Institute for Ophthalmic Research

Institut für Augenheilkunde

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The Institute

The Institute for Ophthalmic Research is headed by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Marius Ueffing and cooperates closely with the University Eye Hospital headed by Prof. Dr. med. Karl Ulrich Bartz-Schmidt under the umbrella of the Centre for Ophthalmology.

The Institute aims at uncovering the causes for degenerative, inflammatory, neoplastic, and vascular diseases of the eye and developing diagnostics and therapies based on these discoveries. Translational research is jointly performed with the University Eye Hospital Tuebingen.

The Institute houses several scientific teams who work together to analyse genetic variation, relevant pathways and disease mechanisms at molecular, cellular and systemic level. These teams offer a multifaceted portfolio of competencies including multi-omics approaches, computational biology, patho-physiology and toxicology, neurophysiology, pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. Together with partners in academia and industry, we develop and evaluate concepts for novel diagnostics and therapies. A variety of large-scale projects funded by the European Community, the Federal Ministry of Research, the German Research Council and private foundations have created a high level of cooperation.

The state of Baden-Württemberg has identified the Centre for Ophthalmology as a Centre of Excellence – the only one of its kind in Baden-Württemberg. Culminating in 2016 after years with a scattered infrastructure, the Federal Government of Germany, the State of Baden-Württemberg and the University Medical Centre have contributed more than 54 Mio Euros to establish a new building to house both the Institute and the Eye Clinic under one roof. The new infrastructure, designed as an integrated Research and Clinical Centre for Ophthalmology will support us on the way to advancing our understanding of the principles of human vision and enable us to better help those who are at risk of  losing their vision.

Group photo of the members of the Department for Ophthalmology