The Jornades Gironines del Mediterrani en Esclerosi Múltiple i Neuroimmunologia have once again brought together national and international experts to exchange knowledge and updates in the field of inflammatory and demyelinating pathology of the central nervous system. The event, held on 3 and 4 May at the Caixafòrum in Girona, was organised by the Unitat d'Esclerosi Múltiple i Neuroimmunologia Territorial Girona (UNIEMTG) of the Trueta and Santa Caterina Hospitals of the Trueta and Santa Caterina Hospitals, and the Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation research group of The Institute of Biomedical Research of Girona (IDIBGI).
This 15th edition of the conference, which has a long history, has evolved to focus for the first time on highlighting the importance of translational research, exploring how advances in basic research can be translated and applied to clinical practice. This new approach reflects the need to deepen the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and find new treatment strategies.
The speakers, leading experts in the field of multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, offered a comprehensive overview of the latest research and discoveries. Among them, Dr. Ana Quiroga from IDIBGI and Ariadna Gifreu, members of the UNIEMTG, addressed both the biological and clinical perspective of the use of biomarkers in the monitoring of cognition in multiple sclerosis.
‘Early identification of cognitive impairment using biomarkers is crucial for more timely strategies, such as immunotherapy. The main objective of research into biomarkers predictive of cognitive impairment lies in the early identification of groups of patients with multiple sclerosis at risk of cognitive progression,’ says Gary Álvarez Bravo, coordinator of the conference and of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Unit of the Trueta and Santa Caterina hospitals.
Other relevant topics included the role of the Epstein Barr virus in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, presented by Dr. Pablo Villoslada from the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, and the use of biomarkers in the diagnosis and monitoring of MS, discussed by experts such as Dr. Susana Sainz from the Hospital Ramon y Cajal in Madrid and Dr. Luis Breva from the Hospital Arnau Vilanova in Lleida. Dr. Daniele Urso, from the University of Bari Aldo Moro, also spoke about the interrelationship between neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative pathology.
With the active participation of neurologists specialising in neuroimmunology, the conference has reinforced its prestige as a leading forum in this field.
