GRK 3130:  Energy input vs. information output: Identifying the limits that shape the function of the retina and the visual system (Limits2Vision)

• Subject Area: Neurosciences ; Medicine
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 544833423

The retina, with its complex network of more than 100 different cell types, plays a vital role in early visual signal processing and in transmitting behaviourally relevant information to higher visual areas in the brain. However, these crucial first steps in vision demand a considerable amount of energy, making the retina the highest relative energy consumer in the human body. The Limits2Vision international Research Training Group (iRTG) is dedicated to investigating the delicate balance between energy consumption and visual information processing in the retina. This collaborative effort brings together two prominent European eye research institutions, the Institut de la Vision in Paris and the Institute for Ophthalmic Research in Tübingen. They have joined forces to establish an exceptional PhD training program aimed at nurturing the next generation of vision scientists. The iRTG is driven by a unique team of experts in retinal neurobiology, physiology, pathology, metabolism, and genetics, as well es specialists for computational neuroscience and machine learning. This interdisciplinary approach ensures a comprehensive education for PhD students, as well as for junior faculty members aspiring to senior positions. The iRTG's primary objective is to dissect the mechanisms that enable the retina to manage its high energy demands while efficiently processing visual information. This unique capability allows the retina to function in a highly dynamic environment. For example, performing tasks such as light adaptation while simultaneously encoding behaviourally relevant, dynamic visual stimuli entails an exceptionally high and rapidly fluctuating energy demand, likely close to what is biologically possible. On the one hand, despite such challenges, a human retina can function perfectly well for a century or more. On the other hand, its intricate molecular machinery is vulnerable to singular genetic mutations that can lead to swift retinal degeneration and blindness. This intriguing dichotomy between retinal resilience and vulnerability remains poorly understood. The iRTG's long-term vision is to uncover the principles underlying this paradox. We expect insights that will not only deepen our understanding of how biological systems adapt to rapid changes and stressors, but which also inform the development of innovative therapies for retinal and central nervous system diseases. The Limits2Vision iRTG will adopt an integrative approach, exploring retinal metabolism, neural processing, and genetics through collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts across labs and institutions. It will facilitate knowledge exchange and data analysis among applicants from Tübingen and Paris, drawing on their diverse scientific expertise and clinical insights. This collaborative initiative is designed to shape the future of vision and ophthalmic research excellence in France, Germany, and Europe.

• DFG Programme: International Research Training Groups
• International Connection: France, USA
• Applicant Institution: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• IRTG-Partner Institution: Institut de la Vision Paris
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Thomas Euler
• Participating Researchers: Dr. Angela Armento; Professor Dr. Philipp Berens; Professor Dr. Simon J. Clark; Professorin Dr. Olga Garaschuk; Dr. Wadood Mohammad Abdul Haq; Kristina Herfert, Ph.D.; Dr. Sylvie Julien-Schraermeyer; Dr. Susanne Kohl; Dr. Regine Mühlfriedel; Professor Dr. Francois Paquet-Durand; Christina Schwarz, Ph.D.; Professor Christian Schürch, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Mathias Seeliger; Dr. Christoph Trautwein; Professor Marius Ueffing, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Bernd Wissinger
• IRTG-Partner: Spokesperson: Dr. Alexandra Rebsam