Location: Fluno Center in Madison, WI, USA
Date: July 23 – 24, 2026
Greetings from the chair: Yanjun (Judy) Chen, MD, PhD
We are pleased to announce that the 35th International Pupil Colloquium will take place in the summer of 2026, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and scientists from around the world to share the latest advances in pupil research and its applications in neuroscience, ophthalmology, psychology, and medicine more broadly. Continuing its long-standing tradition, the Colloquium will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, highlight cutting-edge discoveries, and emerging voices in the field.
Meeting abstracts will be published in the University of Wisconsin’s MINDS open-access institutional repository, ensuring wide dissemination of the knowledge and insights generated.
We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting gathering of the global pupil research community. Details regarding the venue, abstract submission, and registration will be shared in the coming months.
The History of the IPC
Since its inception in the early 1960s, the International Pupil Colloquium has built a remarkable 60-year legacy as a center stage for pupil research, bringing together ideas and experiences from a wide range of multidisciplinary fields. Here, Professors Barbara and Helmut Wilhelm reflect on their experiences with the colloquium…
Prof. Helmut and Barbara Wilhelm
Steinbeis-Transferzentrum
eyetrial am Department für Augenheilkunde
Tübingen, Germany
Our first participations in the International Pupil Colloquium go back to 1991 and 1993 respectively. Since these very starts, the IPC meetings have been most inspiring, intense and fruitful. Much collaboration derived from the Colloquia and long-lasting friendships grew in parallel. It is no exaggeration to say that our own pupil research in Tübingen was significantly influenced by exchanges with other pupil specialists at the colloquia, and that important decisions were made. We had the opportunity to meet Irene Loewenfeld in person and talk to her about our pupil research, we were able to collaborate with Stephen Smith, and we exchanged ideas with Stanley Thompson and many more. All these encounters and impulses were incredibly valuable for us.
We both had the pleasure of hosting the IPC twice with a strong team: in 1995 at Haigerloch Castle and in 2011 at Hohentübingen Castle. And we would be delighted if the IPC could return to Tübingen in 2028.
Until the pandemic-related interruption, the IPC meetings usually lasted several days and always allowed enough time for exchange and personal encounters, not to mention the enjoyable laboratory visits and excursions in the region. From the very beginning, what made the Pupil Colloquium special has been its informal character, which was more reminiscent of a workshop than a traditional conference. Usually, the same amount of time was allocated for discussion as for the presentation. Ideas for studies were often presented to obtain suggestions from others, possibly more experienced colleagues, which were then put into practice.
We hope that this special spirit will continue to prevail at all future IPC meetings and that new ideas will lead to even more fruitful exchanges.
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For More History
| 1st MIT, Boston, MA, USA, 1961, Larry Stark |
| 2nd MIT, Boston, MA, USA, 1962, Larry Stark |
| 3rd New York, NY, USA, 1963, Otto Lowenstein and Irene Loewenfeld |
| 4th Washington. DC, USA, 1965, Richard Feinberg |
| 5th Philadelphia, PA, USA, 1967, Alan Laties |
| 6th Bethesda, MD, USA, 1969, Henry Wagner |
| 7th Rochester, MN, USA, 1971, Ted Martens |
| 8th Detroit, MI, USA, 1973, Irene Loewenfeld |
| 9th Iowa City, IA, USA, 1975, Stan Thompson |
| 10th Flushing, NY, USA, 1977, Gad Hakerem |
| 11th London, UK, 1979, Stephen Smith and Paul Turner |
| 12th Winnipeg, MO, USA, 1981, Michel Pierre Janisse |
| 13th Toronto, Canada, 1983, Jan Czarnecki |
| 14th Vancouver, Canada 1985, Terry Cox |
| 15th Hamamatsu, Japan, 1986, Satoshi Ishikawa |
| 16th New York, NY, USA, 1987, Myles Behrens and Jeffery Odel |
| 17th Vancouver, Canada, 1988, Terry Cox and Stan Thompson |
| 18th Berkeley, CA, USA, 1989, Larry Stark and Glenn Myers |
| 19th Woods Hole, MA, USA, 1991, Irene Loewenfeld |
| 20th Iowa City, IA, USA, 1993, Stan Thompson and Randy Kardon |
| 21st Tübingen, Germany, 1995, Helmut Wilhelm and Barbara Wilhelm |
| 22nd Birmingham, AL, USA, 1997, Paul Gamlin |
| 23rd Nottingham, UK, 1999, Elemer Szabadi and Peter Howarth |
| 24th Pacific Grove, CA, USA, 2001, Merlin Larson and Peter Howarth |
| 25th Crete, NE, USA, 2003, Panos Bitsios and Peter Howarth |
| 26th Bear Mountain, NY, USA, 2005, Harry Wyatt and Michael Rosenberg |
| 27th Hamamatsu, Japan, 2007, Hitoshi Ishikawa and Satoshi Ishikawa |
| 28th Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2009, Stuart Steinhauer |
| 29th Tübingen, Germany, 2011, Helmut Wilhelm and Barbara Wilhelm |
| 30th Birmingham, AL, USA, 2013, Paul Gamlin |
| 31st Oxford, UK, 2015, John Barbur |
| 32nd Morges, Switzerland, 2017, Aki Kawasaki |
| 33rd Murcia, Spain, 2019, Pablo Artal |
| 34th Hydarabad, India, 2024, Shrikant Bharadwaj |
Meet the Committee
John Barbur, PhD
The Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Vision Science, City St. George’s, University of London
London, United Kingdom
Carina Kelbsch, MD, FEBO
Centre for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, Department for Neuroophthalmology, University of Tübingen
Tübingen, Germany
Claudio M Privitera, PhD
Chief Scientist
Neuroptics
Irvine, California, USA
Kathryn A Roecklein, PhD
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Registration
Standard Rate (non-trainee): $600
Standard Rate (trainee): $300
On-Site Rate (all): $650
All registrations include full program access, coffee breaks, lunches, and networking events. Accessibility accommodations for those with special needs are available upon request at least two weeks before the event.
Call for Abstracts
Formats include keynote speaker, podium and poster presentation, and symposia panel discussion. Abstracts (350 words) should include author affiliations, keywords, preferred presentation format, and any relevant ethics approvals.
Key Dates
- Abstract Submissions: February 1, 2026 – April 30, 2026
- Author Notifications: Applicants may receive the author notification as early as 2 weeks following submission, up to May 15, 2026.
- Early Registration: February 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026
- Conference Dates: July 23, 2026 – July 24, 2026
Who Should Attend?
Scientists, clinicians, trainees, and industry professionals working with the pupil in broad clinical and research fields.
Program Highlights
- Keynote lectures by internationally recognized experts
- Parallel symposia and breakout sessions
- Lightning talks and poster presentations
- Technology and methods showcase
- Networking and social events
Venue & Travel
Location
University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
The Pupil Colloquium will be held on the UW–Madison campus, within walking distance of hotels, dining, and scenic lakeshore paths.
Air Travel
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)
Madison’s local airport with limited direct flights; most travelers will connect through major hubs like Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, or Denver.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
A major international hub offering the widest range of direct flights from Europe, Asia, and South America. Many travelers fly into O’Hare and then continue to Madison by coach bus, rental car, or connecting flight.
Ground Transportation from O’Hare to Madison
Coach USA – Wisconsin/Illinois Airport Express
Direct coach bus service from O’Hare to UW–Madison (North Lake stop, walking distance to the Fluno Center). This is the most common and convenient option for international attendees.
Ground Transportation in Madison
Rideshare
Uber, Lyft, and local taxis serve both MSN and campus.
Local Transit
Metro Transit provides bus service across Madison, including routes connecting to campus.
UW Visitor Parking
Campus parking is limited and may require advance purchase.
Lodging
Fluno Center
Convenient on-campus lodging option with a special group rate for conference attendees. Reserve a room with the Fluno Center at the Pupil Colloquium block rate by clicking below.
Visa & Travel Resources
Visa & Documentation Support
The International Pupil Colloquium welcomes attendees from around the world. If you are traveling from outside the United States and require an official invitation letter to support your visa application, please complete the request form below:
Request an Invitation Letter for Visa Purposes
We encourage international participants to begin preparations early, as visa processing times may vary.
U.S. Visitor Visa Information
Guidance on eligibility, required documents, and the application process for a U.S. visitor (B-1/B-2) visa.
Visa Waiver Program
Explains which countries qualify for visa-free travel to the U.S. and the requirements travelers must meet.
Apply for ESTA
Official portal to submit or check your ESTA authorization for eligible Visa Waiver Program travel.
U.S. State Department – Visa Information
Comprehensive resource for all U.S. visa categories, processing updates, and travel documentation guidance.
CDC International Travel Information
Health and safety recommendations, vaccination guidelines, and travel notices for international visitors.
Hosted by Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison