Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and German Research Foundation (DFG) support the development of novel retinal implants
Hector Fellow Eberhart Zrenner from the University of Tübingen and Hector Fellow Jürg Leuthold from ETH Zurich have each received funding of around 600,000 euros per research group from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) for the development of a new type of electronic retinal implant. The aim of the joint project is to develop a new retinal sensor for blind people that not only achieves a significant increase in resolution compared to previous models, but also in the day/night performance range.
This interdisciplinary project was made possible thanks to an initial funding from the Hector Fellow Academy. The Hector Fellow Academy has already supported the development of novel sensors, electrode fields and stimulation algorithms for several years by enabling young scientists Dr. Shadi Midhat Nashashibi, Dr. Wadood Haq and Marina Homs to complete their doctorates in this project and thus successfully carry out important initial research work for the realization of the next generation of retinal implants.
The promotion of interdisciplinary exchange between the members of the Academy, who work together across the boundaries of individual research institutions and across different disciplines, is a central concern of the Hector Fellow Academy. It therefore provides personnel and research funding for innovative scientific projects carried out jointly by several Hector Fellows.