H.M. Queen Sofía Presides over the 3rd International ALS “Manolo Barrós” Congress in La Roda, Focused on Artificial Intelligence and Biomarkers

• H.M. Queen Sofía presided over the official opening of the 3rd International ALS “Manolo Barrós” Congress, organized by the Queen Sofía Foundation, CIEN, and the Town Council of La Roda (Albacete).
• The event brought together national and international researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient associations to discuss the latest advances in diagnosis, biomarkers, and artificial intelligence applied to ALS.
• The Mayor of La Roda, Juan Ramón Amores, who was diagnosed with ALS more than ten years ago, was the driving force behind the decision to host the third edition of the Congress in this town in the province of Albacete.

La Roda (Albacete), June 22, 2026. The official opening ceremony of the 3rd International ALS “Manolo Barrós” Congress, held as part of the week commemorating World Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Day, took place today in La Roda, Albacete, under the presidency of H.M. Queen Sofía. The event provided an opportunity to share significant scientific advances related to this neurodegenerative disease and will continue tomorrow with a program centered on associations representing families affected by ALS.

The Congress, organized by the Queen Sofía Foundation, the CIEN Foundation (Center for Research on Neurological Diseases), which operates under the Carlos III Health Institute, and the Town Council of La Roda, with the institutional support of the Government of Castilla-La Mancha and the Provincial Council of Albacete, brought together researchers, healthcare professionals, and associations representing people and families affected by ALS.

The opening session was chaired by H.M. Queen Sofía and featured speeches by the President of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page; the Mayor of La Roda, Juan Ramón Amores; the Secretary General for Research, Eva Ortega; and the President of the Provincial Council of Albacete, Santiago Cabañero. All speakers highlighted the personal commitment of H.M. Queen Sofía and the Foundation bearing her name to scientific research and public awareness, as well as the need for public institutions to continue investing in science to address diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The 3^rd International ALS Congress: A Historic Moment for La Roda

One of the defining features of this event has been the personal involvement of the Mayor of La Roda, who was diagnosed with ALS more than ten years ago and has become a symbol of resilience and advocacy. Juan Ramón Amores’ determination to bring the Congress to his municipality was one of the key reasons why the Queen Sofía Foundation chose this town in Albacete as the venue for the third edition.

“At the previous Congress, held in Madrid, the mayor said: ‘The first Congress was in Almería, the second in Madrid. Your Majesty, why don’t we hold the third one in La Roda?’” The Queen Sofía Foundation embraced the proposal, which ultimately led to the organization of this third edition in La Roda.

The Congress gathered researchers, healthcare professionals, and representatives of associations supporting people and families affected by ALS. Among the most notable presentations was that of neurologist Tomás Segura, from Albacete, who discussed the potential of artificial intelligence to improve care for people living with ALS, anticipate their healthcare needs, and optimize healthcare delivery pathways.

In addition, Elizabeth Dellar, a researcher at the University of Oxford, delivered a keynote lecture on the role of extracellular vesicles (small particles released by cells that carry biological information) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Her presentation focused on their involvement in disease development and their potential to advance the identification of biomarkers that could enable more accurate diagnosis and monitoring.

In the afternoon, following sessions devoted to healthcare pathways, artificial intelligence, and research into the molecular foundations of the disease, H.M. Queen Sofía will attend a concert organized by the Town Council of La Roda. The event will feature a performance by the local group Vermú, whose artistic proposal draws on the folk traditions of the La Mancha region, together with members of the Amigos del Arte Cultural Association. Pianist and composer Óscar Molina will perform the original piano piece “ALS and Me”, composed to raise awareness of the realities faced by people living with ALS and their families.

The program on Tuesday, June 23, will focus on the perspective of patients and their families, with the participation of representatives from Spain’s leading ALS organizations: CONELA, FUNDELA, the Francisco Luzón Foundation, and adELA. The day will also include the presentation of the “Manolo Barrós” Best Scientific Poster Award and will conclude with the official closing ceremony.

H.M. Queen Sofía’s Support for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Through this Congress, the Reina Sofía Foundation further reinforces its strong commitment to research into neurodegenerative diseases and to improving the quality of life of those affected. In 2025, the Foundation allocated more than €1 million to promote research into Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, one of its priority areas of action.

This commitment would not be possible without the personal involvement of H.M. Queen Sofía, who has supported the project since its inception. Her presence at this Congress reaffirms the decades-long connection between her Foundation and the fight against neurodegenerative diseases, consolidating the event as a leading fixture on the international scientific calendar dedicated to ALS.