Barcelona to hold world congress on hereditary metabolic diseases
Experts will present new diseases identified and the latest treatments in this field from 3 to 6 September.
By Biocat
More than 2,500 specialists from around the world will meet in Barcelona from 3 to 6 September 2013 for the 12th International Congress of Inborn Errors of Metabolism (ICIEM) being held for the first time in Spain, organized by Barcelona’s Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic.
The congress will feature presentations on new hereditary metabolic diseases that have been identified recently and latest-generation treatments like enzyme-replacement therapies, which help promote proper metabolic function; chaperone therapy to ensure proper protein function; gene therapy; and hepatic stem-cell transplants.
Metabolic diseases or inborn errors of metabolism are a large group of hereditary diseases –more than 700— caused by hereditary DNA mutations that cause abnormal functioning of cells and organs and can lead to mental retardation and serious neurological deficiencies. In total, they affect 1 in 1,500 children and are currently one of the most prevalent childhood pathologies, although they can also be diagnosed in adults.
Treatment varies depending on the type of error of metabolism but, in general, involves the use of drugs and following strict, restrictive dietary guidelines to avoid the accumulation of toxins in the body.
The challenge facing doctors and scientists specializing in this field is prevention and early diagnosis in order to apply the right treatment. In Catalonia, neonatal screening already includes more than twenty pathologies than can currently be treated.
In addition to this congress, the Catalan capital will also be the epicenter of top-notch international science events in the field of biosciences through the end of the year, including AIDS Vaccine Conference, PharmaProcess (1st Innovation Forum in Pharmaceutical Process), European Drosophila Research Congress, International Symposium on Insulin Receptors and Insulin Actionel and the Muscletech Network Workshop, in addition to the 12 B·Debate scientific debates on epigenetics and cancer, antimicrobial resistance, nanotechnology, neuroregeneration, supercomputing and virtual reality, among others.