The XXVII Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Eye Research (ISER 2026) brought together leading vision scientists from around the world in Valencia, Spain, from 23–27 August 2026. Among the many international contributions, researchers from Tübingen were particularly visible throughout the scientific programme, reflecting the breadth and international profile of the city’s vision research community.

With about 20 researchers contributing as session chairs, invited speakers, oral presenters and poster presenters, Tübingen was the most strongly represented German University at the meeting. Contributions covered a remarkably wide range of topics, including retinal degeneration and metabolism, ocular immunology, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), neuroprotection, drug delivery, advanced retinal models, imaging and myopia.

Scientific leadership across the programme

The presence of the Institute for Ophthalmic Research was not limited to individual presentations. Several researchers took on prominent roles in shaping the scientific programme.

Prof. Simon Clark chaired the session “The Role of Opsonisation and Phagocytosis in Ocular Immune Homeostasis” and presented research on the contribution of the extracellular matrix to retinal immune surveillance. 

Prof. Marius Ueffing chaired two sessions addressing major areas of retinal research. In “Lipids, Drusen, and Deposits”, he presented on 10q26/ARMS2 and HTRA1 in age-related macular degeneration, while his second chairing role focused on “Cilia and Intracellular Trafficking”. Dr. Blanca Arango-Gonzalez has decided to present a poster that focuses on VCP as a target for photoreceptor protection. Dr. Merve Sen, also of the Ueffing´s Team was helding an oral presentation on “ARMS2 A69S promotes extracellular matrix dysregulation and RPE vulnerability at the RPE–Bruch's membrane Interface in AMD”. Dr. Tina Beyer presented her work on "How Genetic mutations drive protein interactome dynamics in Cilia and Ciliopathies.

Retinal metabolism was another prominent theme. Prof. Francois Paquet-Durand presented research on the dependence of cone photoreceptor function on lactate shuttling and chaired the session “Metabolism: Glycolysis and Mitochondria”.

The programme also highlighted Tübingen’s translational research activities. Dr. Sven Schnichels presented work on CpG-lipid-DNA nanoparticles as a potential treatment for neovascular retinal diseases, illustrating the connection between fundamental research and the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Connecting retinal disease, technology and vision science

The Tübingen contributions extended well beyond classical retinal disease research.

In myopia and visual optics, Prof. Frank Schaeffel was supposed to chair the session “Bioengineering the Eye. Imaging-Driven Innovations in Myopia Control and Vision Correction” and to present research on visual stimuli that may influence ocular axial length and inhibit myopia. Unfortunately, he could not reach the meeting due to his flight to Valencia being unexpectedly cancelled. Prof. Siegfried Wahl contributed research on the optical interactions between the eye and myopia-control spectacle lenses.

Together, these contributions illustrate the increasingly interdisciplinary character of vision research in Tübingen, where retinal biology is connected with immunology, metabolism, bioengineering, stem-cell research, imaging and therapeutic development.

A strong platform for the next generation

One of the most striking aspects of the Tübingen delegation was the participation of early-career researchers. PhD students and young scientists contributed both oral presentations and posters, presenting projects ranging from molecular mechanisms of retinal degeneration to innovative therapeutic and human disease models.

Among the poster contributions were Dr. Catherine Hottin, who presented research on mutation-independent neuroprotection of the cGMP-Analog CN238 for PDE6A-associated Retinitis Pigmentosa; Dr. Cristina Soldini, who investigated neurotrophic factor release from retinal explants; Jonathan Zobel, who studied CN238 in a model of autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa; and Katharina Kock, who investigated pharmacological VCP inhibition and Benedict Vincent Wagner on organotypic retinal cultures as a platform for pharmacological testing in inherited retinal degeneration.

The programme also featured research addressing AMD and human retinal models. Nathalie Zgoda contributed with research investigating the role of complement opsonisation in regulating microglial phagocytosis in the retina. Enrico Cossio presented work on Urolithin A and proteostasis in iPSC-derived RPE cells carrying the CFH Y402H variant, while Dr. Angela Armento investigated retinal transcriptional profiles associated with the AMD-linked CFH Y402H polymorphism. Advanced experimental models were another important theme. 

Several young Tübingen researchers also took the stage for oral presentations. Ana Cristina Almansa García presented work on targeting VCP to prevent retinal damage, while Alexander Hirsch reported on glycolytic dysregulation in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa using high-resolution MALDI imaging and functional lactate analysis and Svenja Wingerter presented her work combining organoid and organ-on-chip technologies to generate physiological models of ocular tissue.

Tübingen at the forefront of international vision research

The contributions presented in Valencia provided a vivid snapshot of the scientific diversity and international visibility of the vision research conducted at the Institute for Ophthalmic Research in Tübingen. From retinal metabolism and neuroprotection to ocular immunology, AMD, inherited retinal degeneration, gene therapy, drug delivery, organoids, organ-on-chip models, imaging and myopia, Tübingen researchers were involved across many of the key areas shaping contemporary eye research.

Equally important was the combination of established scientific leadership and the active participation of the next generation of researchers. The strong representation of PhD students and early-career scientists demonstrates how Tübingen’s research environment not only generates internationally recognised science, but also provides young researchers with opportunities to present their work and engage with the global vision research community.