Dear scientists, doctors, esteemed patient representatives, organisers, dear friends
As the President of Aniridia Bulgaria and Secretary of Aniridia Europe, it is both an honour and an emotional moment for me to address you and express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the 8th European Aniridia Conference such a meaningful and inspiring event.
The conference was attended by 95 people, including 25 speakers from Europe, North America and Asia. There were patient representatives from 23 countries around the world (Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Turkey, Poland, Spain, Ukraine, USA, Romania, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Italy, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Japan, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore).
This year’s program has been truly exceptional. We have had the privilege of welcoming expert speakers from three continents: Europe, North America, and Asia. This diversity of knowledge and perspective has made our conference truly global in scope, turning it into an international celebration of collaboration and hope.
Thank you to scientists and researchers for your dedication, curiosity, and relentless pursuit of knowledge. Your work brings hope—not just in theory, but in real, tangible progress for people living with aniridia.
Thank you to doctors and clinicians: your expertise, compassion, and daily commitment to patients make a profound difference. You bridge the gap between science and care most humanly, and we are truly grateful for your contributions.
Thank you to the patient representatives and families for your voices, courage, and openness. You remind us of our purpose. Your stories, resilience, and unity are the heart of this community.
Hosting the 8th EAC has been an unforgettable journey for Aniridia Bulgaria. What once seemed like a distant hope has now become a beautiful reality thanks to the great support of Aniridia Europe, Aniridia Sweden, the Bulgarian Society of Ophthalmology, the National Alliance of People with Rare Diseases, and, last but not least, Arbilis Ltd. for their professional contribution.
We sincerely regret that many participants were unable to join us due to unforeseen circumstances. Your absence was truly felt, and we hope the video presentations playlist helps you feel included in the experiences of these three days.
The journey continues, and we look forward to gathering again at the 9th European Aniridia Conference in Oslo in 2028 to build on our accomplishments and keep moving forward – together.
Thank you, and I wish you all a lovely summer!
Sincerely,
Elena Tsoneva
