Cell Reports. 2020; 30:672-686.e8.

Selected

Neuropsin (OPN5) Mediates Local Light-Dependent Induction of Circadian Clock Genes and Circadian Photoentrainment in Exposed Murine Skin. Buhr, ED; Vemaraju, S; Diaz, N; Lang, RA; Van Gelder, RN. Current Biology. 2019; 29:3478-3487.e4.

Selected

An opsin 5-dopamine pathway mediates light-dependent vascular development in the eye. Nguyen, MT; Vemaraju, S; Nayak, G; Odaka, Y; Buhr, ED; Alonzo, N; Tran, U; Batie, M; Upton, BA; Darvas, M; Hegde, RS; Iuvone, PM; Van Gelder, RN; Lang, RA. Nature Cell Biology. 2019; 21:420-429.

Selected

A direct and melanopsin-dependent fetal light response regulates mouse eye development. Rao, S; Chun, C; Fan, J; Kofron, JM; Yang, MB; Hegde, RS; Ferrara, N; Copenhagen, DR; Lang, RA. Nature. 2013; 494:243-246.

Selected

Balanced Rac1 and RhoA activities regulate cell shape and drive invagination morphogenesis in epithelia. Chauhan, BK; Lou, M; Zheng, Y; Lang, RA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA. 2011; 108:18289-18294.

Selected

Regulation of angiogenesis by a non-canonical Wnt-Flt1 pathway in myeloid cells. III, SJ A; Lewkowich, I; Rao, S; Mariggi, G; Carpenter, AC; Burr, AR; Fan, J; Ajima, R; Molkentin, JD; Williams, BO; Yamaguchi, T; Ferrara, N; Gerhardt, H; Lang, RA. Nature. 2011; 474:511-515.

Selected

Macrophage Wnt7b is critical for kidney repair and regeneration. Lin, S; Li, B; Rao, S; Yeo, E; Hudson, TE; Nowlin, BT; Pei, H; Chen, L; Zheng, JJ; Carroll, TJ; Pollard, JW; McMahon, AP; Lang, RA; Duffield, JS. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA. 2010; 107:4194-4199.

Selected

WNT7b mediates macrophage-induced programmed cell death in patterning of the vasculature. Lobov, IB; Rao, S; Carroll, TJ; Vallance, JE; Ito, M; Ondr, JK; Kurup, S; Glass, DA; Patel, MS; Shu, WG; Morrisey, EE; McMahon, AP; Karsenty, G; Lang, RA. Nature. 2005; 437:417-421.

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From the Blog

Can This Discovery Prevent the Need for Eyeglasses Someday?
Sensory Systems

Can This Discovery Prevent the Need for Eyeglasses Someday?

Richard A. Lang, PhD5/24/2021

Sunlight Reaches Deep Into Brain to Play Key Role in Metabolism
Mind Brain Behavior

Sunlight Reaches Deep Into Brain to Play Key Role in Metabolism

Richard A. Lang, PhD9/2/2020

Our 2019 Research Annual Report
Genomics and Development

Our 2019 Research Annual Report

Richard A. Lang, PhD, John Hogenesch, PhD ...2/4/2020

Fat Cells Can Sense Sunlight. Not Getting Enough Can Disrupt Metabolism
Diabetes and Obesity

Fat Cells Can Sense Sunlight. Not Getting Enough Can Disrupt Metabolism

Richard A. Lang, PhD1/21/2020