A distinguished group of pupil researchers from around the world will gather in Madison this summer for the 35th annual International Pupil Colloquium (IPC), hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS).
The colloquium brings together researchers, clinicians, scientists, and trainees to share the latest advances in pupil research and its applications across neuroscience, ophthalmology, psychology, and broader areas of medicine.
“I am honored to welcome this prestigious conference to Madison,” said Yanjun (Judy) Chen, colloquium chair. “Continuing its long‑standing tradition, the colloquium will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and highlight cutting‑edge discoveries as well as emerging voices in the field.”
Dr. Chen is an associate professor of ophthalmology at UW–Madison, chief of the neuro‑ophthalmology service, and a clinician scientist with 20+ years’ experience in pupil research.
Merlin D. Larson, MD, professor emeritus of anesthesia at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), will deliver the keynote Loewenfeld Lecture. While training as an anesthesiologist, Dr. Larson developed a deep interest in how unconscious states influence pupillary reactions. After joining the UCSF faculty, he collaborated on numerous projects examining the effects of pain, analgesics, and general anesthesia on the pupil. He is also the author of A Practical Guide to Portable Pupillometry, published by Cambridge University Press (2025).
In addition to the Loewenfeld Lecture, the symposium will feature invited talks, breakout sessions, poster presentations, and networking events.
The first IPC conference was held in 1961 at MIT in Boston, Massachusetts. Since then, the event has convened every other year, rotating between U.S. and international host sites. Past conferences have taken place in India, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Canada, and various locations across the United States.
The 35th annual IPC will be held July 23–24, 2026, at the Fluno Center on the UW–Madison campus.
For more information or to RSVP, visit: https://www.ophth.wisc.edu/ipc2026/