Cosmocaixa museum in Barcelona hosted the first session of the "http://www.vhir.org/activitats/relacioactivitats_detall.asp?Idioma=ca&any=2013&num=59&mv1=4&mv2=1&titol=International+symposium+'Contr" International Symposium Control or eradication of viral hepatitis B and C, celebrated the 30-31st of May. For the first time, a scientific meeting tackles viral hepatitis from a global and translational view orientated to the service of patients. The symposium is co-organized by Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Ramon Areces Foundation, the Spanish Society of Virology and the CIBERehd network.The first session started on Thursday with the participation of international experts in basic research in hepatitis together with leaders in clinical research and assistance. During two days, they are discussing the current situation of these diseases to design new strategies for research and treatments, considering the last technological developments.In the case of Hepatitis B and C, the strategies on the treatment arrive when a high resolution technology is ready, whereas in other viral disorders, such as AIDS, treatments have been in front of the knowledge of the virus and the mechanisms of action. Recently, high resolution technology –massive sequencing– applied to the diagnosis, can redirect the strategies of the treatment against hepatitis B and C to design customized medicine for patients. With these techniques, researchers can combine more effective drugs, minimizing side effects, as well as they can improve routes of administration, opening new opportunities to patients who had not any possibility of treatment, as transplanted patients, and obtaining cure rates close to the 90%. Regarding to hepatitis C for instance, Dr. Rafael Esteban Mur, researcher of the Liver Diseases group at VHIR, assures that with a study of massive sequencing can be classified the virus carefully, determine if the patient is infected by more than one subtype, and identify mutations of resistance to drugs. This information is “essential to customize the treatment and then, increasing the possibilities of response of each patient. This will improve the cost and effectiveness of antiviral treatments”, concludes.