Opening

• Prof. Walter Bär, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland

• Prof. Klara Landau, Chair, Dept. of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland

• Prof. Brigitte Woggon, Chair of the University Equal Opportunity Committee, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich, Switzerland

• Prof. Christian Grimm, Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology, University Eye Clinic Zurich, Switzerland

Special Lecture

• Prof. Lutz Jäncke, Institute of Psychology, Neuropsychology, University of Zürich: ”Music and the brain”

Light & the biological clock.

Chair: M. LaVail

• Prof. em. Anna Wirz-Justice, Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel: “Is there a circadian pacemaker in the mammalian eye?”

• Prof. Michael Terman, Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA: “Light therapy, classic and novel applications”

The structure and function of the retina.

Chair: C. Grimm

• Prof. Enrica Strettoi, Institute of Neuroscience, National Institutes of Research, Pisa, Italy: “Mammalian retinal wiring diagram and open issues on bipolar cell physiology”

• Prof. Dean Bok, Department of Anatomy and Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, CA, USA: “Photoreceptors and pigment epithelium, a vital relationship”

• Prof. François Delori, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA: “Looking at the garbage: In-vivo assessment of RPE lipofuscin”

The pioneering days of retinal light damage.

Chair: A. Wenzel

• Prof. Dan Organisciak, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA: “Mechanisms of protection against light damage”

• Prof. Farhad Hafezi, University of Zurich, Switzerland: “c-fos in retinal degenerations: how it all began”

• Prof. Robert E. Anderson, Dept. of Ophthalmology and Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA: “Retinal lipids and light damage”

• Prof. Barry Winkler, Eye Research Institute, Oakland University, Rochester, NY, USA: “Measuring retinal metabolism in vitro”

Modern times: mechanisms of retinal degeneration & neuroprotection.

Chair: R. A. Anderson

• Prof. Christian Grimm, Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology, University Eye Clinic Zurich, Switzerland: “The story of Lif(e): protecting photoreceptors from death”

• Prof. Wolfgang Berger, Division of Medical Molecular Genetics and Gene Diagnostics, Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich: “The genetic basis of retinal degenerations and dysfunctions”

Modern times: continued

• PD Johannes von Lintig, Institute for Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany: “Molcular components affecting ocular vitamin A supply”

• PD Andreas Wenzel, Novartis Switzerland: “Visual pigments and metabolic regeneration”

Animal models for retinal degeneration.

Chair: J. Hollyfield

• Dr. Marijana Samardzija, Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology, University Eye Clinic Zurich, Switzerland: “A mouse model for Leber’s congenital amaurosis”

• Dipl. Biochem. Markus Thiersch, Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology, University Eye Clinic Zurich: “How hypoxia can protect against cell death”

• Prof. Stephan Neuhauss, Institute of Zoology, Universtity of Zurich, Switzerland: “The zebrafish model for retinal degenerations”

• PD Elisabeth Rungger-Brändle, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland: “Mechanisms of Diabetic Retinopathy”

   

Human aspects: pathophysiology and treatment

Chair: W. Berger

• Prof. Joe Hollyfield, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA: “Pathogenetic aspects of AMD”

• Prof. Paulus de Jong, Ophthalmogenetics, NIN/Genetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: “Genetic epidemiology of aging macula disorder (AMD)”

• Prof. Sebastian Wolf, Chair, University Eye Clinic Bern, Switzerland: “Recent treatments of AMD”

• Prof. Eberhart Zrenner, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Germany: “Inherited rod and cone dysfunction: Congenital stationary night blindness and achromatopsia”

Human aspects: pioneers in science and for patient organizations.

Chair: E. Zrenner

• Prof. Debora Farber, Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, CA, USA: “Of mice and men, the quest continues ...”

• Prof. Matt LaVail, Beckman Vision Center, UCSF, CA, USA: “Experimental neuroprotective therapies for retinal degenerations”

• Prof. Gerald Chader, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Doheny Retina Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA: “Science and patient organizations”

• Mrs. Christina Fasser, President Retina International and Retina Suisse, Zurich, Switzerland: “A leader and a patient’s view”

Summary

• Prof. em. Charlotte Remé, Zurich, Switzerland: “As you walk backwards: From bedside to bench to retirement but still interested in medicine and science”