Professor Russell Foster is a world-renowned circadian neuroscientist whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed our understanding of how light regulates biological rhythms in mammals. He currently serves as Professor of Circadian Neuroscience, Director of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, and Head of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford, where he is also a Nicholas Kurti Senior Fellow at Brasenose College. Following his BSc and PhD in Zoology at the University of Bristol under the supervision of Professor Sir Brian Follett, he conducted influential research at the National Science Foundation Center for Biological Rhythms at the University of Virginia from 1988 to 1995. He later established his research group at Imperial College London before transitioning to the University of Oxford to pursue groundbreaking translational research on sleep and circadian biology.
Professor Foster's most significant contribution was the discovery of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, a previously unknown third class of photoreceptors in the mammalian eye that detect light for non-visual functions. These specialized cells regulate circadian rhythms, sleep and arousal states, heart rate, and pupil constriction, fundamentally redefining our understanding of how mammals respond to light beyond vision. His research elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which environmental light is detected and processed for circadian regulation, challenging decades of scientific consensus that rods and cones were the only photoreceptors. More recently, his work has revealed critical connections between circadian rhythm genes and mental health disorders, demonstrating that genetic mutations affecting sleep regulation also predispose individuals to schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions, establishing vital links between circadian biology and mental illness.
Beyond his research, Professor Foster has been instrumental in advancing public understanding of chronobiology through extensive science communication and leadership roles. He chairs the Royal Society Public Engagement Committee and the Cheltenham Science Festival while serving as a Trustee of the Science Museum Group, regularly contributing to radio, television, and print media to translate complex sleep science for broader audiences. As co-author of the popular science book 'Rhythms of Life' and author of the Sunday Times bestseller 'Life Time: The New Science of the Body Clock, and How It Can Revolutionize Your Sleep and Health', published in May 2022, he has successfully bridged academic research and public discourse on sleep health. His current research continues to explore the implications of circadian disruption across the health spectrum, particularly in Parkinson's disease, eye disorders, mental illness, and aging, positioning him at the forefront of translational sleep medicine with significant potential to improve human health outcomes worldwide.
