For five days, scientists and specialists shared the latest breakthroughs in basic, clinical, and translational research. This year's edition stood out for its international scope and extensive scientific program, featuring 1,004 oral communications. Sixty-one travel grants were awarded to support early-career researchers. The next meeting will be held in Singapore.
The Ocular Neurobiology group presented research on corneal nerves, alterations linked to injury and inflammation, and novel therapeutic strategies. UMH Professor Mari Carmen Acosta discussed the function of corneal nerves and their role in ocular protection. She also participated in a session on new treatments for rare eye diseases, linked to the European project Restore Vision. Researcher Almudena Íñigo Portugués presented work on corneal nerve recovery after injury, while Laura Frutos Rincón discussed factors promoting nerve regeneration and sensitivity.
Researchers such as Víctor Meseguer and Ariadna Díaz-Tahoces spoke in sessions on cellular mechanisms of ocular surface pain, focusing on the role of ion channels. Meseguer presented research on inflammatory changes in corneal nerve endings, and Díaz-Tahoces addressed age-related changes in stimulus detection on the ocular surface.
The Generation and Regeneration of Bilateral Circuits group, led by researcher Eloísa Herrera, was represented at the event. Herrera served as chair for the session 'From the Eye to the Brain: Wiring the Visual Pathway' and was responsible for the 'Retinal Neuroscience and Development' section.
Juana Gallar, UMH Physiology Professor and Director of the UMH-CSIC Neuroscience Institute, explained the stages of scientific discovery leading to treatment in the 'Roadmap for Ocular Innovation' session.
