From 5 to 10 May, the German city of Heidelberg played host to the Eighth Congress of the International BioIron Society. The event brings together scientists from around the world to discuss and analyse research projects focused on the fundamental biology of iron and disorders due to iron deprivation or excess. 

Dr Mayka Sánchez was appointed secretary of the society at the event. “This appointment is an honour for me, as I have been a member of the BioIron Society from the start and firmly believe in the research it does”, Sánchez said. “I hope that my work in this community will help spread the knowledge and study of iron metabolism and the associated diseases.” 

Dr Sánchez was also a member of the scientific organizing committee for this year’s edition of the congress and chaired the session “Iron Biology and Diseases”. Additionally, Dr Sánchez and her Research Group on Iron Metabolism: Regulation and Diseases presented three posters: “L-Ferritin: One Gene, Five Diseases; from Hereditary Hyperferritinemia to Hypoferritinemia—Report of New Cases”, “A new IRIDA subtype caused by mutations of transferrin receptor 1 gene”, and “CoDysAn: A telemedicine tool to improve awareness and diagnosis for patients with Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia”. The UIC Barcelona research team also collaborated on two oral presentations at the congress.