Researchers and medical professionals will gather at the University of Alicante (UA) for the third scientific conference on retinal diseases, titled "Current panorama on research, diagnosis and treatments." Organised by the Retina Community Association of Valencia, the event is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October, from 9 am to 3 pm, in the auditorium of the Faculty of Education.
Throughout the day, prominent specialists will address the latest scientific advancements and comprehensive care for individuals affected by hereditary retinal diseases. The first session, titled “Visual health and neurodegenerative retinal diseases: from translational research to practice,” will be led by Nicolás Cuenca, a professor of Cell Biology and director of the research group on “Neurobiology of the visual system and therapy for neurodegenerative diseases” at UA.
According to Cuenca, recent years have seen significant progress in understanding degenerative diseases and hereditary retinal dystrophies, offering new hope for treatment. He noted, “Gene therapy is now a clinical reality for certain forms of hereditary blindness, marking a milestone in the history of ophthalmology.” However, he emphasised that while advancements continue towards effective treatments for a broader range of these diseases, preserving vision and maintaining visual health remains a fundamental priority, hence the title of his presentation.
During his talk, Cuenca will explore how advancements in translational research, which bridges laboratory discoveries with clinical practice, enhance understanding of retinal function and identify strategies to protect vision. “Understanding the keys to good visual health, based on scientific evidence, will allow us to adopt habits and measures that contribute to preserving our visual capacity and improving our quality of life,” he highlighted.
The programme for the third scientific conference on retinal diseases will also feature specialists Gerardo García, who will present on “Current situation of hereditary retinal dystrophies in the Alicante Health Department-General Hospital,” and Enrique J. de la Rosa, who will discuss “From the laboratory to the patient: what can we do to translate our research into new treatments.”
After a break, Regina Rodrigo will present “Inflammation in retinitis pigmentosa: what we know and what we are investigating,” followed by José María Millán's talk on “Genetic diagnosis of hereditary retinal dystrophies. Why can’t we look the other way?”
Starting at 1 pm, the conference will dedicate a key segment to the human aspect of these conditions with a round table discussion titled “The emotional impact of diagnosis: when words change your life.” This session will feature clinical psychologist Esther López from Retina CV-Alicante, educator and coach Cynthia Pascual from Retina CV-Valencia, along with association users who will share their life testimonies.
The event is supported by the Generalitat Valenciana, the City Council of Alicante, the University of Alicante, Carlin, Soloide, and Lucha Estudio.
