A word from our new member ASANOL

7 Jul, 2026

On 29 May, we had the opportunity to participate, for the first time as ASANOL, in the International Mito Patients meeting held in Angers. For us, this was a particularly meaningful moment, not only because of what it means to be an active part of an international network such as IMP, but also because of everything we were able to learn, share and begin to build together with other associations.

We return from this meeting with a very positive feeling. We had the chance to meet many new organisations, while also being aware that there are still many more to get to know and many relationships to strengthen. And that is precisely what inspires us most: seeing that there is a strong, committed working group with a genuine willingness to collaborate.

Throughout the meeting, it became clear that there is still a long way to go, but also that there are many people willing to walk that path together. Associations, patients, families, professionals and researchers all share the same direction: improving the lives of people affected by mitochondrial diseases and moving towards a future with more knowledge, more support and more hope.

From ASANOL, as the Association for Leber’s Optic Nerve Atrophy, we are grateful to have been part of this space. We leave with optimism, with new ideas and with the conviction that our participation within IMP can grow and bring real value.

This first meeting has been, for us, a starting point. There is still much to do, but there is also a very strong foundation on which to build. And when so many associations work with a shared vision, the future invites us to trust.

Gerardo Marcos Rodgers Porreca