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.
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
Rosa Coco
Departamento de Oftalmología / IOBA, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España
Representante ERN-EYE.
Susanna Roosing
Genetics and Transcriptomics of Blindness, Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), Nijmegen, Países Bajos
Representante ERDC.
Carmen Ayuso
Genética Médica, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, España
Eduardo Silva
Oftalmología, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Lisboa, Portugal
Cristina Martínez
Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, Reino Unido
François Paquet-Durand
Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Alemania
Regina Rodrigo
Pathophysiology and Therapies for Vision Disorders, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, España
Javier Ruiz
Investigación en enfermedades oculares / desarrollo farmacéutico, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Biodonostia / Miramoon Pharma, Donostia-San Sebastián, España
Gema Marfany
Genética, Microbiología y Estadística, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
Idoia Gallego
NanoBioCel, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, España
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
Pathophysiology and Therapies for Vision Disorders, 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
Rosa Coco
European Reference Network for Rare Eye Diseases (ERN-EYE): "The knowledge travels, not the patient."
Susanne Roosing
From Networks to Impact: The ERDC Perspective on Innovation and Equity in Rare Diseases.
Coffee Break and Poster Session
Session 2: Clinical Genetics and Gene Therapy: From Diagnosis to Personalized Intervention
Session Chair: José María Millán
Carmen Ayuso
Inherited Retinal Dystrophies in Spain. A way of 35 yrs
Eduardo Silva
Clinical trials in IRD. Where do we stand and how may we improve
Cristina Martínez
The RPGR gene therapy journey: lessons from bench to bedside.
Lunch and Poster Session
Session 3: Pharmacological Strategies in Rare Diseases: Mechanisms, Models, and Preclinical Validation
Session Chair: Cristina Martínez
François Paquet-Durand
Developing inhibitors of protein kinase G and drug delivery technology for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa
Sheyla Velasco
Targeting neuroinflammation for retinitis pigmentosa
Javier Ruiz-Ederra
Preclinical validation of MP-004 as a mutation-agnostic therapy for retinal degeneration
Coffee Break and Poster Session
Session 4: Advanced Models and New Technologies for Translational Research
Session Chair: Regina Rodrigo
Gemma Marfany
Exploring precision medicine for CERK-associated inherited retinal dystrophies through in vitro and in vivo approaches
Idoia Gallego
From Therapeutic Delivery to Precision Medicine: Emerging Technologies for Inherited Retinal Disease.
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
José María Millán
Resumen de la jornada científica del día anterior dirigida a los pacientes
Sesión 2: Soluciones para el día a día de un paciente con baja visión
Moderador: Pedro García Recover
Andrés Merino
Soluciones ópticas para pacientes con baja visión
Descanso
Técnico en rehabilitación visual, miembro de la Unidad de Seguridad Vial de la Policía local, paciente
Accesibilidad
Sesión 3: Más allá del diagnóstico: Mirada psicológica y diálogo médico
Moderadora: Melani Navarro
Isabel Campillo & Carmen Milla
Impacto emocional del diagnóstico de una DHR
Enrique Rodríguez de la Rúa
Diálogos con el especialista
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
- 02Eduardo Silva
- 03Cristina Martínez Fernández de la Cámara
- 04Carmen Ayuso
- 05José María Millán
- 06David Salom
- 07Regina Rodrigo
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
Aval Científico
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades RarasEntidades Colaboradoras Previstas
