Russell D. Fernald

Honors and Awards

• Rank Prize in Vision/Opto-electronics, Rank Foundation (February 2004)
• Fellow-American Association for Advancement of Science, AAAS (2003)
• Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (1999-2006)
• NIH Fogarty Senior International Fellowship, NIH (1985-86)
• Benjamin Scott Crocker Professor of Human Biology, Stanford University (1994-)

Professional Education

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Neurosciences

Web Site Links

• Lab Website

Research Interests

How does social experience influence the brain?
Our research is focused on understanding the mechanisms through which social change is transduced into cellular and molecular change.

How is retinal progenitor cell division and differentiation controlled?
The eyes of teleost fish continue to grow throughout life, and new cells are continually added to the functional retina. We are using this model system to determine what extrinsic and intrinsic signals influence the fate of retinal progenitors, particularly rod progenitors.

Publications

• Sequences, expression patterns and regulation of the corticotropin-releasing factor system in a teleost. Chen CC, Fernald RD. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2008; 157 (2): 148-55
• Color change as a potential behavioral strategy. Korzan WJ, Robison RR, Zhao S, Fernald RD. Horm Behav. 2008; 54 (3): 463-70
• Expression of arginine vasotocin in distinct preoptic regions is associated with dominant and subordinate behaviour in an African cichlid fish. Greenwood AK, Wark AR, Fernald RD, Hofmann HA. Proc Biol Sci. 2008; 275 (1649): 2393-402
• Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A/B and G inhibits the transcription of gonadotropin-releasing-hormone 1. Zhao S, Korzan WJ, Chen CC, Fernald RD. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2008; 37 (1): 69-84
• Fish can infer social rank by observation alone. Grosenick L, Clement TS, Fernald RD. Nature. 2007; 445 (7126): 429-32