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FernandezLab

Welcome! Our lab is part of the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Developmental Biology divisions at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the University of Cincinnati Medical School. Our research focuses on understanding how the brain and body encode and process environmental cues—such as daily changes in light and feeding patterns—to regulate physiology and behavior.

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New space, new ideas, and exciting opportunities! We’re actively recruiting for multiple positions. Stay tuned for more details, and feel free to reach out if you’re interested in joining our team

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Our lab’s logo highlights the role of the visual system in processing daily cycles of light and dark, causing the alignment of internal time-keeping mechanisms. The Sun—our primary source of infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light—has shaped the evolution of life on Earth, and our research seeks to understand its profound impact on physiology and behavior.

Beyond its scientific symbolism, the design draws inspiration from the work of Salvador Dalí and the sculptural forms of Alberto Giacometti, two of the most influential artists of the 20th century. The logo is also a statement of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural identity. The colors, representing the Sunlight spectrum, celebrate the multiple rainbow flags, while the stars are inspired by the symbolic art of the Indigenous peoples of South America.

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Research Focus

Our laboratory investigates the fundamental mechanisms of circadian entrainment—the biological process by which internal clocks synchronize with external environmental cycles. We explore the complex neural and molecular pathways that translate rhythmic light signals into stable physiological and behavioral patterns, focusing on how these systems maintain timing accuracy in an ever-changing world.

Research in our lab is dedicated to understanding how entrainment mechanisms links sensory perception to the master clock, uncovering the biological basis for circadian health and its profound impact on metabolic regulation, sleep architecture, and cognitive performance. By decoding these circuits, we seek to mitigate the negative health consequences of artificial lighting and irregular schedules, providing the scientific foundation for healthier 24-hour environments.

Current Projects

Neuronal circuits mediating the effects of light on mood and cognition

Examining the impact of blue light exposure on REM sleep architecture and metabolic signaling in controlled environments.

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Photic perception within visual and non-visual thalamic circuits

Examining the impact of blue light exposure on REM sleep architecture and metabolic signaling in controlled environments.

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Effects of lighting conditions on feeding responses

Examining the impact of blue light exposure on REM sleep architecture and metabolic signaling in controlled environments.

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Sensory and circadian systems development and maturation

Examining the impact of blue light exposure on REM sleep architecture and metabolic signaling in controlled environments.

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Meet the lab

Our lab embraces and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We base our strengths in teamwork, and believe that the most efficient way to achieve goals is though the collective search and discussion of ideas and approaches.

Are you a graduate student interested in the lab? Are you interested in a postdoctoral position?

Contact us! Please send us an email at diego.fernandez@cchmc.org describing your background and scientific interests, and why you are interested in our lab. If possible, also include contact information for 3 references.

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Diego C. Fernandez, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

diego.fernandez@cchmc.org

Diego (he/him/his) is an Assistant Professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Driven by his passion for retinal research, Diego pursued a postdoctoral position at Johns Hopkins University, supported by the Pew Latin American Postdoctoral Fellows Award. During his postdoc, he made significant contributions to understanding the retina-brain circuits mediating the direct effects of light on learning and mood functions in mice. Diego then joined the National Institutes of Health as a Staff Scientist, later advancing to the position of Associate Scientist. His research uncovered a groundbreaking link between retinal innervation and brain development, tuning neuronal circuits that regulate feeding responses. Since joining the faculty at CCHMC, research from the Fernandez Lab aims to pave the way for improved therapeutic approaches and enhanced quality of life for individuals affected by detrimental environmental factors.

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Brandon Rahab

Research Assistant iii

Brandon holds a B.A. in Cognitive Science from Case Western Reserve University. He has worked across a variety of research environments, gaining hands-on experience with both mouse and macaque models. His primary research interest lies in understanding the cognitive mechanisms underlying animal behavior, particularly those related to food seeking.

brandon.rabah@cchmc.org

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Hafeezunnisa Mohammed, Ph.D

Research assitant iii

Hafeeza’s work focuses on uncovering the molecular mechanisms of stress and inflammation in neurons, with an emphasis on responses to environmental stressors. Her research aims to elucidate how external challenges, such as disrupted light/dark cyckes, affect both retinal and brain health.

hafeezunnisa.mohammed@cchmc.org

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Shubham Garg, Ph.D

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Shubham focuses on the design and development of advanced therapeutics targeting circadian transcription factors. His research investigates this innovative and physiologically grounded strategy as a novel approach to treating mood and behavioral disorders, with the goal of improving therapeutic precision and effectiveness.

shubham.garg@cchmc.org

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Burgundy Walters

NGP PhD student

Burgundy is a graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at UC. Her research focuses on uncovering the mechanisms that coordinate communication between brain centers, with the goal of understanding how these networks drive daily rhythmic behavioral outputs.

burgundy.walters@cchmc.org

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Nicole Torres Santiago

PhD Student

Nicole is a Ph.D. candidate in the Development, Stem Cells, and Regenerative Medicine Program at CCHMC. Her research investigates how environmental stressors impact retinal function, with a particular emphasis on understanding their influence during critical periods of development as well as pathological conditions.

nicole.torressantiago@cchmc.org

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Rosheeta Shah

University honors program

Rosheeta is a B.S. student majoring in Neurobiology at UC and a member of the University Honors Program. Motivated by a strong interest in neuroplasticity and behavior, she joined the Fernandez Lab through the Biomedical Research and Mentoring Program (RaMP).

shah2rt@mail.uc.edu

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Ayden King

co-op student

Ayden is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Computer Science at UC. As a Co-op student in the lab, Ayden applies machine learning tools to analyze and interpret animal behavior, contributing to the lab’s broader efforts to understand complex neurobiological processes.

king5an@mail.uc.edu

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Lauren Wallace and Wu Chen

Grants coordinators

Lauren and Wu serve as the lab’s Grants Coordinators. Their role is essential in ensuring the effective planning, organization, and execution of grant searches, proposal development, and submission processes. Their expertise directly supports our research goals and long-term funding strategy. We are incredibly grateful for their ongoing help, dedication, and support.

📧 lauren.wallace@cchmc.org

📧 wubin.chen@cchmc.org

Publications

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Full List of Publications

  1. Saxena V, Garg S. Engineered commensals as next generation drug delivery agents for nose-to-brain therapeutics in neurological disorders. ACS Chemical Neuroscience. 2025. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acschemneuro.5c00874

  2. Geoffroy PA, et al. Light therapy for bipolar disorders: Clinical recommendations from the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) Chronobiology and Chronotherapy Task Force. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2025 Dec;27(1):249-264.

  3. Weil T, et al. Daily changes in light influence mood via inhibitory networks within the thalamic perihabenular nucleus. Science Advances. 2022. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abn3567

  4. Fernandez DC, et al. Retinal innervation tunes circuits that drive non-photic entrainment to food. Nature. 2020;581(7807):1-5.

  5. Duy PQ, et al. Light has diverse spatiotemporal molecular changes in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus. J Biol Rhythms. 2020 Oct 8.

  6. Zhan J, et al. Non-invasive strategies for chronic manipulation of DREADD-controlled neuronal activity. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 2019 Aug 25;(150).

  7. Rupp A, et al. Distinct ipRGC subpopulations mediate light’s acute and circadian effects on temperature and sleep. eLife. 2019;8:e44358.

  8. Fernandez DC, et al. Light affects mood and learning through distinct retina-brain pathways. Cell. 2018 Sep 20;175(1):71-84.e18.

  9. Keenan W, Fernandez DC, Shumway L, Haiqing Z, Hattar S. Eye-drops for activation of DREADDs. Front Neural Circuits. 2017 Nov 23;11:93.

  10. Fernandez DC, Chang Y, Hattar S, Chen S. Architecture of retinal projections to the central circadian pacemaker. PNAS. 2016;113(21):6047-6052.

  11. Somasundaram P, et al. C-terminal phosphorylation regulates the kinetics of a subset of melanopsin-mediated behaviors. PNAS. 2017;114(10):2741-2746.

  12. Chew K, et al. A subset of ipRGCs regulates maturation of the circadian clock and segregation of retinal projections. eLife. 2017;6:e22861.

  13. Chew KS, Fernandez DC, Hattar S, Südhof TC, Martinelli D. Anatomical and physiological behavioral investigation of C1ql3 in the mouse SCN. J Biol Rhythms. 2017;32(3):222-236.

  14. Rosenstein RE, Fernandez DC. Induction of ischemic tolerance as a promising treatment against diabetic retinopathy. Neural Regen Res. 2015;9(17):1581-1584.

  15. LeGates TA, Fernandez DC, Hattar S. Light as a central modulator of circadian rhythms, sleep and affect. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2014;15(7):443-454.

  16. Sande P, et al. The post-treatment with melatonin attenuates experimental ocular inflammation. Br J Pharmacol. 2014;171.

  17. Dorfman D, Aranda M, Fernandez DC, et al. Environmental enrichment protects the retina from early diabetic damage in adult rats. PLoS One. 2014;9(7):e101829.

  18. Fernandez DC, et al. Effect of experimental diabetic retinopathy on the non-image forming visual system. Chronobiol Int. 2013;30(4):583-597.

  19. Dorfman D, et al. Post-ischemic environmental enrichment protects the retina from ischemic damage in adult rats. Exp Neurol. 2013;240:146-156.

  20. Fernandez DC, et al. Early distal axonopathy of the visual pathway in experimental diabetes. Am J Pathol. 2012;180(1):303-313.

  21. Fernandez DC, et al. Ischemic conditioning protects from axo-glial alterations of the optic pathway induced by diabetes. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e51966.

  22. Del Sole M, Sande P, et al. Therapeutic benefit of melatonin in experimental feline uveitis. J Pineal Res. 2012;52(1):29-37.

  23. Fernandez DC, et al. Induction of ischemic tolerance protects the retina from diabetic retinopathy. Am J Pathol. 2011;178(5):2264-2274.

  24. Belforte N, et al. Ischemic tolerance protects the rat retina from glaucomatous damage. PLoS One. 2011;6(8):e23763.

  25. de Zavalía N, et al. Effect of experimental glaucoma on the non-image forming visual system. J Neurochem. 2011;117(5):904-914.

  26. de Zavalía N, et al. Circadian variations of prostaglandin E2 and F2α release in the golden hamster retina. J Neurochem. 2010;112(4):972-979.

  27. González L, Díaz M, Miquet J, Sotelo A, Fernandez DC, et al. GH modulates hepatic epidermal growth factor signaling in the mouse. J Endocrinol. 2010;204(3):299-309.

  28. Fernandez DC, et al. Retinal neuroprotection against ischemia/reperfusion damage induced by postconditioning. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50(8):3922-3930.

  29. Fernandez DC, et al. Involvement of glutamate in retinal protection against ischemia/reperfusion damage induced by postconditioning. J Neurochem. 2009;111(2):488-498.

  30. Sande P, et al. Therapeutic effect of melatonin in experimental uveitis. Am J Pathol. 2008;173(6):1702-1713.

  31. Franco P, et al. Effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on ischemic damage in the rat retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49(10):4604-4612.

  32. Del Sole M, et al. Characterization of uveitis induced by intravitreal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide in cats. Am J Vet Res. 2008;69(11):1487-1495.

  33. Moreno M, et al. Effect of ocular hypertension on retinal GABAergic activity. Neurochem Int. 2008;52:675-682.

     

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2nd ISFS, Day 1 – Opening Remarks & Fellow Research Talks Session 1: Neuroscience.

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