Nearly 230 professionals in the field of diabetes and ophthalmology, and basic researchers from all around Europe interested in the eye complications of diabetes, met together in Barcelona at the 23rd annual congress of the "http://www.easdec.org/pages/" Eye Complications Study Group (EASDec), led by Dr. Rafael Simó, head of the Diabetes and Metabolism research group at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR). During three days, researchers shared the last advances in the treatment against diabetic retinopathy, as the intravitreal with anti-VEGF agents or the use of fenofibrate. They also discussed several aspects related to the screening, diagnosis and the last updates in the knowledge of pathogenic mechanisms which cause this severe complication of diabetes. In this framework, the research group in Diabetes and Metabolism at VHIR presented three studies. The first one showed the results obtained in the characterization of a murine model which reproduces alterations of the human retinopathy. This project will be very useful to study the pathogenic mechanisms which cause the disease and to test new drugs. The second study is a research in the animal model which demonstrates that the treatment with fenofibrate is useful to prevent retina’s neurodegeneration caused by diabetes. Finally, the third project presented the benefits of blocking hemopexin to treat macular edema.Besides these lectures, during the congress was also celebrated a symposium of the Spanish Society of Vitreal and Retina, about the new perspectives in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic macular edema.After the congress, coinciding with the stay of researches in Barcelona, the World Trade Center of Barcelona hosted the annual meeting of the "http://www.vhir.org/salapremsa/mitjans/mitjans_detall.asp?any=2011&num=95&mv1=5&mv2=1&Idioma=ca&titol=El%20VHIR%20lidera%20un%20projecte%20eur" European consortium EUROCONDOR, also led by Dr. Rafael Simó from VHIR.