Allgemein Archive - limits2vision

Talk and Visit by Christian Damsgaard

30. April 2026

We are delighted to launch our “Visiting Researchers” program with Christian Damsgaard, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, Zoophysiology at Aarhus University in Denmark.
On Tuesday 12 May at 2 p.m., Damsgaard will give a talk on “Metabolism of the bird inner retina” in the HNO Lecture Hall at the Institute for Ophthalmic Research in Tübingen. He will also be available for discussions and lab visits. Save the date!

Prof. Damsgaard is a comparative and evolutionary physiologist who investigates the mechanisms of gas exchange in vertebrates, particularly in relation to acid–base regulation and neural function. Using the retina as a model system, he combines cardiorespiratory and electrophysiological techniques with OMICs approaches to study how oxygen diffusion shapes metabolism and tissue function across spatial gradients. His work integrates phylogenetically informed, multi-species methods to reveal how respiratory systems and their physiological trade-offs have evolved over macroevolutionary timescales.

Prof. Damsgaard’s most recent publication is highly relevant to the questions addressed in the limits2vision programme: Damsgaard C, et al., Oxygen-free metabolism in the bird inner retina supported by the pecten. Nature, 650: 657–663, 2026. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09978-W. PMID: 41565811.

Few impressions from the First Network Meeting

29. April 2026

“Establishing a doctoral network sends a strong signal for building a long-term Franco-German partnership between two of Europe’s leading institutes in ophthalmology research” emphasized Dr. Marie-Léa Rousseau in reference to the limits2vision programme.

Dr. Rousseau, Science and Technology Attachée at the French Embassy in Germany, was invited to participate in the first limits2vision meeting in Tübingen. Her presence provided an opportunity for further reflection on the expansion and consolidation of a long-term cooperation.

This binational scientific event gained additional significance through its venue at the Institut Culturel Franco-Allemand in Tübingen, a setting that clearly underscores the programme’s Franco-German dimension. Dr. Thomas Vautravers, Director of the Institut Culturel Franco-Allemand, welcomed participants and highlighted the institute’s role as a hub for bilateral exchange.

Held on April 13–14, 2026, the meeting brought together leading scientists from Germany and France to explore key mechanisms of visual perception, discuss the PhD students’ research projects, and shape their training and supervision. The overarching aim is to identify synergies among participating research groups, initiate new joint projects, and foster sustainable international networking.

The partnerships established in recent years between Tübingen and Paris have already achieved remarkable success. The International Research Training Group “limits2vision” has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and recognized as particularly exemplary. The project is also supported by the Franco-German University (DFH), underscoring the scientific excellence and strategic relevance of this cross-border initiative. However, establishing a funding mechanism on the French side comparable to the DFG-iRTG would provide a far more robust foundation for sustained joint research initiatives and foster deeper cultural ties among early-career researchers from France and Germany than is currently possible.

First Network Meeting on 13–14 April 2026 in Tübingen

27. March 2026

The inaugural limits2vision Network Meeting will take place on 13–14 April 2026 in Tübingen. This event will bring together leading scientists from Tübingen and Paris, alongside the newly enrolled PhD students, to forward vision research and further strengthen Franco-German collaboration. The two-day meeting will be followed by several days of specialized training dedicated to the PhD students.

This consortium addresses the fundamental question of how the retina maintains high performance at the limits of its biological capacity. The scientific programme of the meeting will place particular emphasis on contributions from the early-career researchers, highlighting innovative approaches and emerging perspectives in the field.

Beyond the exchange of knowledge, the meeting aims to cultivate new synergies among participating research groups, stimulate collaborative projects, and reinforce long-term international partnerships.

The event will be hosted at the Institut Culturel Franco-Allemand (ICFA), a venue that reflects the strong Franco-German dimension of the initiative. Distinguished guests will include Dr. Rousseau, Research Attachée at the French Embassy in Berlin. Participants will also be welcomed by Dr. Vautravers, Director of the ICFA, who will highlight the institute’s role as a platform for dialogue and exchange supporting bilateral initiatives.

Download the Agenda of the meeting in the “Internal Area“

The limits2vision Consortium Launches Its First Year with a Kick‑Off Meeting in Paris

18. February 2026

The limits2vision consortium begins the year with an initial strategic meeting hosted at the Institut de la Vision in Paris. During this two-day gathering in February, the Principal Investigators (PIs) defined the framework for the first round of secondments and planned the upcoming hands-on courses, thematic workshops, and the biannual network meetings that will mark the project’s scientific and training activities.

The 1st Network Meeting of the complete consortium with all PhD students will take place in April in Tübingen. This event will mark an important milestone for the young researchers, who will meet their respective French or German fellows for the first time, present the outlines of their individual research projects, and engage in the first series of workshops and training courses. Beyond the scientific program, this meeting will also foster early collaboration, strengthen the sense of belonging to the consortium, and lay the groundwork for future interdisciplinary exchanges.

Together, these initial meetings want to set the tone for the collaborative spirit, scientific ambition, and training excellence that define the limits2vision consortium.

Tübingen and Paris Join Forces for the Future of Eye Research

17. July 2025

Two leading European institutes for eye research – the Institute for Ophthalmic Research (IOR) at the University of Tübingen and the Institut de la Vision (IDV) of Sorbonne Université in Paris – are joining forces to launch an outstanding international research and training program.

Under the name “limits2vision”, they are initiating a graduate program supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Franco-German University (FGU), Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), and Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) “FOReSIGHT” to train the next generation of vision researchers – beginning in January 2026.

At the heart of this international PhD program is the retina – a highly complex neural tissue in the eye responsible for processing visual information and transmitting it to the brain. With over 100 distinct cell types and one of the highest energy demands in the human body, the retina is a fascinating biological system – powerful yet vulnerable. The goal of limits2vision is to decipher the mechanisms that enable the retina to maintain its delicate balance between intense energy consumption and visual processing. “We are faced with the paradox that the human retina can function robustly for around 100 years yet degenerates rapidly in the presence of certain genetic mutations” explains Thomas Euler (University of Tübingen), spokesperson for the program. “Advancing our understanding of this balance provides a critical foundation for developing new therapies for retinal disorders, the majority of which are still incurable”.