Every two years, the Applied Vision Association (AVA) honors the achievements of an outstanding scientist in vision research with the "AVA David Marr Medal". This year, Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan, Head of the Assistant Professorship of Chronobiology & Health at TUM, received the committee's award for his research on how light affects human physiology. The award is named in memory of David Marr (1945-1980), one of the United Kingdom's foremost neuroscientists in the field of the visual system.

"Receiving the AVA David Marr Medal is a great honor, and I am grateful," explains Manuel Spitschan. The AVA's award recognizes the researcher's work on melanopsin- and cone-mediated mechanisms contributing to human visual perception, the pupillary light reflex, melatonin suppression, and circadian phase shift. 

Prof. Spitschan's research focuses on the effects of light in relation to human physiology and behavior. In particular, the interplay of the biological clock, circadian rhythm, and sleep. The health scientist is providing new insights into the fundamental properties of melanopsin, a light-sensitive photoreceptor recently found in the human retina. 

"One of the hallmarks of our internal clock is the production of the hormone melatonin in the evening. When people are exposed to light at night or in the evening, melatonin production is suppressed. The disruption of our internal clock can affect our bodily functions, for example, metabolism and immune functions," Spitschan explains. In 2022, the TU professor contributed to the first consensus-based scientific recommendations by an international scientific consortium on the amount of light that people should receive both during the day and at night. 

With the knowledge gained, Spitschan is now turning to the question of how basic research can be used to optimize light exposure for health and well-being. The ceremonial presentation of the medal will be made during the AVA Christmas Meeting, which will be held at Royal Holloway, University of London, in December 2023.

To the homepage of the Assistant Professorship of Chronobiology & Health

To the homepage of the Applied Vision Association (AVA)

To the AVA David Marr Medal

To the homepage of the Translational Sensory & Circadian Neuroscience 

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan
Assistant Professorship of Chronobiology & Health
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München

phone: 089 289 24544
e-mail: manuel.spitschan(at)tum.de

Text: Bastian Daneyko
Photos: AVA/private