Tistou and Charlotte

Kerstan Foundation

Vision 2000

Vision - Art - Sensory Systems

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

In 1993, E. W. Tistou Kerstan (1929-2021), a passionate landscape architect and art collector, and his wife, a highly dedicated ophthalmologist, Dr. med. Charlotte Kerstan (1924-2005), founded the "Tistou and Charlotte Kerstan Foundation - Vision 2000 - Seeing-Art-Sensory Systems". Throughout her professional life, Dr. Kerstan (1924-2005) always had the goal in mind to give blind and visually impaired people the perspective for a better quality of life in the future.

The foundation began its charitable work in 1994 with the financing of special clinic for visually impaired people, in the "Sehbehinderten-Ambulanz" (SBA) and the "Sprechstunde für erbliche Netzhauterkrankungen" (clinic for hereditary retinal diseases) at the University Eye Hospital in Tübingen. For nearly 30 years, the Kerstan Foundation has supported the development of new pharmacological, gene therapy, cell-based and medical technology options to achieve the foundation's goals, with a focus on the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Tübingen and its scientific partners worldwide.

According to Mr. Kerstan's wish, after his death Prof. Dr. med. Eberhart Zrenner, his wife Dr. phil. Claudia Zrenner and Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Hugo Hämmerle were entrusted with the implementation of the foundation's tasks in the board, supported by a scientific advisory board.

Dr. Charlotte Kerstan

E.W. Tistou Kerstan

Developing solutions for incurable retinal diseases

Many of the retinal diseases, especially age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and hereditary forms or retinal diseases are still incurable and affect over 1 million people in Germany alone.

The Kerstan Foundation aims to promote vision research at the University of Tübingen Centre for Ophthalmology in an interdisciplinary approach together with partners worldwide.

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h. c. mult.
Eberhart Zrenner

Chair

Former Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Tübingen and Founding Director of the Research Institute of Ophthalmology at the University Eye Hospital Tübingen. Since 2013, Senior Professor at the Werner Reichardt Center for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN).

Prof. Dr.
Hugo Hämmerle

Former Director of the Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen (NMI). Since January 2020 independent senior consultant in life science and medical technology.

Dr. phil.
Claudia Zrenner

Medical historian, is particularly responsible for the extensive art collection of the Tistou and Charlotte Kerstan Foundation.

MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD

Prof. Dr. med.
Karl Ulrich
Bartz-Schmidt

Director of the University Eye Hospital Tübingen

Prof. Dr. rer. nat.
Thomas Euler

Deputy Director or the Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen

Prof. Dr.
Caroline Klaver

Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam

Dr. rer. nat.
Alfred Stett

Chief Executive Officer
Okuvision GmbH, Reutlingen

Prof. Dr. rer. nat.
Marius Ueffing

Director of the Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen

Call for Proposals: Research Project on Neural and Physiological Foundations of Visual Sensory Functions

The Tistou and Charlotte Kerstan Foundation supports a six-month research project (as "proof of concept") addressing the neural, physiological, and perceptual foundations of vision during presentation with 2-photon ophthalmoscopy (2PO). The focus is on the processing of light and color and their significance for visual sensory functions under normal and altered conditions.

Thematic Focus

Physical and neurophysiological effects of processing 2PO stimuli in the visual system
Psychophysical and cognitive aspects of visual sensory functions during 2PO stimulation
Relevance of color and light for vision under conditions of impairment or disease (conceptual or model-based)

Funding Scope

Duration: 6 months
Funding amount: up to EUR 22,000
Eligible costs include project-related personnel, materials, and equipment expenses

Eligibility

Researchers and project groups from the fields of ophthalmology, neuroscience, perceptual psychology, optics, biophysics, or related disciplines are eligible to apply. Affiliation with a scientific institution is required. Collaborations, particularly with the environment of the University Eye Hospital Tübingen or its partners, are welcome.

Application

The application (in German or English) should contain:

Brief description and objectives of the project
Scientific research question and methodology
Work and timeline (6 months)
Brief CVs of the applicants
Cost and financing plan

Selection Criteria

Relevance for visual sensory functions and the foundation's objectives
Scientific quality and originality
Exploratory potential and knowledge gain
CVs of the applicants
Feasibility within the funding period

Completion

Upon completion of the project, a final report or publication must be submitted. The foundation expects the results to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Submission

Submit application as one PDF document by January 2, 2026 at the latest via email to: info@kerstanstiftung.org

What the Foundation accomplished since its inception

1993 - 1999

Established the "Low Vision Center" in Tübingen

Funded research on neuroprotection

Supported young doctors studying genetics and hereditary diseases

2000 - 2008

Supported a special clinic for vision disorders of unclear origin

Funded research on maintaining optic nerve function

Supported Orthoptics at the Low Vision Center, as well as RP clinics

Provided initial funding for the subretinal chip project

Supported the elaboration of a masterplan for Neuroprotective Therapies

Funded a Senior Researcher in Residence for hereditary retinal degeneration

Supported experimental therapies

Helped establish a digitized patient database for clinical research purposes

Supported a clinical trial centre for eye diseases

Recent Projects and Work in Progress

2008 - 2012: 350,000 €

Supporting new neuropharmacological therapeutic approaches

Further development at the Low Vision Center of the University of the University Eye Hospital Tübingen

2010 - 2019: 4,200,000 €

Founding an endowed professorship for molecular mechanisms of hereditary retinal diseases at the Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen (Prof. M. Ueffing)

Since 2012: 6,600,000 €

Development of new therapies for retinal degenerative diseases including gene therapy: RD-Cure

Development of new diagnostic tools for early detection of retinal diseases

Establishing links to the network for rare diseases

Since 2019: 850,000 €

Development of new concepts for retinal prosthetics

Therapeutic developments on rhodopsin mutations