More than 40 international specialists met in Vitoria-Gasteiz to highlight the importance of these ' key tools' in the modulation of key biological processes such as cellular aging, chronic inflammation and tissue regeneration.

Appealing to the international scientific consensus to decisively boost the potential of Biological Therapies in the field of regenerative medicine was the main conclusion that closed the first edition of the MiKS Congress. The event was held in Vitoria-Gasteiz on April 3, 4 and 5, promoted by Dr. Mikel Sanchez, founder of the Arthroscopic Surgery Unit (UCA), and the MiKS medical-scientific community, promoter of this initiative.

Nearly 400 medical professionals attended this first international congress, where they were able to hear presentations by 40 world-renowned experts from countries such as the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and Mexico. Among them, the most outstanding figures were Coleen T. Murphy, Peter A. Everts, Nidhi Sofat, Elena Jones, Payal Ganguly, Steve Sampson, Elizaveta Kon, Isabel Guillén, Jérémy Magalon, Nicolás Fiz, Lucienne Vonk, Rui Luis Gonçalves, Diego Delgado, Ramón Cugat, Jean-François Kaux, Norimasa Nakamura, Laura De Girolamo, Lior Laver, Alberto Sánchez, Fernando Izquierdo, Eduardo Anitua, Dimitrios Kouroupis, Jorge Guadilla, Rowan V. Paul, Marta Homs, Jordi Recasens, Stefan Nehrer, Sabino Padilla, Juan Azofra, Tomokazu Yoshioka, Alberto Gobbi, Jaime Oraa, Jorge Chahla, Gil Rodas, Florent Eymard, Isabel Andia, Dolores Hernández, Josep Vergés, Manuel M. Mazo, Gorka Knörr and Pedro Guillén.

The celebration of this congress coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Arthroscopic Surgery Unit (UCA) as well as with the beginning of a pioneering trajectory led in Vitoria-Gasteiz by Dr. Mikel Sanchez, who at the time bet on an emerging technology: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). A scientific revolution which, at that time, had hardly any support or references in the international community.

With the aim of continuing to advance in this field and with the firm commitment to disseminate and share knowledge, the I edition of the MiKS Congress on Biological Therapies was held. A meeting that served as a platform to learn about the latest advances in biological treatments, orthopedic surgery, joint degeneration, pain and sports medicine, as well as regulatory aspects and future trends in the field of biological therapies.

The congress addressed key issues related to PRP and cell therapies, including the use of adult cells and their application in different medical specialties. These topics were the central themes of three intense days of science that brought to the table both relevant advances and already consolidated protocols, as well as important challenges.

Among these challenges, he highlighted the urgent need to establish clear consensuses to avoid the current “dangerous dispersion” caused by the great variety of approaches and the notable existing heterogeneity. “It is very difficult to do research and reach solid conclusions when so many factors are involved that alter the results. The international scientific community must prioritize the creation of consensuses that boost the potential of biological therapies and facilitate the concentration of studies and data, allowing us to know precisely what kind of protocols we are applying in our patients,” said several experts during the concluding panel.

The scientific community should prioritize the activation of consensus that promotes the potential of biological therapies and favors the concentration of studies.

“We know that there are very good results in a significant percentage of patients, but we have the obligation to unify and establish what are the minimum requirements and the elements that we really have to take as a reference to make comparisons and, above all, to understand what happens in the human body when we carry out the application of these types of therapies today,” he added.

Regenerative medicine is undergoing an unprecedented transformation that is changing the way medical treatments are approached. Biological therapies are emerging as fundamental tools for modulating essential biological processes, such as cellular aging, chronic inflammation and tissue regeneration. These innovations open new perspectives to treat pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, chronic pain and other conditions related to aging, as well as offering solutions to delay invasive procedures such as prosthesis fitting.

With an approach that transcends mere symptom relief, these therapies - as emphasized in several of the round tables held - seek to act on the root causes of different conditions, thus contributing to improving the health and well-being of patients.

“In a society where life expectancy continues to increase, the real challenge is not only to live longer, but to do so with quality of life and full functionality. Biological therapies play a fundamental role in this objective, as they make it possible to prevent and treat chronic diseases linked to aging. By targeting key pathophysiological mechanisms, such as chronic inflammation or tissue degeneration, these therapies can slow down the progress of various pathologies, favoring a more active, independent and healthy life,” concluded Dr. Mikel Sanchez.

Dr. Coleen T. Murphy, a world reference in the biology of aging, shared recent findings on possible strategies to restore memory in aging organisms.

In this ambitious endeavor, the event held in the capital of Alava with the collaboration of the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council and the Vital Fundazioa Foundation has served to underpin this declaration of intent: to promote collaboration and the exchange of knowledge among professionals in the health sector in order to advance the debate and build consensus in this discipline. In addition, the congress has emphasized the importance of translating basic research into clinical practice. “The challenge now is that advances in research not only remain in the laboratory, but that we can implement them effectively in daily practice so that patients benefit directly from these developments,” said Dr. Mikel Sanchez. “We have all learned a great deal from each other, with a very honest, generous and beneficial sharing. We are more than satisfied with the result and we are already looking forward to start preparing the next edition,” he said.