We are delighted to have as next invited “Visiting Researcher” Soile Nymark from Tampere University in Finland. She will hold on October 28 at 9 a.m. in the HNO Lecture Hall in Tübingen, a presentation on: Biophysical signaling in the retinal pigment epithelium regulates photoreceptor renewal.

Soile Nymark is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, at Tampere University, Finland. She received her PhD at Aalto University, Finland, studying adaptation mechanisms in retinal photoreceptors. She did her post-doctoral training at Boston University School of Medicine, USA, focusing on the retinal visual cycle. After returning to Finland, Dr. Nymark shifted her attention to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the key retinal maintenance tissue, and began investigating its ion channel machinery. In 2016, Dr. Nymark started her own research group with the goal of understanding the multiple interactions between the retina and the RPE focusing on RPE ion channelome and related diseases. Her expertise covers electroretinography, single cell electrophysiology, calcium imaging, live-cell fluorescence microscopy, and different model systems including stem cell derived in vitro models, mice and zebrafish.

In her talk, she will highlight how the efficient uptake and clearance of aged photoreceptor outer segment tips are critical for photoreceptor health, with impairments linked to retinal degenerative diseases. This process is precisely regulated and relies on the intricate interaction between the retina and the RPE. Decades of research have illuminated this captivating and dynamic process, though its complex physiological regulation remains incompletely understood. Recent studies suggest that, beyond biochemical factors, biophysical players also have a critical role in governing the molecular mechanisms underlying outer segment uptake. The presentation discusses the latest findings on the biophysical determinants of the process, with particular emphasis on ionic signaling, and cellular mechanics of the RPE5. Additionally, it introduces emerging approaches aimed at exploring this relatively under-investigated aspect of RPE physiology.

New perspectives for understanding and treating age-related macular degeneration

Scientists from the limits2vision network are strongly involved in PANDORA, a new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network funded by the European Union. Coordinated by the Institute for Ophthalmic Research (Tübingen University Hospital and the University of Tübingen), PANDORA brings together leading academic, clinical, and industrial partners across Europe, with strong participation from the Institut de la Vision in Paris (Sorbonne Université).

The network once again highlights the strength and impact of French-German collaboration in vision research. Among the principal investigators involved in PANDORA are Dr. Angela Armento and Dr. Florian Sennlaub, who are also active members of the limits2vision network. In addition, Prof. Marius Ueffing and Prof. Simon Clark, both limits2vision principal investigators, are actively involved in the PANDORA Doctoral Network.

At the heart of PANDORA is a major societal and medical challenge: age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss in older adults. Affecting around 200 million people worldwide, AMD can profoundly impair central vision, independence, mobility, and quality of life, while creating growing challenges for healthcare systems in ageing societies.

PANDORA combines cutting-edge research with advanced international training for the next generation of scientists. Eight academic institutions, three industry partners, and two non-profit organisations will work together to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying AMD and to develop innovative therapeutic strategies. The network will train 13 doctoral researchers in an international, interdisciplinary, and highly collaborative environment, bridging fundamental research and clinical translation.

“Our goal is to translate this knowledge into new therapeutic strategies that will ultimately benefit patients,” says Dr. Angela Armento, Scientific Coordinator of PANDORA.

The support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions not only strengthens European leadership in cutting-edge biomedical research, but also represents a major investment in the next generation of researchers and in tackling one of the most important health challenges of ageing societies.

The limits2vision community is proud to contribute to this new initiative and looks forward to joining forces with PANDORA to train and inspire the next generation of vision scientists.