Daniel Rathbun, Ph. D. is a research scientist and heads the Bionics and Vision Laboratory at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Rathbun focuses his research on the study of how the eye speaks to the brain in order to improve bionic devices for prosthetic vision. Currently, these devices restore sight to patients blinded by retinally degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration. Dr. Rathbun received his degrees in Neuroscience from the University of Texas, Dallas and the University of California, Davis. He furthered his knowlege by studying bionic vision for a decade in Germany, under the mentorship of Professor Eberhart Zrenner, a luminary in the field. In Germany, he founded the Experimental Retinal Prosthetics Group in the University Eye Clinic of Tuebingen. Then, in 2018, he moved from Germany to Detroit, Michigan in order to begin the Bionics and Vision lab at Henry Ford Health. There, Rathbun's research applies the study of neural coding within the visual system to: 1) further understanding how images are processed in both healthy and degenerating retina; 2) studying how the retina reacts in response to electrical stimulation; and 3) using the knowledge gained in his lab to advance the field of bionic vision. Also at Henry Ford Health, Dr. Rathbun is working to create the world's first electrophysiology laboratory exclusively dedicated to working with human retinal tissue donated by patients.

Experience

• Associate Professor (2022 - present)

  Department of Physiology

  Michigan State University

• Research Director (2020 - present)

  Bionics and Vision Lab

  Henry Ford Health Systems

• Postdoctoral Researcher (2009 - 2020)

  Zrenner Lab

  Universität Tübingen

Education

• PhD, Neuroscience (2002 - 2009)

  University of California, Davis

• BS, Neuroscience (1997 - 2001)

  The University of Texas at Dallas

Research Spotlights

• Navigating the Path to Sight Restoration - A Conversation with Dr. Daniel Rathbun

  August 31, 2023 9:54 AM