Inherited Retinal Diseases
About the Congress
Congress Overview
The I International Congress on Advances in Inherited Retinal Diseases (CAIRD 2026) is a global congress dedicated to scientific, clinical, and societal advances in inherited retinal diseases (DHR), a group of rare pathologies causing progressive vision loss that pose a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
Over the last decades, this field has experienced rapid development driven by the emergence of advanced therapies such as gene, pharmacological, cellular, optogenetic, and nanotechnological therapy.
The congress will be held at the Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF) in Valencia, Spain on November 19–20, 2026. It aims to bring together researchers, clinicians, patients, and associations to foster collaboration and knowledge transfer.
Scientific session with international experts.
Session oriented towards patients, families, and society.
The event will include live streaming, simultaneous English-Spanish interpretation to facilitate participation and access for patients during the first day, and sign language interpretation services during the second day.
Program Topics
Scientific Session
- European Reference Networks for Rare Diseases (ERN-EYE, ERDC)
- Clinical genetics and gene therapy
- Pharmacological strategies in rare diseases
- Experimental models and advanced technologies
- Poster session for young researchers
- Scientific networking spaces
Patients & Society
- Transfer of scientific knowledge to patients
- Management of low vision and practical solutions
- Psychological impact of DHR and physician-patient dialogue
Faculty
Speakers
Scientific Session — Speakers & Chairs
Rosa Coco
Department of Ophthalmology / IOBA, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
ERN-EYE Spokesperson
Susanne Roosing
Genetics and Transcriptomics of Blindness, Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), Nijmegen, Netherlands
ERDC Spokesperson
Carmen Ayuso
Genética Médica, Foundation Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
Eduardo Silva
Ophthalmology, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal
Cristina Martínez
Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
François Paquet-Durand
Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Regina Rodrigo
Pathophysiology and Therapies for Vision Disorders, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain
Sheyla Velasco
Postdoctoral researcher, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain
Javier Ruiz Ederra
Ocular research and drug development, Biodonostia Health Research Institute / Miramoon Pharma, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
Gema Marfany
Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Idoia Gallego
NanoBioCel, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Patients & Society Session — Speakers & Chairs
José María Millán
Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, España
Director científico CIBERER.
Andrés Merino
Óptica (Burgos), Burgos, España
Pedro García Recover
Moderador en la sesión baja visión
Isabel Campillo
Fisiopatología y Terapias de los Trastornos de la Visión, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, España
Carmen Milla
RETINA CV, Valencia, España
Enrique Rodríguez de la Rua
Oftalmología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España
Schedule
Program
Scientific Session
19 November 2026
Welcome
Almudena Amaya (President of RETINA CV) & Deborah Burks (Director of CIPF)
Session 1: European Reference Networks (ERN-EYE and ERDC) as Drivers of Innovation and Equity in Rare Diseases
Session Chair: Eduardo Silva
European Reference Network for Rare Eye Diseases (ERN-EYE): "The knowledge travels, not the patient."
Rosa Coco - Ophthalmology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. IOBA. ERN EYE member
From Networks to Impact: The ERDC Perspective on Innovation and Equity in Rare Diseases.
Susanne Roosing - ERDC member, Blindness genetics and transcriptomics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Coffee Break and Poster Session
Session 2: Clinical Genetics and Gene Therapy: From Diagnosis to Personalized Intervention
Session Chair: José María Millán
Inherited Retinal Dystrophies in Spain. A way of 35 yrs
Carmen Ayuso - Departamento of Medical Genetics. Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
Clinical trials in IRD. Where do we stand and how may we improve
Eduardo Silva - Hospital Dona Estefânia, Lisboa, Portugal
The RPGR gene therapy journey: lessons from bench to bedside.
Cristina Martínez - Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford. United Kingdom
Lunch and Poster Session
Session 3: Pharmacological Strategies in Rare Diseases: Mechanisms, Models, and Preclinical Validation
Session Chair: Cristina Martínez
François Paquet-Durand
Institute for Ophthalmic Research. University of Tübingen, Germany
Targeting neuroinflammation for retinitis pigmentosa
Sheyla Velasco - Pathophysiology and Therapies for Vision Disorders, CIPF, Valencia, Spain
Preclinical validation of MP-004 as a mutation-agnostic therapy for retinal degeneration
Javier Ruiz-Ederra - University of the Basque Country (EHU)/ Biogipuzkoa HRI/Miramoon Pharma. Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
Coffee Break and Poster Session
Session 4: Advanced Models and New Technologies for Translational Research
Session Chair: Regina Rodrigo
Exploring precision medicine for CERK-associated inherited retinal dystrophies through in vitro and in vivo approaches
Gemma Marfany - Departament of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Spain
From Therapeutic Delivery to Precision Medicine: Emerging Technologies for Inherited Retinal Disease.
Idoia Gallego - NanoBioCel, University of Basque Country, UPV, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Final Remarks
Patients & Society
20 November 2026
Bienvenida
Almudena Amaya (Presidenta RETINA CV), Imelda Fernández (Vice-Presidenta Fundación ONCE Baja Visión) y José María Millán (Director Científico CIBERER)
Sesión 1: De la investigación al paciente
Resumen de la jornada científica del día anterior dirigida a los pacientes
José María Millán - Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, IIS La Fe, Valencia, España
Sesión 2: Soluciones para el día a día de un paciente con baja visión
Moderador: Pedro García Recover
Soluciones ópticas para pacientes con baja visión
Andrés Merino - Óptica Burgalesa, Burgos, España
Descanso
Accesibilidad
Enrique Llin Ruiz - Presidente Consejo Territorial, ONCE Comunidad Valenciana. Representante de Unidad de Seguridad Vial de la Policía localRepresentante de Retina CV
Sesión 3: Más allá del diagnóstico: Mirada psicológica y diálogo médico
Moderadora: Melani Navarro (Trabajadora social RETINA CV)
Impacto emocional del diagnóstico de una DHR
Isabel Campillo y Carmen Milla - Psicólogas CIPF y RETINA CV, Valencia, España
Diálogos con el especialista
Enrique Rodríguez de la Rúa - Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla
Organisation
Committees
Organizing Committee
- 01Almudena Amaya Rubio (RETINA CV)
- 02José Joaquín Gil Izquierdo (RETINA CV)
- 03Melani Navarro Lon (RETINA CV)
- 04José María Millán Salvador (IIS La Fe / CIBERER)
- 05David Salom Alonso (Hospital de Manises)
- 06Imelda Fernández Rodríguez (Fundación ONCE Baja Visión)
- 07Federico V. Pallardó Calatayud (Universitat de València / CIBERER)
- 08Deborah J. Burks (CIPF)
- 09José Luis Pedraz Muñoz (UPV/EHU / CIBER-BBN)
- 10Regina Rodrigo Nicolás (CIPF / CIBERER)
Scientific Committee
- 01François Paquet-Durand (Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Alemania)
- 02Eduardo Silva (Oftalmología, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Lisboa, Portugal)
- 03Cristina Martínez Fernández de la Cámara (Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, Reino Unido)
- 04Carmen Ayuso (Genética Médica, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, España)
- 05José María Millán (Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, España)
- 06David Salom Alonso (Hospital de Manises)
- 07Regina Rodrigo Nicolás (Pathophysiology and Therapies for Vision Disorders, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, España)
Location
Venue
Príncipe Felipe Research Center
Calle de Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3 · 46012, Valencia, Spain
Registration
Registration & Deadlines
Key Deadlines
Registration Opens
Apertura de inscripciones
Abstract Submission
Envío de abstracts (pósters)
Acceptance Notification
Comunicación de aceptación
Early Registration
Inscripción temprana
Regular Registration
Inscripción regular
Registration Form
Acknowledgements
Sponsors & Collaborators
Financiación / Apoyo Institucional
Funding / Institutional Support
Aval Científico
Scientific Endorsement
con la participación y respaldo científico de:
with the participation and scientific backing of:
Actividad cofinanciada por la Generalitat Valenciana, a través de la Conselleria de Educación, Cultura, Universidades y Empleo, dentro del programa de subvenciones para la organización y difusión de congresos, jornadas y reuniones científicas, tecnológicas, humanísticas o artísticas de carácter internacional (Ayuda CIAORG/2026/150)