Scientific Committee and Chairs
Jorge L. Alió
Scientific Committee President | Chair
Prof. Dr. Jorge Alió, has been Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology since 1987. Currently he is academically serving in Universidad Miguel Hernández as Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology and Director of the Iberia Biobank and Biodata created jointly with the funding of the National Network of Clinical Research (OFTARED, National Health Institute Carlos III), where he is the Coordinator of Eye Diopter Research.
Carmen Ayuso
Scientific Committee
Chair
Juliana Martínez-Atienza
Scientific Committee
Chair
Juliana Martínez has a PhD in Pharmacy from the University of Seville. For several years she has worked as a Project manager in the Andalusian Initiative for Advanced Therapies, organization belonging to the Regional Government of Andalusia (Spain).
She currently serves as Science Communication Manager of ANIRIDIA-NET COST Action CA18116.
Plenary sessions
José Carlos Pastor
Prof. Pastor is founder of the IOBA (Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, 1994). His current position is Emeritus professor of Ophthalmology (University of Valladolid), Director of the Retina Group at IOBA, full member of ERN-EYE, through Hospital Clinico in Valladolid, acredited as National Reference Centre in Spain and General Coordinator of Oftared (Cooperative Research Network, Carlos III Institute of Health). Director of 44 doctoral thesis and promoter of the National Observatory of Rare Eye Diseases (ONERO), 2019.
Marta Corton
Molecular geneticist focused on the genetics of rare eye disorders. Currently, principal investigator of the Ocular Developmental Pathologies group in IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz Hospital (Madrid). She is specialised in Molecular Biology, Genomics and Proteomics, Human Genetics,
Rare diseases, Ophthalmogenetics, congenital ocular malformations, Retinal dystrophies, Tumour markers, Obesity, Insuline resistance, PCOS
Genetic Basis
Elizabeth M. Simpson
Dr. Simpson is a Senior Scientist at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics (CMMT) in Canada, a Professor at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Medical Genetics, and an Associate Member in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences.
The goal of her research is to improve treatment for human disorders of the brain and eye. Currently, she is focused on the development of DNA-based gene therapies.
Sophie Valleix
Fiona Blanco-Kelly
Medical Doctor and PhD, currently at Fundación Jimenez Díaz University Hospital. Having worked as Consultant at Oxford Genomic Medicine and Honorary Consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.
Master in Rare Diseases from the University of Valencia and Master in Clinical Genetics from the University of Alcalá de Henares.
Alexandra Yu Filatova
Researcher at the Medical Genetic Research Center, Moscow, Russia. Her PhD work is devoted to study of the pathogenicity mechanisms of PAX6 nucleotide variants found in patients with congenital aniridia.
Marta Corton
Molecular geneticist focused on the genetics of rare eye disorders. Currently, principal investigator of the Ocular Developmental Pathologies group in IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz Hospital (Madrid).
WAGR Spectrum
Kelly Trout
Kelly Trout co-founded the International WAGR Syndrome Association (IWSA) in 2000. She assists families, clinicians, and researchers, manages the WAGR Syndrome Patient Registry, and has written numerous articles on this disorder for professional, lay, and web publications.
Norbert Graf
Prof. Dr. Norbert Graf is Professor of Paediatrics and Director of the Clinic for Paediatric Oncology and Haematology and a member of the Faculty of Medicine of the Saarland University. He is the chairman of the Renal Tumour Study Group of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology and the Principal Investigator of the current Trial for Childhood Renal Tumours within SIOP.
James. D. Lauderdale
Dr. Lauderdale is currently professor in the Department of Cellular Biology at the University of Georgia.
His research is focused on understanding the effects of mutations in the PAX6 transcription factor,
especially those that give rise to the human genetic disorder known as aniridia, and in developing
approaches that can be used to better treat this disorder.
Jennifer Kalish
Jennifer M Kalish is a physician-scientist in the Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Jennifer does research in Cancer Research, Cell Biology and Genetics. Their current project is ‘Pediatric cancer predisposition’.
Anterior Chamber
Jorge L. Alió
Rafael Barraquer
Andrés Vásquez Quintero
Juan Álvarez de Toledo
Fabian Fries
Giulio Ferrari
Posterior Chamber
Barbara Käsmann-Kellner
Peter Netland
Pilar Casas de Llera
Anidirida-net COST action
Neil Lagali
Dominique Bremond-Gignac
Dominique Bremond-Gignac is Professor of Ophthalmology, Head of Ophthalmology Department at University Hospital Necker-Enfants malades and Paris University. Current practice includes paediatric anterior segment, ocular surface, strabismus and oculo-plastic surgery as she is also graduated in maxillo-facial surgery. She is Executive member of WSPOS and President Elect 2021 of EVER. Head of CLAIROP Research Clinical Center and Head of OPHTARA Rare Eye Diseases Center. Specialized in Rare Eye Diseases and President of Scientific Committee of Aniridia Europe and Geniris (France).
Daniel Aberdam
Daniel Aberdam received his PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Sciences, has been recruited at INSERM (France) in 1995 and served as head of INSERM units. He became an expert in stem cells and epithelial pathophysiology related to skin and cornea.
Heli Skottmann
